Magic of Ireland - Part 1 - From BCST to Wild Atlantic

Fifteen days is only enough time to get a sneak peak into the magic of Ireland. I had been reading about some of it’s history and folklore before we arrived yet the emphasis this trip, my first time in Ireland, was on the current culture, the music and a time of relaxation. A time to build relatedness with my traveling companion was also in the forefront.

The two of us had been planning to take this trip for almost four years. Then her husband died and we had a global pandemic so the trip got push back to September 2023. There was a fair amount of tension as we discussed our itinerary, secured lodging and planned our route. We are both quite agreeable and easy to please and accommodating to the other’s desires while also lovingly protecting our own truth. It's really a magical friendship of two very different human designs, upbringing, personalities, outlooks on life etc. We’ve been friends for fifty-seven years which I’d say is a testament to how we both value relationship over issues. At one point she said she considered this a trip of a lifetime. For me it was mostly to get away and to relax and to experience a totally different culture.

I wrote both an intention for the trip and also a poem addressing our differences. That was exceedingly helpful to dissolve the tension. During the final preparations I focused on the chance to relax. I had lobbied hard for a rental car over a bus tour because I didn't want someone else dictating the agenda. My intent was to laugh when we get lost and to be completely delighted with whatever we happen to see. The downside of that plan is that she did all the driving so the stress of unfamiliar fell on her.

Immediately upon landing we rented a car with the steering wheel on the opposite side from what we are accustomed to. My friend got behind the wheel and began learning how the locals drive. The first day was stressful, the locals not exactly patient with us. We stopped about ninety minutes out of Dublin at a small town, Delgany, near the Wicklow mountains, where my favorite blogger lives. I had arranged to have a biodynamic craniosacral therapy (BSCT) session from her.

That was my first experience of Ireland's magic! Sophie deeply listened as my body opened up, trusted her light touch. She felt my body fluids flow through me; I felt wholeness flow through me. I saw amazing colors and some shapes I didn’t recognize. I felt as though the experience was the perfect start to acclimate me in this different culture. I formed an instant and lifelong friendship with this magical woman. AND, it was validation that I was on the right path to my future with my Biodynamic CaranioScaral training.

We spent the night in that town and began our Irish whiskey sampling. They definitely figured out how to make smooth whisky. And the food was equally delightful! I was delighted they advertise Hereford beef (my favorite breed.) no mention of Angus. We saw many black and white cows but I don't think we saw a black cow on the entire island.

Before we left home, I had said I didn’t care to tour the famous Waterford glass factory but the next morning she suggested it’d be a good idea anyway. I said, “Sure, what a delight to do something unplanned.” She drove about an hour or slightly more to the location, we parked relatively simply and secured tickets for a tour an hour later. It was interesting and part of the “tourist experience” that I had hoped to avoid as much as possible. I am glad we did it.

She drove us back North to Kilkenny about another 90 minutes. We both commented that was our one of our favorite stays. [I also fell in love with Portmagee.] We’d hoped to be in Kilkenny a couple of days but traded that for the Waterford tour and my session with Sophie Rieu. There was magic on every corner and in between in Kilkenny. I was introduced to Writer’s Tears, my new favorite whiskey (probably more to do with the name than the taste.) It was also the only place where we saw a mythological Wicca store. By the time we found it, it was closed and we left the next day before it had opened. Its a good thing because I likely would have spent far too much of my spending money in that spot.

The next day we toured the Jameson Whiskey production plant. That was a bit of amazing history, informative and quite interesting. I made my biggest purchases there securing Christmas present for my three sons and their father who carry the last name of Jamison and have Irish ancestry on both sides. In the same town is the Kindred Spirits

monument in honor of the Native Americans who wanted to show solidarity and contribution to the Irish during the potato famine. That was moving, when we drove up, all was still and you could almost feel the history there. Shortly after we arrived, a tour bus pulled up and about 50 people gathered round, we exited as I celebrated not being with a group.

A friend of mine noted that my description of our trip and the difference in our personality and preferences, made her think of the schism of difference between the South and the North of Ireland. She suggested our blending of differences and peaceful travels just may have helped heal the land we traveled. Oh I do hope so! What a lovely thought that our treading and trekking benefits more than just us! When my sister visited Ireland a few years ago her mission was to do some ancestral healing; I believe she did in a homeopathic way.

Our AirBnB that night was in a remote area without easy access to food or music. It seemed as though we had driven a great distance to find it; we were still getting accustomed to the narrow winding roads and confusing ‘indicator’ road signs. Our only experience and memory of Cork is that we got lost. Our host had left us a loaf of homemade bread, with Irish butter and homemade raspberry jam. We devoured that along with some Jameson and Ginger beer we had purchased that afternoon. We took a short hike in Nature and a short drive into town. It was exceedingly dark and we chose to return home to play cards rather than try to find local action.

With a fresh start the following morning we drove along the Atlantic coastal highway; the Ring of Berra. We weren’t able to see much along the route due to dense foliage growing all over the stone walls next to the road. It's understandable they are not able to widen or straiten roads because these stone walls that not only line the roads but also separate the grazing paddocks are ancient and it would be a tragedy to remove them. However the frequent rains left their mark on the landscape. The flowers were as abundant and healthy looking as the emerald green landscapes.

It was delightful to stop in some of the smaller towns and leisurely eat lunch and observe the locals and other tourists. The weather was fantastic, sunny and warm. We heard many comments from people who felt bad for kids who lived through a horrific rainy and cold summer, now stuck in school.

Anxious for new experiences, we had made reservations to stay at a hostel for three nights and planned to make that our headquarters and just drive where we wanted to go. It was very modest and under very dark skies. The stars were amazing but access to music was limited and by now we had enough of driving and decided we didn’t want to deal with backtracking on those crazy road, we’d rather press on. We stayed one night. We shared a bathroom with the other four rooms. I slept on the top bunk and we were happy to stay and happy it was for only one night.