The Wren's Day.

Wren's Day/St Stephen's

It was about 1.30 on Wren's Day when there was a knock on the front door and three individuals were standing there. Masks and all.  We had them in and they played a few jigs and reels and sang a few songs - beautifully.  It really put us in the mood and so, at 5 we went into O'Sullivan's Courthouse  Bar. 
          From there, after a chat to a number of friends and acquaintances we went up Main Street

 Main Street

to Curran's Bar which was packed.   Jill hadn't been in this particular bar before and was captivated by it !My home help organizer was in there to be introduced to Jill for the first time and we had a great time.  Then, the Lispole  Wren came in the bar collecting and playing with box's and whistles

And here we see their banner with the wren's name in Irish - as it should be.

All in all, a good little early evening - and so back for dinner !

Christmas Eve

It's Christmas !
Yes, it's here again and Jill has gone down to the beach for a swim - along with some other foolhardy souls. But don't think that our sailing news is over until the spring - just suspended for a brief spell.

Being ashore isn't too bad this time of year either - we can see all our friends that we have missed for a while and listen to Dingle's great musicians.  Here is Eoin Diugnan, one of Ireland's finest pipers,  on Christmas Eve.

Eoin and yours truly sharing a joke in the O'Sullivan's Bar Courthouse Bar, Dingle, Co. Kerry.  In October, Eoin gave me fantastic help when we went to Majorca for a spell of sunshine and swimming.

Con Durham, Tommy O'Sullivan, Cormac Ó Beaglaoich and Danielle in the Courthouse Bar giving it welly !

And an unusual photo of Jill !

After this bar it was time to go to Bric's Pub near home to sing a few carols and and see many friends from "back West" to catch up on news and wish them all "Happy Christmas". Here we have Breeg Granville and Decy Comerford.

Decy is an incredible help to me in nearly every bar we go in !  He get's the drinks in, gets me onto my stool and, occasionally, will even lend us some money if necessary.  Good on ya Decy !

 Here are a couple of photo's from Jill's Christmas Day Swim at Béal Bán in  Ard na Caithne/Smerwick Harbour. In the second one she's with Breanndán  Ó Beaglaoigh, completely bald head and all. ( Actually, it looks quite good, I say)  Anyway, he'll have a new series of programs on the TV next year.

Which is almost on us. 

                                                         Valentia Harbour Entrance

 

The next day was fine, dry and clear and we headed out to the Blasket’s once again. We were travelling at about 6 knots downwind when a squall hit us and we had to reef in the foresail and put a reef in the main.  That was a lot better, but it would have been uncomfortable to the Blaskets that way and so we headed straight back to Dingle– arriving at 3 o’clock. Just another little trip before the boat goes over to the yard to be taken out of the water for three months.

                                                                                  PART TWO

We had a cracking sail on November 20^th to more or less round off the season for this year.  (Though there’s still the boat to sail over to Valentia for the lay-up.)  We set off good and early in the sunshine and had a new member of crew with us called Kilian from Tralee College. He comes from Youghal and was really remarkably good. As usual, we had the trusty Breda with us as well – but she had hurt her back.. 

           As soon as we were out of the harbour the wind was pretty strong and we had to put a reef in the main and roll in some jib.  We were doing 6 knots at times and fairly thumping along on a fine reach with a heavy and lumpy sea.  Some of the big Spanish fishing boats that had unloaded their catches and refueled overnight passed us slowly on both bows.  All their crews were getting shuteye as they went out to the fishing grounds 30 miles off the Blaskets, leaving only the mate or skipper steering the boat.

           At the end of the peninsula we were about to go into the Blasket Sound when there was a loud “crack” and we realized we had split our mainsail.  We undid the sail and put in another reef – luckily the split in the sail was on a cringle and so we could reef it below.  But it made us decide to turn back.  So, we were back in by 2 o’clock after an invigorating, if a little expensive, sail.

Valentia

We arrived at Valentia with Doulus Head in the background

–        always a delightful place – and tied up to find that we were the only boat in the marina!  It was November after all but fabulous weather, so we hooked up to the free power supply and went to the hotel for a drink with this sunset behind us. Valentia Harbour entrance looking north to Corca Dhuibhne and the Blasket Islands. When we came out it was dark – and time for a cracking meal and bed.

  

                                                         Valentia Harbour

sailingcrosher

We set off on a Saturday for the Blasket Islands – in particular, An Tearaght with the spectacular lighthouse and archway through the island.  You can’t see these from the land and only a few fishermen and people with boats have seen it. Even though Great Blasket was the “inhabited” island who’s people produced books galore before it was depopulated in the 1950’s.  An Tearaght had a sort of English speaking village on it – families, school as well as the actual lighthouse keepers.  This community has not, as far as I know, been written about anything like as extensively – perhaps the people simply didn’t write so profusely.  Anyway, it’s a beautiful place to visit.

When we had seen that and “Charlie’s Island” as Inish Mhicileán is called, after Charles Heaghey, Taoiseach  in the 90’s who built a house there, we set sail for Valentia.

It was only a few miles across the bay and we were on the lookout for whales on the way.  Earlier in the year we had seen quite a few Minke whales here and it being autumn, there were some Fin whales about – but no luck this time.

sailingcrosher

                                                                       Ian’s Blog.    November 2011

                                                                                            Part One

Well, a few things about me before we start the blog.

My name is Ian Crosher and I live in Dingle, Ireland and have done for the past 18 years.  A few years ago I had a severe stroke which left me paralyzed down the right hand side but I can still walk.  My wife and friends crew our boat – a Najad 37 – around these waters in the year that has almost gone. We have had some pretty wet weather this summer but we did have a trip to Valentia in November.