I've always had an uneasy relationship with Connemara. When I lived in Galway previously I half-heartedly ventured out on a number of expeditions to Spiddal mainly, and I had also been to Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands. I found Connemara bleak and atmospheric, but NOT IN A GOOD WAY; I didn't really understand how such a lonely-feeling place could be a tourist attraction and I didn't have much enthusiasm for the landscape. However! Fast-forward 10-plus years and on second acquaintance, I finally get it. Connemara is stunning and I'm so ashamed that it's taken me this long to do a proper tour of the sights. [For those of you who haven't a clue what I'm talking about, Connemara (English: 'Inlets of the sea') is a Gaeltacht region west of Galway city where Gaelic Irish is still spoken as a first language, with a population of 32,000 according to Wikipedia. It's a unique place, retaining many of the old traditions and ways of life that have been lost in the rest of Ireland, and is a massive tourist destination in the summer. It is right there on the western coast, at the mercy of the Atlantic, and is a patchwork of little rocky fields, lakes, mountains, and bog - the landscape is incredibly diverse and every bend in the road opens up to a new panoramic view.]
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An attempt to take a photograph of my own copy of 'The Green Road' vs. the nice, official version on the Waterstones' site. I think this showcases my excellent photography skills; it's almost impossible to tell them apart, really...
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About my blog
Really, it contains a little bit of everything, from a celebration of science and the English language to the joys of travel and the Shipping Forecast. The title ('Meanderings') is a fairly accurate description of its content: I write about different things as the mood takes me, but hopefully there's something in here for everyone... Categories
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March 2021
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And on another note... |
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