watchingthedaisies

The Wild Atlantic Way – Mullaghderg Beach

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“Walking is a man’s best medicine.”

                                             Hippocrates

Mullaghderg Beach

I make my way to the beach as often as possible; it helps to calm my busy blogger’s brain. Mullaghderg is a stunning beach not far from home, but it has strong currents making it unsafe for swimming.

If you take a little walk past ancient rocks, with a view of the island of Arranmore in the distance:

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You will enter a little cove that is very safe for swimming. I learned to swim here as a child, and it holds many fond memories of swimming with my sisters and my cousins, jumping off the rocks, eating sandwiches with bits of sand in their midst, flasks of tea, laughter and LOTS of love…

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Last week, I wandered across the pebbles, listening to the ghosts of the past, before I climbed high again to reach the rocks on the far side.

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I stood alone with my memories, before finding the perfect spot to empty my mind and restore my body.

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As the afternoon’s faded, I filmed the breathtaking view. The island of Arranmore is seen near the beginning and the island of Gola (to the north) at the end.

Cnoc Fola lies just around the far corner.

Brigid P. Gallagher is a retired natural medicines therapist, passionate organic gardener and author of “Watching the Daisies- Life lessons on the Importance of Slow,” a holistic memoir dedicated to the art of mindfulness and healing from debilitating illness.

 

 

 

88 comments

  2. I love this place, Brigid. I visited this place some years ago with my Irish girlfriend and now the Atlantic Way is high on our list. Ireland is gorgeous and so are your photos.

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  4. Brigid, your pictures, gentle words evoking carefree youth, the whispers of the past and the present moment of solitude, one with a landscape beyond my meagre words in its beauty and the film all conspired to give me restful peace. Thank you.

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  5. What a beautiful place to live. I wish I could be there with you. It’s so tranquil! Thank you for sharing. Good luck with the book. I’ve recommended it to a friend. I think it will really help her.

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  6. What a beautiful place, evoking such sweet childhood memories. We have beautiful beaches and rocks to climb on in coastal Maine, but I grew up landlocked in northern Maine so my childhood water memories are of visits to the lake. I love the concept of eating bits of sand in the sandwiches and not caring one bit as a child. Now I’d fear breaking a tooth! 🙂

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  10. I LOVE your writing. I can just imagine reading it without the pictures and still being able to “see” where you’ve been. Very spiritual/healing writing. PS the pictures are gorgeous, too.

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  13. Yes, you are right the sea and walking along the beach is good for the soul and calming. We have walked along many beaches, and they all have their unique feel to them. Love your photos!

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  20. Just beautiful Brigid!
    The powerful sound of the wind in your video, to your lovely memories, and the cuttings in the rocks….
    I can see how returning to memories is so strong within you. And a place so far away from here in Melbourne…
    I hope you can make it back there again soon,
    Di 💕💐

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  21. These pictures are incredible, Brigid. You are most fortunate to have grow up at the coast. My mother also tells lots of stories about all the children swimming in the river near their old home and learning to swim in shallow inlets.

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  23. Oh how wonderful. I just love the sound of the wind and the sea – what a fabulous place to learn to swim Brigid and to be able to continue visiting for those memories and tranquillity. Beautiful. x

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  26. My dear Brigid – I didn’t want to post this on Gary’s comment stream on the post he wrote saying thank you to Terry’s readers. But I do want to say I was so dreadfully sad to read your news. You have my heartfelt sympathy on the dreadfully sad passing of you sister. I wish you peace in your grief, I wish you the solace to find those happy times in your heart and I send you all the love I have to help you at this difficult time. Please extend (if only silently) my warmest wishes to the rest of your family and hers. I thought this beach which you say is full of childhood memories might be the right place to express my condolences to you. Strength, dear friend.

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    • Thank you Osyth. I really appreciate your kindness. I will be posting a wee poem on Friday but I had no heart to write anything sooner. I have had such great support here from kind cousins who were on holiday last week. I am so sad about dear Terry. He was such an inspiration. God bless. X

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      • I am glad that you have good support from cousins. Only write when your heart is ready. I hold you in my thoughts and will make a little bouquet of late summer blooms in your sister’s name tomorrow. The fallen petals I will scatter on the river. Terry is a loss to many. He was an extraordinary man made more so by the fact that he had no idea he was X

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  32. Brigid, thank you for letting me tag along (albeit virtually) on this incredible walk – Mullaghderg Beach looks like a place of absolute tranquility and serenity. The scenery is breathtaking but understand that the place holds many ‘ghosts of the past’ for you. Xx

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