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The Guardian
26-04-2025
- The Guardian
Stars of the sea: discover hidden gems along the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way
The beauty of slow travel is having the space to discover local magic otherwise easily missed. Chatting with a farmer about some quirk of local history. Following a tip for the best seaview walks or trad music sessions or whatever you're having yourself. Gold-dust moments like these unfurl on self-guided routes along Northern Ireland's Causeway Coastal Route and Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, which pick up at Derry~Londonderry. We asked locals along this northern coastline for their favourite gems on a route from the charming seaside town of Ballycastle, County Antrim, to the buzzing surf town of Strandhill, County Sligo. Musician Micheál Ó Seanáin explains that the Ballycastle Traditional Music Trail was 'born of the reputation and tradition of music in Ballycastle', where 'there's been music in various bars since the mid-1950s and 60s' (currently Wednesday to Friday and the first Saturday of each month). Book on to the Saturday afternoon trail to meet a pair of experienced local musicians at a shoreside bar for stories and music. Over a few hours you'll visit two more heritage pubs, learn about instruments from uilleann pipes to Irish bouzouki, share a song and even try some brush dancing. Ballycastle makes a charming overnight stay before day tripping to Rathlin Island's seabird colonies of guillemots, razorbills, and puffins. Thanks to a campaign to eliminate rats and ferrets, the future of these colourful ground-nesters on the island should be secure. Ó Seanáin also recommends seeing the coastline by horseback. Hazel Patterson describes Crindle Stables as a family-run affair that evolved from her daughter Hannah's desire to 'ride with unicorns'. While that dream didn't quite pan out, Hannah did showjump at international competitions with Team Ireland. Today Hannah and her sister Amy run Crindle Stables and Crindle Bespoke together with their parents. 'We offer a combination of farm and equestrian experiences and exploring the coast,' Hazel says, 'incorporating the history, the culture, the characters and the authenticity of our area.' Bookable experiences include mixed ability beach rides from Benone beach to Downhill beach through the shallow waters, sand dunes, streams and rocky waterside environs below Mussenden Temple. 'It's the ultimate mindfulness; when you're on the horse you literally cannot think of anything else. Then after all that connection with nature below and around you, I highly recommend zoning out with a sauna on the beach.' Hazel suggests either the local Hotbox saunas or hopping on the summertime ferry across Lough Foyle to The Sea View Sauna in County Donegal. Former school pals Darragh Kelly and Ronan Doherty, who run Sea View Sauna, have two wood-fired, barrel-shaped saunas with views through full-moon windows on to beauty spots in the Inishowen peninsula. The first, overlooking the Stroove lighthouse near the Moville-Greencastle coastal walk, proved so popular that they set up a second at Culdaff's beautiful blue flag beach. Kelly is a regular in his saunas. 'I'm a professional MMA fighter,' he says, 'and take my recovery very seriously. I use a lot of ice baths and saunas, and was going to get one for my house but then I thought 'why keep it to myself?' Now I use it at the beach whenever I want.' For the full Atlantic experience, nothing beats eating freshly shucked oysters straight from the water. For that, Kelly would send you to County Donegal's western coast, just above Ardara. Here, Edward Gallagher runs Irish Premium Oysters, a shoreside working farm where his semi-retired oyster farmer father, Jimmy, leads tours. Several times weekly, Jimmy welcomes visitors to walk out with him at low tide to see how the oysters grow from seed and to taste how peated water from local bogland lends a unique flavour to Gallagher's 'Speciale' oysters. It's not all about the oysters however, Edward says. 'In a group of four, one will be mad about the oysters and the other three are more amazed to hear Jimmy's tales about the curse put on this bay that caused the local heron to disappear.' (No spoiler alerts; Jimmy will have to tell you the rest himself.) 'My father has any amount of time on his hands,' Edward says, so he won't be shy of sharing recommendations in the area, whether for favourite local walks or secret beaches. For another altogether different working farm experience, however, he might send you down to Grange, just north of Sligo town. Here, Martin and Trish Feeney are childhood neighbours turned sweethearts turned the husband and wife team who run Atlantic Sheepdogs, with the help of their next generation of 'three little men', a loyal pack of nine border collies and several flocks of diverse sheep breeds. Having learned from his father, Eugene, at the age of 11, Martin became the youngest ever competitor to win the annual international young sheepdog handler title. His personal hobby has become a unique award-winning tourist attraction, with daily sheepdog demonstrations year-round. 'It's a raw unfiltered Ireland, learning about real life on the farm in real time,' Trish says. 'Martin does all the demos, and he's witty and chatty and has a lovely way of putting the story across. Our visitors love the warm Irish family welcome, and they love seeing the bond he has with the dogs and how intently they listen to him, whether it's a whisper or a whistle.' From their family farm, Trish would send you to the buzzing surf town of Strandhill, where Voya Seaweed Baths beckons with the final unwind of your slow-travel tour: a long soak in a hot bath filled with organic seaweed hand-harvested from the wild Atlantic shoreline for all its healing, detoxifying, nourishing properties. 'Strandhill is a busy place,' Trish says, 'but then you step into the calm and serenity of Voya. And the seaweed baths themselves are like bringing the seaside inside.' Where better to contemplate the special memories you've gathered along the Causeway Coastal Route and Wild Atlantic Way, and plan your return visit? Discover more at
