We took this photograph from inside the car near Caherdaniel in County Kerry, the other week.
I of course duly informed the car passengers that these were the: Skellig Isles. You know the one's that they filmed some of the recent Star Wars film locations there. I am going to apply for the 2016 Bunty prize for getting my location/destination wrong, for a change.
These are of course the: Scariff Isles. They haven't been occupied since about 1911 when the last census was held there. I get fed up about rural living and having no basic amenities like (make it short Dave!): no public transport, a pub, a shop, street lights, a village hall or even a village... But imagine living with your family and nothing but yourself and your livestock and the fishes and the sea birds? So you could become a poet, philosopher or a painter (wood-chip hung for five pound a roll) or even a smuggler?
Do you think country living is too isolated?
Time for a song.
Here's the real Skellig Isles sung by second favourite Irish band: Clannad. Well Thin Lizzy are obviously my favourite from Ireland. Both bands I have seen four times: once for Thin Lizzy and 3 times for Clannad. All at Manchester Apollo funnily enough. Enjoy.
These are of course the: Scariff Isles. They haven't been occupied since about 1911 when the last census was held there. I get fed up about rural living and having no basic amenities like (make it short Dave!): no public transport, a pub, a shop, street lights, a village hall or even a village... But imagine living with your family and nothing but yourself and your livestock and the fishes and the sea birds? So you could become a poet, philosopher or a painter (wood-chip hung for five pound a roll) or even a smuggler?
Do you think country living is too isolated?
Time for a song.
Here's the real Skellig Isles sung by second favourite Irish band: Clannad. Well Thin Lizzy are obviously my favourite from Ireland. Both bands I have seen four times: once for Thin Lizzy and 3 times for Clannad. All at Manchester Apollo funnily enough. Enjoy.
Like that Irish band. Out of the way is fine but isolation I don't think so. I like my own company but I also like knowing I can hop in a car and arrive somewhere in half an hour or so.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Local Alien. I think that's why I blog mainly to communicate with other people. I miss not jumping on a bus or train and seeing a rock concert like Clannad. We live nearly sixty miles from Cork. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThe older I get the more I want basic amenities and I don't want medical services to be miles and miles away. Rural living is o.k. when you are a very healthy young person. My brother-in-law due to health could no longer drive and they did sell up their rural home and move into a small village. He is much happier.
ReplyDeleteSandy
Thanks for that SandyExpat. I also want basic and public amenities where we live in the rural countryside. Rural dwellers pay their property taxes but get little or no amenities. Not even a skeleton public transport service, a public phone, can banks, community centre or even a library bus. Can see why so many people who move to the countryside sell up and move back to a village or town. Thanks!
ReplyDeletewhat a stunning place!
ReplyDeleteHi Sol. Yes there are some stunning places in and off the coast of Ireland. The photograph came out well and to say it was only taken with a mobile phone. Thanks!
DeleteThanks Dave, I went on YouTube and found loads more stuff, all very interesting about the islands. Some good music too. The scenery is fantastic. Mind you, you need good weather. Be a challenge in winter!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you liked it Gwil. YouTube is fantastic. I think you would write some great poems with scenery like the Scariffs for inspiration. Next stop from there is America. Thanks!
DeleteTrue. I did see a sign somewhere over there that said something like next pub 3,500 miles.
DeleteWill that pub be in Boston Gwil? If so it will have quite a few Irish customers.
DeleteDave, I thoroughly enjoy my rural isolation and the fact that there are no street lights etc because one of my pleasures is looking up at the stars on a clear night. Plus the silence and the lack of noisy people is a great advantage, indeed it is one of the reasons that made me move here over twenty-five years ago. Yes, I could live on one of those islands and be very content.
ReplyDeleteHi Heron. I think rural Ireland needs amenities and less reliance on private cars and taxis. It would be great to be able to catch a bus into town or have a pub or shop nearby and have a social life. One day I hope to move to sunny Portugal near a village with public transport. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post
ReplyDeleteThanks B G. Hope you are well and enjoying life. Thanks!
Delete