Irish Diamonds

The thing about sayings or myths is that I'm never entirely sure which are local, and I mean like 'Townland' local, and which are general to many regions. Our Townlands vary in size, with many rural ones comprising just a few homes, but a large area. I'm not sure how far ours stretches, for instance, but there's only eight houses in it (we counted!).

Anyhow it is said that dew drops or rain drops caught in a leaf are the diamonds of the Little People. We mayn't be rich in monetary terms, but we're sheer rollin' in diamonds!!

Flora and a Fauna!

Creeping Thistle, I think, although it's not a bit thistley except for the appearance of the flower.

Ladies Bedstraw with raindrops. There are a lot of superstitions associated with this plant.

Coltsfoot seedhead, much fluffier than dandelions. My girls used to call them 'Wind Fairies' when the breeze caught them.

Meadowsweet, which I think is so pretty. Great clouds of it grow along our laneway.

...and a snail- boy! I had trouble running to photograph him before he zoomed off!!!

Anyone wishing to view this biodiversity is welcome to visit my garden anytime they like!!

I call it biodiversity...the Hub calls them weeds. It all depends on your view point!

Flower Festival

On our August Bank Holiday Weekend, the Methodist Church in Sligo Town had their Flower Festival. The theme is a hymn, and this year it was 'All Things Bright and Beautiful' written by CF Alexander, wife of the then Bishop of Derry. She wrote it whilst staying at Markree Castle in Sligo, about the scenery here, so we all sing this hymn with particular fervour! The arrangements began outside the Church, and each arrangement embodied line of the hymn- over 30 arrangements in total, and so very beautiful.

Back o' the Bogs, Co Leitrim

A fortnight ago, in the space of about half an hour I watched as the evening sunshine was blurred by mist drifting up the valley from the lake below us, then cleared away to leave a clear view. Kind of eerie, the sort of evening when you really believe in The Wee Folk, and are tempted to cross the doors with iron, just to be on the safe side...

But beautiful too...

The Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin

The old Turnstile at the Entrance to the Gardens, don't you love the wording on Victorian objects?

A Palm House!! My FAVOURITE places in all the world!!!

So much glass, lovely lines, the promise of steamy jungley plants...

The Rose Garden- spent ages reading all the labels and inspecting every type of rose here!

Did I make a note of the names of the roses I photographed? Did I heck! But it's very pretty...

Love Pelargoniums too, I'd have dozens given the chance, especially the tropical scented ones.

Arbutus trunk- don't know how old this specimin is, but it is quite amazing.

Yup! Steamy Jungle!

So Kew Gardens has a rival for my affections now...

More Dublin...

The corner f College Green opposite Trinity Front Gate.

Dublin busses!!

Trinity Library at dusk: as you can see I haven't got night time photography sorted!

Bank of Ireland, College Green, Dublin

This Bank of Ireland, on College Green, opposite Front Gate of  Trinity College, is a beautiful building. From 1739 until 1801 it served as Ireland's Parliament.

The Campanile, Trinity College Dublin

The Campanile is a landmark and much loved by past Trinity Students. Apparently the Mountaineering Society like to climb it each year!

Botany Bay, Trinity College Dublin

Botany Bay, one of the Trinity Squares, residental, with tennis courts in the center, and the most fabulous cherry blossom trees I've seen in years...or was the cherry blossom just wonderful everywhere this year?
Home to a certain persom in the 1950s whom some of us know as....Dad!

The Rubrics, Trinity College Dublin

 This is the front of The Rubrics, as seen from Front Square.

 The back...

And a corner of the roof next to the Museum Building; it was the limb of the old tree which interested me, as you can tell! None of these photos do justice to the beauty of the Elizabethan architecture, especially the chimneys.

The Rubrics is the oldest building in Trinity College, built in about 1592 when Elizabeth the First granted the Charter for a University in Dublin. The site was a dilapidated Monastery outside the City Walls.

'Rubrics' is short for 'red bricks', by which name it is widely known. Last year the College decided to empty the cellars and apparently most of the 'old rubbish' found was taken straight to the National Museum for conservation! How many of us empty our 'rubbish' into a Museum???

Further History of the College.

Trinity College Dublin

Standing in Front Square this is Front Gate in front of you, and to the left is one of the Founder's statues. The corner of the building on the right is the Dining Hall.

Yoohooo! I'm Back!!

As some of you know, I spent several weeks in April and May living in Trinity College Dublin, with Eldest as she worked towards her final exams and stuff for her Degree. The weather was beautiful much of the time, and being on site at all hours of the day had me constantly reaching for the camera!

This is one of several incredibly old trees around the original parts of the College. They really add to the atmosphere of the place, and over Easter we watched them bud, blossom and leaf. It was very beautiful.

Drizzly Day

Bit of a drizzly day this, and not an amazing photo either. But I just like the contrast of dog and landscape- small to big, black against fuzzy grey.

And Hoover-Dog always like posing for his photo!

SMVs

When you are stuck behind an SMV (Slow Moving Vehicle!) there's not much you can do except contain your soul in patience.

When the driver of aforementioned SMV grinds to a complete halt so he can shoot the breeze with a friend, you just have to sit it out and try not to think sulphurous thoughts.

Difficult, but necessary around here!

Footbridge, Enniskillen

This is the shortcut into town from the Erneside Shopping Center in Enniskillen. Can be tricky getting over the hump when its icy, but it was lovely this day.

In view of the amount of photos stored on the computer I am going to begin reviewing and dusting off all my scenery and landscape photos.

Don't worry, I've only had the digital camera since July a year ago, so you won't be required to look at years' and years' worth...unless I figure out how to work the folks' scanner!
If that happens, then you are in big trouble as I've been taking photos for YEARS!!

Wait and see, I guess!

And anyway, I'll not be going anywhere interesting in the near future so you might like some of the previous photos!

The Model Arts, Sligo

I took this a few weeks ago, but because the Building is something of a landmark here, I thought I would post it anyhow. This place was built as a Model School in 1862 and was used as such until the 1980s ,I think ,but then the Dept of Education gave it/ sold it(?) to the The Arts Council to be re-furbished and used as an Art Gallery. It is now known as The Model Arts.

Generations of Sligo's children did their primary schooling here, although in later years it was very run-down and blinkin' cold too! Mom used to knit us really thick school jerseys to keep us warm, and we wore tweed kilts. My sister once found a mouse in her coat pocket when she was looking for her gloves, and bats were regular participants in class! Imagine what parents of today's children would say to that?!

(This is the main web page.)

O'Connell St., Sligo

The Chamber of Commerce is taking down the last of the Christmas Decorations, end of the season, I guess. They make the town look so festive after dark.

Ah well, until next year, folks!

Enniskillen (2)

Enniskillen town, Co. Fermanagh.

Enniskillen

Whichever way you look at it, Enniskillen's waterfront onto Lough Erne is beautiful in the Winter sun!