Swinford Yeats and Ballycastle

Dierdre joined us in Donegal and it was great to have another driver to take us through these tiny bendy but beautiful roads. Lovely swim in Fintan.

We were up at the famine village which was a wonderful tour. More related to general life and times in Ireland. The Great Hunger was terrible but there was more to irish history than that and I was delighted that the guide gave us so much more.

Some of the protestant towns have a lot of the flags and banners up for the marching days. I thought it was interesting that they call it Derry on a banner with No Surrender!

We had a lovely day on Lough Erne in the Davidson’s boat. Alan even let Diedre take the helm. Another swim but as this was in the lake it was MUCH colder.

The B and B we are staying in is charming and we had a great evening with a Scottish couple who travel considerably. It was beautiful weather as we drove around but just as it came to the time we had booked for our boat tour of Slieve League the clouds came in. I thought it wouldn’t be worth it and Dierdre was going to the top of the cliff. In fact there was still a beautiful view from top and below

The following day we went to Swinford where my father was from. The church has an alter and glass windows donated by his family

The old doorstep to the hotel is still there. I talked with the graveyard keeper. He was hilarious. Saying that the O Connor’s were the royalty of Swinford and that others are trying to claim it. He said ‘It’s a real f*****ng shame my mother died only last month and she could have told you all about it.’ He talked of a book about the o Connors and to cut a long story short I got it from my third cousins office. He is a solicitor there although he had left for the day his PA gave it to me

Next day was the marble caves. Pat managed all the steps (well thankfully enough as there was no lift)

Then on to Yeats grave. Very simple but also a memorial with the poem ‘He wishes for the cloths of heaven. ‘. One of my favorites. check the poem out if you don’t know it

A beautiful waterfall and impressive mountain on the way home and then to moughamore town. Gorgeous! Mountbattens castle is also on the way but private and inaccessible.

I was really pleasantly surprised with Donegal and the warmth of everyone. I’m being a bit lazy on this one as am in Ballycastle now visiting and touring