There's No Such Thing As Bad Weather..

...only bad clothing. This is one of my favourite sayings because being realistic about the climate that you live in is a big step towards a more enjoyable life. Apart from extreme conditions, which thankfully are not a major worry in Ireland, getting out and about should not be hindered by the weather. 

I am very passionate about rain gear. Every one of us, adults and children, should own a proper rain suit and wellingtons. In fact we should all own two sets of each so that one can be kept at a second location (vehicle/work/school). We live in a damp climate - accept it, prepare for it and enjoy it. Keep a bag in the car with a mix of clothes for everyone - warm jacket, rain gear, hats and sun cream! September is exactly the kind of month where you can get any type of weather. We headed to Fota early one morning last week and I couldn't believe how cold it was. Thankfully there were a few jumpers in the car since last winter (never empty the car of clothes no matter now messy it gets!!!) so we were able to wrap up and walk on.


Always by the back door:





Biking in the rain:





Fishing in the rain (that's a painted ray of the beach in Borth, Wales - he went back alive):





Walking in the rain (as you can see I never leave home without my trusty yellow (orange?) rain coat):





Playground in the rain:





Gardening in the rain:





So suit up, boot up and get out!

The Irish Winter Landscape

The days may seem too short but winter in Ireland bestows on us some of the clearest, sunniest, heavenly days of our climate. These are the days I choose to remember and this year I have visited some beautiful local spots.

1. Charles Fort, Kinsale

The views from inside and outside the fort are one of my favourite in the Cork county. Even if you choose not to go inside, there is plenty to enjoy if you want to just stop your car at the side of the road for a few minutes. Note the bird of prey just over the low clouds on the right hand side.




From the busy front promenade in Kinsale town, there are some peaceful water views.

2. The Owenabue River, Carrigaline

Just ten minutes walk from my house, this river has a wonderful desolate poetic bleakness on a dark winter's day.

3. Ringaskiddy

Ten minutes drive down the road brings me to Ringaskiddy, which I think is a harmonious meeting of industry and nature (aesthetically anyway, local cancer rates might say different...). Boat yards and industry adorns the shore line, which opens out into Cork Harbour. It's a great place for a walk, but watch don't you fall down one of those giant rabbit holes.

4. Killarney National Park

Whether you desire a short stroll or a day-long hike, the area covered by Killarney National Park abounds in natural beauty including sights like Torc Waterfall and the lakes (below).

 


For a tamer, more manicured walk, explore the gardens of Muckross House with their pretty features including the Stream Garden.

Garinish Island and Glengarriff

Poxed lucky with the weather for an October weekend away to Glengarriff. It is a very quiet time of year for most West Cork towns but perfect for seeing the sights without the crowds, and as Irish people know well, our off-peak season can produce the best weather conditions.

Glengarriff’s great strength is it’s woodlands and walking areas and probably it’s most famous attraction, Garinish Island. The island’s topography is rare in our climate, and is borne from the effects of the gulf stream and the shelter of the woodlands.  Ferries depart from a few places, the most picturesque being Poll Gorm (meaning Blue Hole).

This sheltered cove belies the open sea that awaits through a narrow opening

A quick spin past the seal rocks (with Maureen O’Hara’s house in the background)

and we arrive at Garinish.

The first attraction to feast your eyes on is the Italian garden

Behind which are beautiful views onto the water

Some curious plants to be found along the way

Beautiful stone walkways

The Martell tower looks impressive at a height

And the view is ten times better from the top

If you see a pathway, explore it because you’d never know what’s hiding behind those trees

Back on mainland, the Glengarriff shore looks out on a fabulous vista

A beautiful place.

Never Mind Blarney Castle, Check Out Blarney Gardens

So I decided to take two days off work this week and was poxed with a gorgeous sunny day to kick it off, just reminding me why September is my favourite month. One of my aims this month is to see more of my local attractions, starting with the famous Blarney Castle.

The castle sits on 60 acres and is most famous for the legendary “Blarney Stone” which upon kissing, grants you with the gift of the gab.

I have no interest in this. Apparently, the stone is covered in the locals’ piss anyway so I wouldn’t be putting my lips anywhere near it.

Now the gardens are something else. The deserve to be part of a double headling bill, not a supporting act.

The view as you enter, showing the castle in the distance and River Martin (loaded with trout):

A tower sits by the castle:

The Castle:

And now down to the interesting business of the gardens. Each area seems to lend itself to a particular atmosphere and theme. 

The Fern Gardens was a beautiful wild and shady area in the woodland.

With interesting paths and steps leading to curious places:

And some friends hiding in the rocks:

Some huge trees about the place:

Making some weird tree shapes:

Then back into the open for some decorative flowers at the Herbaceous Border:

Decorative flowers bring alot of insects. I’ve never seen so many wasps and butterflies in one place before:

My favorite place was an area called Rock Close, which included some beautiful parts of the river, wandering steps and mystical rocks.

The Kissing Steps:

The Waterfall:

Like something from the Blue Lagoon

Archway:

Looking at the photos makes me want to visit it again, and I will soon as I didn’t realise there was a lake on the grounds (should have looked at the map they gave me on entry, no good examining it when I got home…). We spent over two hours there (and didn’t even bother to venture into the actual castle and Im sure there is at least two hours more wealth to be seen.

Fishing in Fountainstown

On one of finest days of the year, what better way to spend a few hours than fishing in a beautiful spot. Many others had the same idea as the rocky shore was littered with families catching mackerel for their supper.

The setting:

Rods positioned and ready:

Bait ready:

A lot of sprats meandering in the shallow water brings some hungry bass. You can see them from the shore but they’re clever. They see my lure but at the last second, swim away. Even this cool tshirt isn’t bringing us luck…

Finally the first fish of the day is caught, a chirpy energetic mackerel:

Mackerel didn’t stay energetic for long. He was destined for bigger better things e.g. bait. It was a good decision because before long this monster was pulled from the deep. A lovely Thornback Ray:

We pack up around half eight and make our way over the rocks back to the car. On the way, we pass a line of anglers dotting the shoreline and making for a nice picture. With the shoals of mackerel visibly breaking the surface, hopefully everyone went home with a few.

Evening sets: