A Wild Corner of Ireland, Through the Eyes of Dylan Thomas
In 1935, the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas made his way to this same forgotten corner of Northwest Ireland with his literary editor for an extended summer vacation. They rented a stone cowshed converted a decade before by the American artist Rockwell Kent, who used it as a place to stay and paint.
For some time, I've been dipping in and out of a book idea about the travel writing of the 1930s, when poets, novelists and journalists were using foreign journeys to try and make sense of (or escape) their restless times. I've followed W.H. Auden and Louis MacNeice to Iceland, and J.B. Priestley up the spine of England. I'm following Thomas here — and, like him, I'm also traveling with a friend, the photographer Michael Turek. We're lodging in the nearest habitable cottage to Thomas's former abode — 'the hourless house,' as he called it, and now a ruin.
A Ragged Edgeland
With Ardara behind us, we follow a spur leading off the Wild Atlantic Way — the popular tourist coastal route running the country's length — and head for a former fishing hamlet called An Port. As we crest barren moorland, a shadow looms to our left: the rising slopes of Slieve League, the highest marine cliffs in Europe.
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New York Times
2 days ago
- New York Times
A Wild Corner of Ireland, Through the Eyes of Dylan Thomas
We drive up through the steep Glengesh Pass, or Glen of Swans, in smooth, switchback turns. The pass, a short distance from the town of Ardara, in County Donegal, also marks the threshold to the Glencolumbkille Peninsula, a bulge of backcountry that's rimmed with sandy beaches, sea cliffs and caves that boom in a thrashing tide. In 1935, the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas made his way to this same forgotten corner of Northwest Ireland with his literary editor for an extended summer vacation. They rented a stone cowshed converted a decade before by the American artist Rockwell Kent, who used it as a place to stay and paint. For some time, I've been dipping in and out of a book idea about the travel writing of the 1930s, when poets, novelists and journalists were using foreign journeys to try and make sense of (or escape) their restless times. I've followed W.H. Auden and Louis MacNeice to Iceland, and J.B. Priestley up the spine of England. I'm following Thomas here — and, like him, I'm also traveling with a friend, the photographer Michael Turek. We're lodging in the nearest habitable cottage to Thomas's former abode — 'the hourless house,' as he called it, and now a ruin. A Ragged Edgeland With Ardara behind us, we follow a spur leading off the Wild Atlantic Way — the popular tourist coastal route running the country's length — and head for a former fishing hamlet called An Port. As we crest barren moorland, a shadow looms to our left: the rising slopes of Slieve League, the highest marine cliffs in Europe. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
85-Year-Old Grandma Gets Airport Surprise From Great-Grandsons Before Dream Trip
Great Grandma Mary McCarthy was already excited for her 85th birthday trip to Ireland — then she got the surprise of a lifetime. While waiting for her flight with her daughter and granddaughter at Chicago's O'Hare airport, McCarthy spotted some familiar faces across the way: her two great grandsons, Finley and Wyatt, who surprised her all the way from Colorado. And her reaction was caught on a video. 'I looked out there and I said, 'That kid looks just like Finley!'' said McCarthy. Finley, 6, and Wyatt, 4, can be seen in the video running into their great grandma's arms while yelling, 'We surprised you!' The video of Grandma Mary and her unexpected travel buddies now has more than 700K views on TikTok, with people from around the world loving the surprise — and her reaction. 'I think that's why we knew we wanted to make it a surprise, because she has the best reactions,' said granddaughter Sarah Giannini, mother to Finley and Wyatt, who was the mastermind behind it all. 'We decided that when I landed with my family, I would go ahead and sit with my mom, grandma, and kind of chat, put her at ease a little bit,' said Giannini. 'Then I would text my husband to walk by, and we wanted to see how many times he could walk by with the boys without her noticing. So the video picks up right when I text him, and she saw him instantly.' In that instant, all the careful planning paid off, and Grandma Mary's reaction didn't disappoint. 'I'm surprised I didn't scream louder, but I knew I was in the airport,' said McCarthy. ''Well, you better tone it down,' I told myself.' Giannini says her boys were in on the surprise, and even came up with little white lies to throw grandma off the scent. 'I think you hear my youngest [in the video] kind of going, 'Hee, hee, we were so sneaky,' because they would purposely try to lay false trails,' said Giannini. With the surprise a huge success, the family set out on their Irish adventure. From dancing in pubs to exploring castles and listening to bagpipes, Grandma Mary did it all — even dabbling in falconry. 'I saw everybody do it, and I thought, 'Well, heck, I'm gonna do it too,' said McCarthy. Despite all the incredible experiences, both McCarthy and Giannini said the best part of the trip were the simple moments spent together. 'I don't get to see them that often, living a thousand miles apart,' said McCarthy. 'But we had a whole week together, and in the morning they'd come running [and say] good morning and give me a hug. It was so nice every day, every single day. I'm getting tears in my eyes thinking about it.' After this trip of a lifetime, Grandma Mary is already dreaming of their next adventure together. 'It was amazing. I'd love to go again,' said McCarthy. 'Drop of a hat — I'm ready. [It will] only take me 10 minutes to pack!' Giannini says they're planning their next reunion trip for Disney World. Until then, she says the viral video serves as a friendly reminder of how precious their time together is. 'I'm a lucky, lucky, lucky lady,' McCarthy added. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 days ago
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'It is a great honour': Enniskillen barber shop in running for national award
A barber shop with a twist is in the running for a national award. Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum in Enniskillen is one of eight finalists in the UK-wide Love Your High Street Awards 2025, organised by the British Independent Retailers Association. The barber shop is the only finalist from Northern Ireland and was selected from amongst hundreds of independent businesses across the UK. Read more: Library demolition could see discovery of 'archaeological deposits' Founded in 1981 by brothers Nigel and Gordon Johnston, Headhunters Barber Shop & Railway Museum combines traditional barbering with a celebration of Irish railway history. In 2002, the brothers converted an adjoining ladies' salon into a railway museum to house their growing collection of artefacts. The museum, now one of the largest collections of small Irish railway memorabilia, covers the Great Northern Railway (Ireland), the Sligo, Leitrim & Northern Counties Railway, and the Clogher Valley Railway. Headhunters has welcomed several well-known visitors over the years, including Gloria Hunniford, Richard Wilson, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, Adrian Dunbar, and Rob Bell. The business now serves third-generation customers, reflecting its long-standing presence in the Enniskillen community. Operated entirely by volunteers, the museum is a registered charity and has previously received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. Admission is free, and the site is dog-friendly. It regularly hosts school groups, community events, and heritage talks. Read more: Classic satire and horror to hit the stage in Fermanagh this August Nigel Johnston, co-founder of Headhunters, said: "It is a great honour for us to be recognised as a small family barber shop and railway museum from our island town of Enniskillen and the only finalist from Northern Ireland. "The confirmation that we had firstly been nominated by our wonderful customers and then selected as a finalist came as a complete surprise and is very humbling for us and all the railway museum volunteers. "As the world's only barber shop and railway museum, we enjoy meeting visitors from far and wide, sharing our heritage on the high street. "We are overwhelmed by the response from the local community and further afield to the news that we have been selected as a finalist, and we are grateful for everyone's support, showing how much our high street is loved." The Love Your High Street Awards celebrate independent businesses that help keep high streets vibrant and are decided by public vote. Visitors and supporters can vote for Headhunters via the Headhunters Barber Shop & Railway Museum Facebook page or through the British Independent Retailers Association website. The public vote closes on August 27, 2025, and the winner will be announced on September 1.
