We met Susie and her loving master Paddy yesterday morning while on a walk to the beach from our Bed and Breakfast at Ross Strand.
Paddy, a retired builder, was there to feed his donkeys. Susie, his constant companion, came to help. Later, Paddy and Susie caught up with us on the trail.
In an open grassy spot, the fun began when Paddy began flinging chuck-it balls to Susie.
As he did, we visited. When he learned that we were staying at Ross Beach Family Farm B and B, he said, "You tell Seamus (the owner) that Paddy said he's a lovely man."
I promised to do my assignment and later passed along the word to Seamus. He was busy cleaning and preparing the rooms for the next guests.
We enjoyed talking with Seamus and hearing his thoughts on trying to find people to work and on the Pandemic and life in general.
When we left the B and B, we definitely felt that the mantra on the wall of Seamus's breakfast room had come true: we became friends rather than just guests.
The story above reflects a common theme that runs through Ireland. If you come away from any interactions NOT feeling like you've gained a friend, it's definitely an anomaly.
And so, we move on in our reverse drive around Ireland. In the past, we've gone south and west and north and east and south again back to Dublin.
This time we're doing the opposite, and we've enjoyed seeing familiar sights from a different perspective.
Also, we've seen many new and interesting places and towns in Ireland while taking different roads from the usual.
Yesterday, we visited a church in Ballycastle: St. Bridget's and a national park on down the road. At the park headquarters, we met Fenton Masterson, who provides a passionate and efficient introduction to the park and all its activities.
By the time, we left, once again, we felt like we'd gained a friend as Fenton kept giving us little perks in our orientation. We felt like he really didn't want us to leave just yet.
In a phrase, this is Ireland. I often say it is not only a beautiful place because of its magnificent scenery but also because of its people. So friendly, so caring and so willing to help.
Plus, they seem to really like each other.
For a time and for the most part, we have happily escaped the acrimony which so dominates our news virtually every day.
Here, on some radio stations, we hear actually hear birthday greetings and well wishes for the every-day people.
There's a definite bliss in this trip as well as lots of nostalgia as we visit places we've been before and recount snippets of what happened in each.
Yesterday's trip had another happy ending as we walked into Sharamore House near Clifden and Sue, the proprietor, happily proclaimed that the "kids" were back.
She dubbed us old fogeys as "the kids" back in 2019 when we left in potential hurricane weather to spend a night on Inis Mor. Happily, the hurricane fizzled, we had a beautiful time on the island and upon our returned, Sue, who was relieved that all went well, started calling us "the kids."
We'll probably hang out in Clifden today, attending to laundry and other details before heading back to the island tomorrow.
Fun times ahead.
Happy Wednesday. Enjoy the pictures.
Maybe we need more of this coffee in the United States.
Years ago Lulu aka Laura Faux Donnelly sat in the back seat of my car on a 4-H horse judging trip to Southern Idaho.
This week Laura and I have been keeping in touch as we both travel through Ireland, often hitting the same spots only at different times.
The same is happening with Kim Reader, who was once our neighbor who lived off from Great Northern Road on Robinson Road.
Yesterday Kim must have missed us when she visited Kylemore Abbey in Connemara. We spent some time at the beautiful grounds of the abbey in the late afternoon.
As we were driving from Killala to Clifden, I received a Messenger note from Laura with the picture above.
Of course, I recognized that white hat. I had given it to Bridie at The Bar on the Aran Island of Inis Mor in 2021.
Laura visited The Bar sometime this week and when she saw the hat, wondered if I had anything to do with it.
It is SO enjoyable when you're thousands of miles of home to experience moments of familiarity along the way which involve the folks from home.
I don't know if we'll "bump" in to Laura on this trip, but it's very possible we'll see Kim and also possible that Kim will also see the ZAGS hat at The Bar, and we may even share a Guinness while exchanging stories about the wonderful times we're having here in Ireland.
I just learned early this morning that yet one of the "family outlaws" is also here in Ireland. Megan, if you see us somewhere, be sure to say hi.
So much fun!
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