County Cavan

Ah, Ireland, what can I say but it's grand to  be back in the homeland. Howard and Catherine have welcomed us warmly and made us feel at home and the farm air is helping us relax and sleep exceptionally well.  Perhaps the walking exhausted us more than we realised.  Corranure works it's magic every time.

Corranure is in County Cavan. I should explain that Corranure is the area where my father's home farm is located and my cousin Howard lives here now.

Looking back towards the farm, that's the sheds behind the trees. The cattle are in the field right outside of our kitchen window.      

We are staying in the flat on the left, beside the main house.

Farmer Allan 

and the calf he was worried about.  Mother and calf are doing well now.

Some  of the  pigs Allan isn't looking after! 

Allan has enjoyed driving around the country roads with John and talking sport with Joseph.   Wimbledon, the Tour de France and The European Cup are on in England and France at the moment so it's all over the TV.  We just heard that the French President has declared the Irish supporters as the most friendly and peace loving of all in Europe.  They sing and dance no matter what the result of the game and gather anyone who will join them into the Craic.

We watched Wales  defeat Belgium while we were out for dinner with Charles McCollum, my cousin.  Charles then took us on a tour of Cavan town in the broad daylight, at 10:45pm!  

We enjoyed an evening drive with Howard and Catherine - we took the Cootehill road to Tullyvin and onto Mountain Lodge through the windmills.  I don't think I've ever been so close to one of these turbines (and I have lived to tell the tale!) they stand so close to the road

and the farmers don't seem to mind that they are in their fields.  Having wind turbines in the fields doesn't detract from the beauty of the countryside one bit

In each new vista there is another lake, or should I say lough - this is Lough Acanon.   

We continued on to  Canningtown to within 3 miles of Baillieborough, came out at the Beehive into Killinkere.  Drifted back out to Grousehall  then down to Lavey and ate at the Lavey Inn. Came home via Stradone across Shantelon Mountain.

County Cavan is known as the Lakeland County and is reputed to contain 365 lakes, one for every day of the year.  Lough Sleelin is the county's largest lake, situated in the south of the county and forms a three way border on its waters between counties Meath, Weatmeath and Cavan.

Lonely Planet doesn't recommend a visit to Cavan but we think it has much to offer; the green landscape is beautiful with ruins standing around the countryside as a reminder of a great history if  not necessarily a good one. Each little town has a good supply of pubs for finding a bite to eat and some liquid refreshment, although they do stop serving food after 9pm, as we discovered.

Cavan Town is fairly typical of Irish towns, mostly grey stone buildings with a good  smattering of colour to brighten the demeanour of the streetscape. 

The flowers in the towns are exceptional.   They are planted in hanging pots all along the streets, sometimes hanging off buildings, and  in planter boxes.  The general choice for colour is yellow and red and the flowers are mostly begonias - they are a delightful splash of colour amongst the grey, especially on a grey, rainy day - summer in Ireland...

A little gem we found! 

Another little gem of Irish wisdom - You can recognise an alto singer because they always have facial hair!! - we heard this little pearl while someone was visiting the farm and enjoying a chat with us.