Back to our roots

"If you're Irish come into the parlor, there's a welcome there for you. If your name is Timothy or Pat, so long as you come from Ireland, there's a welcome on the mat...."  

One wonders how the 3rd largest island in Europe has so many people worldwide claiming heritage. You can see Irish influence on literature and music and the the concept of St Patrick has certainly caught on worldwide!

 

I don't know much about my family history however three of my grandparents are from Eire. On my mother's side my grandmother is from Bray near Dublin and grandfather is born in Burt, Donegal. My paternal grandfather is from Mayo.  Dad's mother was English. I'd love to know more about the family tree.  It's on my "to do" list. In the meantime we try and visit occassionally. The most recent was a few days with my sister and nephew in December 2012.

Christmas Carols at Belfast City Airport

 

Belfast city

 

Belfast Christmas Market

We stayed with a very good friend of my nephew, at a British army barrack in Belfast.  Considering there was an increased unrest from the Protestant loyalist with a recent petrol bomb in Belfast and other attacks on the police in Derry it was a little nerve wracking.  However it was a lovely peaceful 2 days, the company was great and I really enjoyed the Christmas Market.

 

We hired a car and drove up along the coast to the World Heritage site the Giant's Causeway. This  is a series of interlocking polygon basalt columns of various heights and thickness leading from the foot of the cliff and disappearing into the sea. 

Basalt colums disappearning into the sea

 

 According to legend when there is smoke from the chimney Finn's at home.

 

Finn's boot

 

According to legend the Giant's Causeway was built to Scotland by a giant Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool). The Causeway was ripped up by the Scottish giant, Benandonner, when he fled home in terror so the 'enormous Finn', would not follow him. The legend corresponds with geological history in as much as there are similar basalt formations (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at the site of Fingal's Cave on the Isle of Staffa in Scotland.

 

From the Causeway we drove to Magilligan. We wanted to avoid being caught up in any trouble in Derry and we had been advised that the ferry across Lough Foyle to Greencastle in Donegal was in service.  Well it was a pleasant drive but just a diversion.  We were able to drive around Derry and head for the border.  My sister recalls the bus being stopped  and searched each day by the soldiers on her way to and from school in the 60s.  None of that now.  You hardly know you have passed into the Irish Free State.

 



Irish for Donegal

 

We headed for Letterkenny where we had prebooked a hotel.  Searching for a place to stay in Donegal in winter is not easy. We had a lovely time that evening listening to Irish music and sipping a few drinks at the Wolfe Tone Bar before heading back to the hotel for a hot bath and snug bed.

 



Bobby Sands

 

A trip to Ireland would not be the same if we didn't drop in at Buncrana to pay respects at my (step) grandmother's grave in the cemetary at Cock Hill. 

 

Annie "the Black" Donachey Campbell

 

10 Red Row - Annie owned the whole row.

 

We also had to show my nephew where we had both attended primary school - Sacred Heart Convent.  Apart from being bigger and the outside being pink instead of pebble stone grey, the school hasn't changed a great deal. I forgot there don't seem to be any nuns now either. 



Inside Sacred Heart Convent



 

It was lovely to catch up with a woman who has been a friend of my sister for about 60 years.  We  also met a cousin though Annie's family, in Smithwick's Bar that day.

 



Lough Swilly (Lake Shadows or Lake of Eyes)

 

 

Cottage Bar

 

The Buncrana of my memories had considerably more pubs than exist today.  It was a Nationalist stronghold in the Civil War and a number of firefights occured here. Even as far back as 1798 it was involved in the United Ireland struggle.  Wolfe Tone was arrested and held in the military prison  next to the building that houses the Smithwick's Brewary before being transferred to Dublin where he  died in Provost's Prison of a neck wound in November 1798 at the age of 35 years. 

 

The weather was closing in and time running short so we opted to spend our final day in Donegal town.  We have decided to make this our base the next time we visit.

 

 Donegal Town

 

15th century Franciscan Abbey ruins

 

River Eske

 

Dongelal Castle





  

The trip came to an end way too soon and then it was a very foggy drive through the mountains back to Belfast.

 

Fog ahead

 

Final thought before departing

 

There is so much to see here in Ireland. No doubt this will not be the last time we visit this green wet land.  

 

" Don't be dismayed at goodbyes, a farewell is necessary before you can meet again and meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends"  

(Richard Bach)