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Lil Nas X says he 'lost control' of part of his face but is now doing 'much better.' Bell's palsy signs & symptoms you should know — and how it differs from a stroke
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. Lil Nas X is sharing how one side of his face became paralyzed, but urged fans to "stop being sad" after what appeared to be a hospital trip. The 26-year-old rapper shared a video earlier this week where he seemingly can't control the right side of his face, and has since been posting updates on social media about his recovery. The "Old Town Road" artist, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, posted a video Monday evening where he's lying in bed wearing a hospital gown. In the post's caption, he said he "lost control of the right side of my face" and further explained in the clip how he couldn't properly smile or laugh. "This is me doing a full smile right now, by the way. I can't even laugh right. Oh my God, bro," the "Industry Baby" singer said in the video while in good spirits. The Atlanta-born star later took to his Instagram Stories to quell people's worries about him and his health. In one of his first posts after the video, he wrote he's "OK" in a blank post with text: "Stop being sad for me! Shake your a— for me instead!" The rapper, who released single "Hotbox" last month and is gearing up to release upcoming album "Dreamboy" this year, then shared various selfies of himself and his progress to recovery. One photo he wrote on-screen text saying he's going to "look funny for a lil' bit but that's it." On Tuesday, he shared a photo of the sky and palm tree with on-screen text saying people probably think they're being winked at when they see him, adding that he's "so cooked." He then shared a follow-up video on Wednesday of himself talking to the camera in a mirror, showing how his face muscles have already made some progress. "I've been chewing a lot so I can get this muscle stronger. It's much better, it's much better," he said to the camera. "My eyes, though, still have to play catch-up. But I can give a genuine smile, so that's good." While the rapper hasn't shared what he was told by medical professionals, people on social media shared he might've experienced Bell's palsy. Below, read everything you need to know about the condition, the symptoms and how it's treated. According to MyHealth Alberta, Bell's palsy "is a paralysis or weakness on one side of your face. Damage to the facial nerve that controls muscles on one side of the face causes that side of your face to droop." The condition comes on suddenly, often overnight, and will generally get better on its own in a matter of weeks. It affects both men and women equally, and most cases occur between the ages of 20 and 40. Minor symptoms of Bell's palsy may include drooling, increased sensitivity to sounds, loss of taste, dry eyes and pain behind your ear. But some of the more significant physical symptoms, according to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, include: Difficulty closing one eye Slurred speech Drooping of one corner of the mouth Inability to whistle A wrinkle-free forehead all on the same side Ocular symptoms might include the inability to close the eye on the affected side of the face, dryness, redness and a burning sensation of the eye. Some of the symptoms are the same between Bell's palsy and stroke. Regardless, it's important to get medical attention quickly in either case to ensure the patient gets the proper treatment. For stroke, it's important to remember the words "be fast." Each letter stands for: Balance: Be aware of any sudden balance loss. Eyes: Check for any vision loss. Face: Look for drooping on one side of the face or an uneven smile. Arms: Assess if there's weakness on one side of the body. Speech: Look for slurred speech or the inability to speak normally. Time: Call 911 if these symptoms are present. Symptoms like trouble finding words, eyes gazing in one direction, trouble walking and vision changes are more common in strokes. A person having a stroke may also have numbness on one side of the body or face, and weakness in the arms and legs on one side. On the other hand, a person experiencing Bell's palsy won't have that same weakness. They also won't have difficulty moving their tongue or eyes. The cause of Bell's palsy is unclear. However, most cases are believed to be caused by the herpes virus that causes cold sores, according to MyHealth Alberta. It can also be linked to other viral infections like the flu, chicken pox, shingles and Epstein-Barr virus. Other conditions linked to Bell's palsy include: Bacterial infections Lyme disease Inflammation of the facial nerve Diabetes Hypertension Pregnancy Multiple sclerosis Injuries Facial or dental surgeries Extreme exposure to cold Unfortunately, there isn't anything you can do to prevent Bell's palsy since it's typically linked to an infection. If you live with health conditions linked to Bell's palsy, managing them may help reduce your risk. Otherwise, you can take care of yourself by performing basic facial exercises to strengthen the muscles in the face. Massaging your forehead, cheeks and lips may also help. Most people who have Bell's palsy will completely recover within three to six months. That's especially the case for people who can still partly move their facial muscle, MyHealth Alberta noted. A small number of people may experience permanent muscle weakness or other problems on the affected side of their face. If you need treatment, your health-care provider may suggest a variety of options for symptom relief and faster recovery. That might include: Eye care: You may be offered eye drops to soothe dry eyes, or you might have to wear a patch if you can't close the affected eye to prevent dryness, irritants or injuries. Oral corticosteroids: These can help prevent nerve swelling and may help you regain facial movement faster. Antiviral medications: You may take these to speed up recovery, but they're typically only prescribed in severe cases. Electrical stimulation: Some health-care providers will offer this treatment to prevent facial loss after Bell's palsy.
