Sunday, November 1, 2009

Meeting the relatives, Clare Coast

The day started as a beautiful sunny day, but I'm discovering that it can be deceptive.


Breakfast room and Rosie

I had organised to be picked up at 10am this morning, so Marie came to get me with her little girl, Ellen.
Ellen and Marie

They took me up to the family farm to meet Nora, the mother and Sean, Marie's brother. For those who may not have heard the story, this is the farm from which my Dad's ancestors migrated over 150 years ago. The Curtins still own the farm and are direct descendants of the same family as me. So the farmhouse is on the very spot where my Great (x5) Grandfather would've grown up. I had been there twice before and it's an amazing feeling to be surrounded by the spirit of your ancestors.
The welcome was very warm and gracious and I felt very much at home.


Curtins and Curtin farmhouse

Nora and Moira

We had a lovely morning tea/lunch and then Sean took me off around the farm to have a look. He breeds cows until they're about one year old then sells them to the farmers in the East of the country, because apparently the land is much better over there.
The bulls on the Curtin farm



The farmhouse is in a beautiful spot. You can see down to the Ocean, and you are surrounded by fields of green on every side.

Curtin farm view at Tullygarvan


Brickwork that is characteristic of County Clare

Then we took off to Marie's farm which is just down the road, and had another cup of coffee. She has just built her house and again she has a beautiful view, surrounded by fields of green.

This afternoon I decided to go for a drive along the Clare Coast heading North. The scenery again was just magical, with the road often tracking right beside the sea.
Here are a few pics..




One of the features of County Clare is The Burren which a wild rock landscape that appears very barren but is full of wildlife and protected flora.
Few more pics..




So now it's Saturday night and Halloween and I'm off to Holy Mass. Will pray for your immortal souls! Then I'm off to have dinner with the relatives....
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3 comments:

  1. DeniseNovember 1, 2009 at 9:10 AM

    Isn't it fantastic to have that sense of ancestors. I felt the same when I went back to England and walked through the woods where my Dad used to take us to pick daffodils and bluebells for Mum. You might not see or contact relatives for years and then when you meet it is the shared history and inexplicable 'sameness' that creates instant links and breaks down barriers. Yet in your day-to-day life you don't even think of it.

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  2. Anne GNovember 1, 2009 at 2:19 PM

    County Clare looks so lovely and peaceful! It is special that the family were so welcoming, I'm sure they loved seeing you too. Denise I love your choice of words 'the shared history and inexplicable sameness that creates links' it is so true.
    Anne x

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  3. WattleNovember 1, 2009 at 4:16 PM

    Thanks for the comments, Denise and Anne. I loved your choice of words too, Denise. It just sums it up so beautifully... There really is a shared heritage that can't be created artificially. I went back for dinner last night, and there was a real warmth and sense of belonging. That alone made the trip to the west coast worthwhile.

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