It’s been a few weeks since I participated in Poetry Friday. Mostly, that’s because we’ve been getting ready for a vacation and then traveling. Where did we go?
We spent two weeks in Ireland!
Our trip was in three parts:
- Galway – 3 days
- Wilderness Ireland: Hiking Ireland Coast to Coast (a guided and inclusive tour) – 7 days
- Dublin – 3 days
The trip came about last spring when I was planning for us to go to Yosemite and Kings Canyon National Parks in the U.S. We were planning to go in June, and by March, when I looked into it, most places were booked. Plus, my husband and I do not like throngs of people. So, I started to look at going in September.
Yes, September would work. But, I found myself just not excited about the trip.
My husband and I had always talked about doing a hiking trip abroad. So I looked into it. By luck (and research), I found Wilderness Ireland. This is a company that offers numerous trips, all involving outdoor activities like biking or hiking. We booked hiking Ireland Coast to Coast which meant we would start in Galway and end in Dublin, while hiking in three of Ireland’s National Parks and summiting the three highest mountain peaks in Ireland.
After booking, I planned the three days in Galway and three days in Dublin, at the beginning and end of the trip respectively. It was a fantastic trip; I’ve written a few articles about it for Medium. I will attach the free links at the end of this article, so you can read without being a Medium member.
I have not had much time to write poetry but I was inspired by the scenery and hospitality in Ireland. In addition, we were introduced to some Irish music – not in pubs – but in the van while we traveled to our hiking locations. Our hiking guide introduced us to Van Morrison, and the songs “Fields of Athenry” and “It’s a Long Way to Clare From Here,” a ballad by Ralph McTell. Both are beautiful songs, first telling of the historical famine in Ireland and then a tale of emigration.
As we wandered around the countryside during our hiking and attempted mountain ascents visiting locations such as Galway, County Clare, Gort, Killarney, Connemara, the Burren, Mweelra, Wicklow, Glendalough, and Dublin, we were introduced to more Irish history and lore.
Did you know that fairies are considered not good? They do evil things! Homes had red doors and windows to keep them out!
Additionally, we saw busts of and quotes from James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett, and others.
The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ancient Irish Poetry, by Various offers a few examples of the spirit of Ireland as I saw it during our visit. I share two of these with you today.
THE VIKING TERROR
Bitter is the wind to-night,
It tosses the ocean's white hair:
To-night I fear not the fierce warriors of Norway
Coursing on the Irish Sea.
THE HOSTS OF FAERY
White shields they carry in their hands,
With emblems of pale silver;
With glittering blue swords,
With mighty stout horns.
In well-devised battle array,
Ahead of their fair chieftain
They march amid blue spears,
Pale-visaged, curly-headed bands.
They scatter the battalions of the foe,
They ravage every land they attack,
Splendidly they march to combat,
A swift, distinguished, avenging host!
No wonder though their strength be great:
Sons of queens and kings are one and all;
On their heads are
Beautiful golden-yellow manes.
With smooth comely bodies,
With bright blue-starred eyes,
With pure crystal teeth,
With thin red lips.
Good they are at man-slaying,
Melodious in the ale-house,
Masterly at making songs,
Skilled at playing fidchell.
***fidchell is a game like chess.
My Medium.com posts on Ireland are available to read FREE at the following links:
Poetry Friday is hosted this week by Linda Baie at Teacher Dance. Thanks for hosting, Linda.
The Apples in My Orchard 
I just got home from lots of errands & found your post, Carol! I ate a very late lunch listening to that beautiful music, reading about your spectacular trip, and looking at those Lucious hills of green. I am especially taken by that one scene with the mountain in the distance! And the poems are not surprising from Ireland, the “the ocean’s white hair” and “bright blue-starred eyes” in the second one, where I love the “hurrah” for warriors at the end. What a trip & thanks for sharing so much with us!
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Oh, your trip looks amazing! Ireland is on my bucket list. I’m so happy for you!
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It sounds like a wonderful trip! I haven’t been since 2002, but I’d love to go back!
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I love hearing about your travels, Carol! Gorgeous photos! I have never been to Ireland, but it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Thank you for sharing.
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My husband and I spent two weeks driving all through Ireland. Our adult sons joined us for one of the two weeks. It was one of the BEST trips we’ve ever taken. Your photos brought back so many wonderful memories of our time in that beautiful country.
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Ooh, I loved this post, as we’re going to Ireland soon! We’ll be mostly in Dublin. We went once before and were more rural. Dingle Peninsula and several small villages across central Ireland. We were only in Dublin a day on that trip. We’re doing a folklore tour, an e-bike tour on the Houth Peninsula, the Book of Kells, and lots of just wandering the city. We’ll be up in Belfast for a day or two and will go to the Giant’s Causeway. Can’t wait to see that! Then a few days in a small town on the coast before we come home. Curious about whether you did the guided or self-guided. I love the idea of doing a cross-country hike! Whee! Thanks for sharing. Will be back to read more!
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PS Just read your posts and see you did Cliffs of Moher (we loved them!) and the Burrens (so cool–did you get to see Poulnabrone dolmen?). Sounds like a fabulous trip. Not sure I could do that much busing and being talked at. We’re doing a day trip from Belfast to see Giant’s Causeway, and even that will be plenty, I think. But I love the idea of someone else attending to the details–what a luxury. So glad you loved your trip!
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What a fabulous trip! My goodness…you have made me want to hop on a plane with a pair of hiking shoes. Your photos are amazing.
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