Sallygardens Smallholding

Holy Wells

One of my favourite places to visit is the Burren in Co Galway. Recently while walking there we happened across one of many holy wells which are found scattered across Ireland. Each well has its own specific healing qualities, for example, for the healing of sore throats, cold sores, rheumatism, toothache, infertility ... the list is endless. The history of these wells go far back beyond the arrival of Christianity on these shores, they were initially pagan sites, now still visited for their historical healing powers, although more recently the sites have been renamed after saints. I'm not sure what this particular well is claimed to cure, but what I loved was the addition by some thoughtful soul of a couple of glass mugs hanging from various branches! So after washing off an encrusted bird dropping from the mug I drank my fill thinking that a cure can't hurt.

Perhaps the water will cure whatever bug I might be likely to catch from the bird droppings!

One thing that all of these sites have is a sense of magic and beauty. Here a little winding path leads down ancient steps cut into the limestone hidden deep within a hazel tree coppice.

Getting Goats

On Thursday the whole family set off on a mission to the wilds of Achill Island to collect some Angora cross goats (not cross Angora goats!).

They are crossed with British Saneens Saanens. Angoras have a wonderful curly hairstyle, and British Saneens are a great dairy breed. We met the lovely woman who keeps a flock (or is it a herd?) up the side of her mountain, and she introduced us to the two we'd talked about on the phone. They were just what we'd hoped for, the opposite of what most people would imagine of a goats temperament. They are like big friendly dogs, and thankfully seemed to like us too! The deal done, their owner drove off down the lane to collect us some hay and straw from a neighbour ...

leaving us (4 complete strangers) to put the kettle on in her home.  She didn't even ask to see my 'I'm not an axe murderer' ID card. You can't beat Irish hospitality and a good dose of trust to lift the soul.

Before setting off on our drive home we braved the Atlantic winds on the beach for a bit.

We arrived home from our adventures at dusk, so the goats were shut into their goat house for the night. In the morning, they got their first tentative glimpse of their new surroundings.

Willow has two kids only three weeks old, and Hazel is expecting sometime in the next couple of weeks. We will have our first farm birth! We watched anxiously to see if they would indeed respect the electric fencing I'd erected for them. Oh how people frowned in disbelief when we told them these goats were kept successfully behind an electric fence, and only two strands at that. Thankfully these girls being a breed with shorter legs than the average dairy goat, and a bit heavier, more like a meat goat (which is what we were after) means that they don't need the usual five foot high fence with 2 strands of barbed wire plus one strand of electric fence to hem them in (a moat and crocodiles can help)!

It wasn't long before the kids were clambering up the stairs and onto the roof of the goat house Dan had made for them.

So what are they for? The mothers will provide me with some beautiful rippled fleece for my feltwork. I'm really looking forward to trying out some natural dyes such as blackberry and elderberry. We will put them to a boer billy in the autumn when they come into season, and breed them each year for meat.  During the summer months, I'll probably milk them too. I hope the pigs don't get jelous!

Galway Weekend

You can't beat visiting friends, so we all set off to impose ourselves on my friend Vera for the weekend! Not waisting a minute of daylight, be it rain hail or shine, she whisked us out for an adventure by launching us all on a speedboat! Me? Worried about setting out on the sea in January with two small children, no never, bring it on (she said quaking in her boots but supressing the over amplified maternal fears that threaten to distinguish the source of adventure!). We had a whale of a time ...

The smalls took turns on the tiller, what a thrill for them (and us as we randomly accelerated and turned at sharp angles!)

You can clearly see they were delighted and full of glee, the thrill of having a throttle and the freedom to 'drive' a motor boat aged 3 and 5 is priceless! We moored on an island to have a picnic beside a castle, what more could a child (or indeed grown up) want ...

We were lured back to the mainland (a whole 10 minutes away!) by the promise of homemade scones. Then a trip to 'a real boat', to see a yacht which Vera had sailed across the Atlantic. She showed them the maps, sorry charts, and held their attention for a few moments talking about navigation. They showed a greater interest in how the toilet worked.

Next day we went to Galway Aquarium. Two main factors made it a huge hit with our two tykes. First was the Ray tank, the cheeky little fish would swim up alongside and poke up their snouts out of the water for a stroke.

The second attraction was feeding time. The kids were allowed to feverishly delve elbow deep into a bucket of strongly aromatic fish parts and chuck them high enough over the top of the tank sides into the hungrily awaiting fish. Fish heads were inevitably flung with zeal and the best of intentions with the most comical results. Stinky fish missiles slid down the outer glass of tanks, fish heads landed entangled in kids hair, fish juice trickled down sleeves and over clothes. One of the most entertaining 20 minutes I've had in a long time. How I laughed (until it was time for a long drive home in a stinking fish car!).

A trip to Vera wouldn't be complete without a visit to feed the delinquant hooligan donkeys and pony near her house. They kick, rear ends, ears back, and bare teeth as they hurtle towards any being with an item of food in their posession. The kids enjoy it! And oh, equines don't like celery.

