Had a great breakfast this morning at our hotel in Tullycross, the Maol Reidh. Then we left for the port city of Cleggan, a 20 minute drive down the west coast of Ireland. We took a 20 minute ferry ride out to Innishboffin, a magical island 17 miles out into the open North Atlantic (just enough time for Tracy and Shawn to get a slightly queasy stomach). To visit Innishboffin is to take a trip back in time to see the Ireland of movies, storybooks, and fairy tales. Innishboffin is a small island that provides the visitor with the raw beauty of life in a very harsh climate of high wind, torrential rain, blue skies, and breathtaking scenery. The 160 full-time islanders just received electricity 20 years ago. Most of the inhabitants were fishermen. And everywhere you look you will find moving memorials dedicated to those who have lost their lives to the sea. Some tragic stories to be sure. Along with the people of Innishboffin are the inevitable flocks of sheep, both white-faced and some blackfaced sheep. Even one totally black sheep. The white sheep provide a slice of better tasting meat while the black-faced white bodied sheep provide a sturdier version of sheep more able to fend off the forces of nature. There is one Catholic Church on the island, several burned or abandoned homes, and a flotilla of curaks, sailboats, and fishing boats.
All of us, including our Irish tour guide Jeff, spent five hours walking the 3.6 rugged miles of steep roads up and down the hills and very narrow one car lane roads of Innishboffin. Michael and Tracy found some treasures in the ruins of a burned out house. Michael and I took two small souvenir stones from the beautiful grotto to the Virgin Mary located near the front door of St. Coleman’s Catholic Church. And all of us took many, many pictures of the scenic harbor, nearby mountains, indescribable scenery, wishing we could collect our entire families and spend the rest of our lives together on this simple, yet compelling island…… except in the winter. Below are a few pictures that will not accurately reflect the beauty of Innishboffin.
You will have to ask Tracy the significance of this picture.
The iron cross stands in the foreground of the Innishboffin cemetary.
Michael (left) and Mike (right) walking up the narrow coastal road
One view of the Innishboffin harbor. Notice the tide is out.
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