Sunday 2 January 2022

Sops Of Grass And A Trip To Ownahincha Beach.

 We had a drive out today.  Our neck of the woods is incredibly quiet at the moment and I don't know if the holiday homes residents haven't come down for Christmas or people are just doing their own voluntary lockdown?  It's definitely been very quiet yet again.

We drove through Caheragh and noticed the customary sop of grass in the road.  Living here over twenty years I know this the rural sign equivalent telling road users that Road Bowling was taking place.  This sport is played predominantly in West Cork and County Antrim.

Men (usually always men) gather at the sides of the roads while men compete bowling a metal ball down the boreens.  We past over thirty men who were waiting to follow the competion.  You often see someone with a metal detector looking for a lost steel ball.  Apparently people bet heavily on the competitors and money is often raised for worthy charities.  




Onwards we travelled through Skibbereen, Leap and to Ownahincha beach.  Remember when I visited there last July and we went in Patrick's chippy for a slap up bag of chips?

There were lots of brave souls walking along the treks, roads and beaches.  We pulled up and wound down the car window:





See the Lichens on the sea wall in the bottom picture? That's a sign of clean air.  The air wasn't very clean when we noticed the chippy was shut!

At least we saw some white horses waves and had a run out.  It was better than me going for a walk on my Jack Jones and not seeing a soul up on the hills overlooking the bays.

It's been a very very quiet Christmas in the countryside next to the sea.





13 comments:

  1. I think many people have had a quiet time, Dave. My sister, who is really sociable, told me she and husband had hardly left their house. We've not seen anyone, been anywhere either.

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  2. Yes it's been very quiet the veg artist. We had to have a run out just to have a change of scenery. Says me who looks the countryside and sea every day. No we live in strange times. Thanks.

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  3. Great photographs of the sea Dave, very atmospheric. It looks like a very wild beach. Nothing like beaches in the east. We normally have gypsy horse racing in the streets of a town near here on Boxing Day but I don't think they have taken place for the past two years because of Covid and are unlikely to start again because they were not popular with the local people. They were mostly Irish gypsies from the travellers sites involved.

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  4. Thanks Rachel. It's the Atlantic Ocean and it's always very powerful. There are horse fairs in Ireland and many a famous racehorse was bought at such fairs. Covid seems to be putting the damper on lots of events, even outside ones.

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  5. Never heard of road bowling before. I hope you did not kill any lichen when you dirtied the air...

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    1. Nor had I until I encountered them here in West Cork Debby. It would never happen in England. There would be H&S officers, cordoned off roads and public liability insurance would be astronomical. Thankfully they are a lot cooler over here. Shssh.

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    2. Lichens are great. Wandering around old churchyards and looking at the epitaphs and lichens is another one of my hobbies. Old churches are another must visit especially when in England.

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  6. After an unexpectedly difficultly December - as much logistical as anything - I'm finally catching up on some of my favourite blogs to wish their authors a happy new year and say thanks for reading and commenting on mine.I was by the sea myself today - looking at lichen as it happens - such an indestructible organism (part algae part fungi I belive)
    But I go on... I hope next year brings us all better times and plenty of words (and pictures) to inspire and entertain.
    Best wishes
    Mark

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  7. Most definitely Mark and may you have more success with the pen, camera, mouse and keyboard. Happy New Year and to your family and friends.

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  8. I know a lot about Ireland and its traditions but I had never heard of road bowling before. I wonder why they bowl underarm and not overarm like a cricketer. Back in 1957, the men were well-dressed with smart haircuts. Why don't you look like that Dave?

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  9. Yes Yp road bowling seems to be confined to county Cork and Antrim. Do you remember donkey drops? Under arm Cricket bowling was banned in 1981. I agree men were very smart and the female folk wore skirts and dresses. How times have changed.

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  10. The world must be full of novel, localized, 'sporting' traditions that seem a bit weird to anyone from outside the region. Many it seems are only kept alive these days to support charitable collections. F loves your first photo of the sea - winter sun on the waves.

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  11. Yes Tigger you are right the world must be full of novel, localized, sporting traditions. I once heard of someone stopping his lorry full of straw to bet at a Road Bowling race. He lost his bet (load of straw) and he had to go back for another load of straw. I love the mighty white horses roller Atlantic waves especially in Winter.

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