Luck of the Irish

I had a perfect day. First I listened to Chris Evans on BBC Radio 2 as I drove to Ballycastle for a day-long hike. Today’s guests included Don McLean and Mary Berry, among others. Don performed Starry Starry Night--a gorgeous song.

As I drove through Ballycastle, I saw a sign that said “Irish Art.” I called in and found, at the back of a hardware store, a room full of paintings. The proprietor, Eoin Donnelly, joined me in the small room and I told him I admired the range of artists he offered. We chatted a bit then I told him I like Gregory Moore--he had maybe 6 or 7 of his paintings. Moore paints a lot of farmers with sheep or cows and a border collie. I told him I saw a Moore painting a few years ago at Ross’s Auctions that I really wanted but the bidding got away from me.

“What was it of?”
“Horses on a beach below Mussendun Temple.”
“You’re not going to believe this.”
“Don’t tell me you just sold that?”
“No, I just bought it. It’s at the framers.”
Goosebumps.
I told him I’d come back after my hike. I spent the day hiking around Fairhead--an oft-painted cliff overlooking the Sea of Moyle. Here’s a view of it from Ballycastle:

And another:

The reason I buy so many paintings is because I love the Irish landscape and I so admire artists who capture some element of it.

My hike began with this view of a ruined cottage and outbuildings. I guess I should have zoomed a bit as it’s harder to see than in real life.

Then I read a placard about the ruins of an ancient fort, 500 AD, that belonged to the Gaelic Dalriada family that ruled this area and parts of nearby Scotland. The fort would have been taken over by the Anglo Normans after 1200. There wasn’t much to the fort, so no photo. I climbed a hill to the coast and looked back toward Ballycastle in the distance.

I’ll continue my birthday photos on days when I have nothing else to report. To be continued...
4-27