Before we get to Sunday, you must have a peek at O'Brien's Pub where I had a couple of Guinness's last night.
Meet O"Brien himself. His family has operated this Pub since 1870 he told me. A warm and friendly place. They were having two musicians playing guitar and banjo at 10:00 but after a couple of pints it was bedtime for me. Darned jet lag, I think I missed some fun.
I loved this old advertising sign. One of Bellinghams many brew pubs ought to copy it!
And meet Tim O'Leary, at least that is what I thought his name was. He had such a brogue that I could barely communicate. At one point I thought he was speaking Gaelic. Nice friendly guy though as all Irish seem to be. Well, it was early to bed, and this morning
I ordered eggs Benedict, Lots of protein to make up for a spotty jet lagged sleep.
Delicious, plus a pot of coffee, and way too much toast. Maybe they feed the uneaten toast to the ducks in the river outside. Maybe I will try that tomorrow.
I spent this rainy morning sitting in the hotel lobby writing the introduction to the Donovan biography. What better place to begin the story than in the very place the story began, Skibbereen?
I spent this rainy morning sitting in the hotel lobby writing the introduction to the Donovan biography. What better place to begin the story than in the very place the story began, Skibbereen?
About 1:00 I decided to ignore the rain and go search for the ruins of Castledonovan reputed to be somewhere near the seashore south of here. I didn't find it but enjoyed a four hour wander as the following photos will show you.
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I met this pleasant fellow out for a Sunday walk, stopped and chatted a while and even got him to take my picture on the road headed for the Lookout on the hill.
He told me that this one one of a great number of lookouts built during the Napoleonic wars to guard from a French fleet invading Ireland. From here I could see another lookout on a prominent "head" to the west.
I could not see it, but the famous Fastnet Lighthouse is nearby off this rocky coast.
I could not see it, but the famous Fastnet Lighthouse is nearby off this rocky coast.
Just a sampling of the beautiful sights I saw on my wanderings today. Tomorrow back to history work
the location of this old famine era print is still recognizable among the streets of Skibbereen. and tomorrow I will be guided to the very location of the tiny plot of land that the Donovan family rented in the Famine days. It was in the section marked 9.
Tune in tomorrow, I will show you where they lived and other untold delights.