Ballyliffin Day

I began the day with Paddy in Duntally Woods in Creeslough, where I went for a very wet walk with high school friend Siobhan. She has been winning her battle with cancer since 2014 and is a remarkable person. Very strong, very positive – she reminds me of her mother, whom I used to visit in her shop in Derry when I was a teenager. She caught me up on the 'bars' – the latest news. She was at the Foyle school dinner I had wanted to go to a few weeks ago but couldn't make. She said her jaw hurt from  laughing so much.

Home to collect mom and then a gorgeous drive first back to Letterkenny, then north to Buncrana, Clonmany, and our goal, Ballyliffin Golf Club. We stopped on the way to let Paddy relieve himself. This is Pollan Bay:

Next, the golf club, where we had a lovely lunch with the O'Dwyers, who are members. Mom had an open prawn sandwich with the Marie Rose dressing she has read about in Toast (mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce).

The golf course is dunes and ocean. There were 250 men out today in the senior cup for men from Donegal. Also a busload of Americans. I brought my clubs with Ann's encouragement (Ann is my friend and the daughter of mom's friend, Peggy O'Dwyer). Ann said Peggy would like to play a few holes with me. We didn't in the end--I don't think Ann liked her chances with getting three senior citizens in and out of buggies on a busy day at Ballyliffin. I was mainly eager to get back to Paddy in the car. I don't like leaving him in the car, but the alternative was 6 hours alone in the cottage.

But it would have been fun to hit a few balls. And probably lose them in the dunes! When accuracy is required, I'm not that dependable. The views from the club balcony were spectacular, including the one below!

Mom and I were on this course maybe 4 years ago when the Irish Open was held here. I remember getting a photo of her with a cheeky grin on her face when a player had hit into the dunes and was just a few yards from her trying to whack it out. The gates:

It was a stunner of a day. Any American here for golf today will be looking at real estate. Donegal is irresistable. After lunch back to Pollan Bay.

Mom enjoyed another lovely walk, where her speed and distances were remarked on.

The drive was maybe 3 hours round trip, maybe a little more. I enjoy listening to mom reminisce about her time in Derry, including trips to Buncrana with the amazing Miss Craig, a seamstress mom befriended. She had a club foot and lived in a little council house – no doubt a big improvement from the convent where she was raised with other orphans, then the shirt factory where she would have worked on Irish linens. Mom became Miss Craig's driver, taking her to Buncrana, for instance, to see her sister. Miss Craig drove a Reliant Robin, a 3-wheeled car that could be driven by people who didn't have a license. No danger there! A woman with a club foot driving a 3-wheeled car with no license! And she lived at the top of a very steep hill. She was an amazing woman. One more photo from Pollan Bay.

On the drive from the Downings road back to the cottage, we cross a bridge over the Duntally River, near Doe Castle. On one side it looks like this:

And on the other, like this:

This was our last night at the cottage and dinner was: use up what's left. Kale, mushrooms, halloumi cheese, salad with cherry tomoates. We continued to enjoy spectacular views of the inlet while sitting in the conservatory.

Oct. 4