Of all the places to store ammunition during WW1, Carrickfergus Castle…
And in WW2 it was the local air raid shelter! Surely they felt like sitting ducks?
Heading north, both the Unionists and Nationalists flags hang at half mast. Nobody’s died; the flags are set at the ladder’s maximum reach!
Also at maximum reach, this horse being swum in a local harbour. Like humans, horses get both fitness and muscle therapy without causing impact on their joints.
Thirty square miles of salt mine lie beneath communities, roads and farms here. Not food salt; this was for roading. The industry crashed when imported salt was allowed into the UK, leaving great caverns of man-made empty space; does anyone check what’s going on down there?
More positively, in schools the Irish language is taught to all children under twelve years old. Sixty percent of the population now speak the countries heritage language, and the number is growing.
Travelling by coach, all goes quiet, caught in the mysticism of Gaelic music softly playing, a mist coming over a quiet sea, the deep comfort of plush seats, and dolphins gliding along the coast, parallel to the coach.
Emerging from the mist, the border between road and shoreline has morphed into concrete slopes, used for the annual drying of seaweed to make dulse, a local delicacy. Chew it like gum to release the heavily salted marine flavour, then swallow or spit; your choice.
But not near a Fairy Thorn tree. Providing entry to the fairy world, these trees are strictly out of bounds. Roads are built around them, and no Irish person would ever cut one down.
Speaking of won’ts, during the potato famine the English helped by banning the Irish from owning horses worth more than five pound, drinking alcohol, owning land, and using the Irish language. One older woman lived in a cave near the coast, boiling potato skins and selling the result as bottled water. How the English never caught on what happens when potato skins are boiled in a particular way…
The English confiscated all the good potatoes, and sold to the highest bidder; the English. Lady Derby responded by opening a mine, providing employment and paying high wages, thus enabling the local Irish families to feed their families.
Some vanishings are neither mythical nor man-made. The vanishing lakes fill with water during heavy rain. As the water soaks through the chalk base, the material dissolves and the water drains. Once empty, the chalk dries, reconsolidating until next time.
Vanishing is common in Ireland: fairies, myths about missing daughter’s or lovers, and then the biggest disappearing act of all… once upon a time Northern Ireland was rainforest, but only two percent remains.
What’s not vanishing is the Giant’s Causeway:
And then there’s the encounter between Richard Branson and Rathlin Island, off the coast. The story goes that when Richard Branson wax attempting his world record balloon flight, he got into a bit of nowhere and the Rathlin Islanders helped him out. To thank them, he donated some funds for their use. The Islanders had a meeting, with many ideas put forth. At first, a new community centre, but it soon became clear the community wax happy with what they had. Maybe a monument of Mr Branson? But no, that might attract the odd tourist but wouldn’t really be useful. Then a resident stood up and suggested the one thing which everyone would use, and it would provide employment and social benefits. The meeting agreed, and so it was that Rathlin Island got a new pub.
Back on the mainland, a memorial to the last animal culled during the foot and mouth tragedy:
Wander further down this lane to discover caves, and stones needing no polishing:
But mysteries remain… what on earth is this boat used for?
…. are these islands really sliding gently into the depths?
…why do folk still make the journey to see the dark hedges when the tree numbers are depleting? The fallen wood is being carved into beautiful doors.
And lastly, have you ever noticed that the symmetry of some stately houses is an illusion? (Look closely at the gap between the protruding entrance and the first window on each side.)
Stories for you - Enjoy! 