This is Dunluce Castle, one of the most dramatic fortresses on the Antrim coastline of Northern Ireland, first built in the 13th century by Richard de Burg, an Anglo Norman. If you’re a ‘Game of Thrones’ fan, you might recognise it as Castle Greyjoy, altered with special effects.
Moore Hall in Mayo - Mysterious and enchanting
George Moore made a fortune in the Spanish wine trade and decided in the 1790s to build himself an impressive house on the edge of Lough Carra in County Mayo in Ireland. The locals were superstitious about his choice of location because Muckloon Hill was alleged to have been cursed by a druid in the year 400.
Four haunted houses for Halloween
Halloween is a time for family and friends to gather around a crackling fire and share ghost stories. Apparently in Victorian times, spooky tales were more associated with Christmas but nowadays we savour them at the end of October. There is a limitless supply of ghost stories in Ireland where huge ruined castles loom on the landscape and the ruins of big houses lie abandoned at the end of long winding avenues. They have always fascinated me so, to celebrate the spooky season, I’ve found four tales of haunted houses.
'The Family Shadow' is now available as an audiobook
A fine place for an inspiring stroll - Woodstock House and Gardens
We recently had visitors staying from England and, because they like walking, old houses and gardens, we decided to take them somewhere special. Woodstock Gardens in Inistioge, County Kilkenny are now being restored by Kilkenny County Council and are a wonderful place for a walk. I’d been before years ago but could only remember the famous Monkey Puzzle avenue, which would’ve been an impressive feature in Victorian times.
Wandering in old graveyards - St Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny
This is the beautiful and peaceful graveyard of Saint Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny. Graves here are decorated by nature with wildflowers like poppies, roses and valerian. Some of the headstones are hard to read because they’re so weathered but tombs inside the Cathedral building date from mediaeval times.
A happy and healthy New Year to everyone!
A happy and healthy New Year in 2022 to you all!
A final few words from ‘In Memoriam’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, longest serving Poet Laureate and favourite of Queen Victoria.
Autumn leaves, abundant fungi and a tragic family story
What time of year do you like? I’m a summer person really. I love the early summer months of May and June best but autumn is the season that comes a close second. Walking in an autumn like the one we’ve just had, with bright blue skies and unusually warm dry weather for Ireland, I find uplifting and inspiring. Read on for a celebration of autumn leaves, deadly poisonous fungi and a tragic family story in Menlo Castle in Galway.
Superstitions in Ireland - a light-hearted look at bad omens
I recently googled to find out which is the most superstitious country in the world, fully expecting it to be Ireland. Surprise, surprise; it wasn’t. It was India. And within Europe the most superstitious people apparently live in Serbia. Perhaps we are beginning to shake off our belief in bad omens in Ireland. I was brought up by superstitious parents and it took me years to abandon their worries about magpies, broken mirrors, spilled salt and peacock feathers, to name but a few.
Victorian-era plant hunters were an intrepid lot
Would you have applied for a job as a plant hunter in the 19th century? The first skill you would have needed was an adventurous spirit. Plant hunting botanists had to survive shipwreck, pirates, numerous accidents and foreign diseases, such as dysentery and yellow fever. Some never came home. I’ve been doing some research on medicinal plants and popular Victorian garden trees and, in this month’s blog, I take a look at a few of the specimens these brave, intrepid men brought back with them that still adorn our gardens today…