The Giants Causeway

Heres a little bit of news I'm quite chuffed about! After our family weekend trip to the Giants Causeway I submitted a trip report to a website, called Kids Can Travel, that I visit regularly. They have published my contribution today, so hop along for a gander. I love to look through all their travel destination ideas, which are very inspiring, and I'm really delighted to be just a little part of it all.

Winter Ramblings

Nothing quite like getting all wrapped up and out into the autumn air. Theres something about the light this time of year. This lake is less than ten minutes walk from our house. The lakes of County Leitrim are famous, there are hundreds of them. Some say theres more lake than land. Can you see the Crannog? Many lrish lakes have these. They are man-made islands, constructed over 1000 years ago where a tribe would seek refuge if under attack. They were reached by timber dug out canoes, or by a secret timber walkway built just under the waters surface. Seven of us all swam out to this one in the summer, but it was overgrown and we couldn't get on.

We can hear the swans honking from our doorstep and church bells waft across the water.

These head high plants are dead, but no less beautiful.

Mohill Horse Fair

The streets of the traditional Leitrim town of Mohill were buzzing with activity on Sunday 29th October. Not only was the storytelling festival in full swing, but the horse fair was also in town.

Horse boxes lined the approaching roads, and in the centre of town horses from miniature to mighty were on show.

Hooves clipped and skidded the main streets and there was very lively entertainment in the form of humorous bartering which was more like something you’d expect to witness in the theatre! Horses, ponies, donkeys, goats, rabbits and fowl of all breeds changed hands in a refreshingly vibrant upbeat atmosphere. The kids enjoyed it as much as the Zoo, but this was free! A very exuberant experience, one for next years diary.

Streedagh Strand

I’ve never seen a sea horse on Irish shores, but sea cows are relatively common. Beautiful autumn weather this weekend inspired a family trip to the beach on the Sligo coast.

The Giants Causeway

Last weekend we packed all the essentials for a family weekend break : sunblock, anorak, kite, calpol, two bedtime stories, lego and multiple changes of kids clothes. The weather was glorious and we headed to the magical Giants Causeway. The children were particularly primed for this trip and extremely confident that there would be a sighting of a giant. Their insistent multiple bedtime readings of the legend of Finn MacCool left them with high expectations! Indeed he was offshore that day, swimming, we could clearly see his legs kicking and splashing up the surf. The children were astounded by the rock formations and we spent four hours exploring the coastal and cliff footpaths, and playing on the causeway. The next day we were spoilt for choice with beautiful white sandy beaches and various castles to explore.

The addition of little children to weekends away means that its no longer a time for retreat and relaxation, but as they say “a change is as good as a break”.

Lough Key Forest Park

We have been on our first family bicycle ride & picnic expedition. This was made possible by the facts that Aoife has just learned to ride a bike, the purchase of a bike seat for Muireann from Lidl and the traffic free circular footpaths around Lough Key Forest Park. Aoife was thrilled to be cycling like the grown ups, and Muireann was thrilled to be transported like a princess! We stopped at the beautiful limestone fairy bridge for a picnic. Why do they make childrens bikes out of such heavy materials, they always seem to weigh a ton. Aoifes tiny bike weighs more than mine. It’s a somewhat cruel introduction for little legs, however she happily cycled several miles with great pride.

Sperm Whale Pilgrimage to Strandhill

Today we set off straight from school on an expedition to witness the beautiful but tragic fate of a Sperm Whale on the shores of County Sligo. Its only a few days since I posted enviously about the sighting of whales by an Australian family on Hop Skip Jump, claiming that here in Ireland my family get excited at the prospect of sighting a  garden worm, never mind a whale! So eating my own words here we were setting off to see one on our own shores. Obviously its not exactly elating to see such a majestic animal in its final hours, stranded on land. However I wanted my children, and myself, to see the magnificent size of this beautiful mammal, and have true appreciation for something we have only formerly seen in a book, or on television. When we arrived at low tide there were already fifty or more people making their way silently across the sand banks towards the massive black shiny body. There was a sense of excitement, but the main feeling which emanated from the gathering was reminiscent of a congregation arriving to pay their last respects. The whale was still a good distance from the edge of the water, where people stood with binoculars. I think if I were a whale in my final hours I would be very pleased to have chosen the estuary at Strandhill for my final hours. The whole scene was breathtaking. The estuary is straddled on one side by Knocknarae with the sentinel of Queen Maeves Grave at its summit, and on the other, by the wild Ox Mountains. Occasional shafts of sunlight split the heavy grey clouds, and smoky veils of misty rain crawled down the mountains and across the sand banks. Very moving. The children seemed more intent on running through the water in the piddling rain than getting a look at a whale! Later I appointed myself extra brownie points for bringing the kids two changes of clothes, and the adults a flask of hot tea. Unfortunately these points had to be removed not long after, when I realised I’d forgotten my wallet.