#ballinskelligs

[fentonphoto]

Some of the beautiful cliffs in Ireland. @travelgraphics

[seinzofageing]

[dangerously-human]

Ballinskelligs Beach, Co. Kerry, Ireland

March 2024

[mybeingthere]

Niall Naessens was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1961 and currently lives in Lios na Caolbhaí, Brandon in West Kerry. Naessens has been drawing all his life. He is a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, Visual Communications 1983. He first engaged with printmaking at the Graphic Studio Dublin in 1990. He worked on the Visiting Artists Program at the studio was a director 2000-2004. In 2004 he set up Cló Cill Rialaig an etching workshop in Ballinskelligs and was master printmaker there until 2009. Naessens returned to N.C.A.D. graduating with an MFA in Fine Art Print in 2013.

"I make 3 and 4 plate colour etchings involving hard and soft grounds, aquatint, sugarlift, spitbititng, engraving, burnishing and erasing. My drawings are graphite printed over with flat ares of translucent etching ink and gouache. I employ my own particular drawing syntax which I have developed by moving between the two mediums. I capitalise on the limitations of a medium, finding in restrictions the freedom to create voice."

Niall Naessens

June 2019.

[transgenderer]

from an article by the USDA on this tradition

The tradition of this annual gift from the people of Ireland started in the early 1950s when Ireland’s first Ambassador, John J. Hearne, sent a small box of shamrocks to President Harry Truman.

The shamrock presented to President Biden was grown by Mr. Joe Sugrue at his family-run nursery in Ballinskelligs, County Kerry, Ireland. For more than two decades, the Sugrue family has provided shamrock for the St. Patrick’s Day presentation at the White House.

from an article by AS

During the Second World War, Ireland remained neutral for the entirety of the conflict despite immense pressure from the US and Britain. This diplomatic position damaged relations between the nations, something that needed to be remedied after the triumphant Allies set about rebuilding Europe.

To repair relations, Irish Ambassador to the US John Hearne gave President Harry Truman a bowl of shamrocks in 1952. The move was a success as Truman sent a message hoping that, “relations between the two countries will continue to be on a good and effective level for generations.”

here's kennedy and reagan

from atlas obscura

In spite of all of the pageantry, it’s “a deadly serious day” for the Irish government, says Dr. Michael Kennedy, Executive Editor of Documents on Irish Foreign Policy. “In officialdom, this is something absolutely unique to have 15-20 minutes with the most powerful person in the world. No other small country like Ireland has it.” He adds: “You can tell jokes about paddywhackery until the cows come home, but you’ve still got that access.”

Hearne’s most brilliant move, though, may have come the following St. Patrick’s Day. As entered in Eisenhower’s presidential diary: “The Ambassador requested, thru Protocol, an appointment with the President in order to make presentation of shamrock to the President for St. Patrick’s Day … [Chief of Protocol] John Simmons stated that similar presentations have been made in the past, and recommended that the President receive him.”

the irish prime minister gave biden a "shamrock bowl" but as far as i can tell this isnt like... a thing? they have sprigs of clover in their suits? this seems insane

[nancypullen]

Oops

What was I thinking when I said "tomorrow"? I knew that the Edgewater gang was arriving Friday after work and I'd be wrapped up in playing Barbies and visiting pumpkin patches all day Saturday. Sorry. We had a ball with them and as I type this she's sound asleep in her own bed. She's growing up too fast and I'd love to freeze her at this age for a couple of years. Let her be little a while longer. BUT, as much as I'd love to fill this space daily with delightful tales of our little miss, I wont. I'm not allowed to post photos of her and that's half the fun, right? So here I am, talking one last time about our trip to Ireland. I won't bore you with dozens more photos of villages, castles, or the almost-too-green-to-be-true landscapes. I'll share a little something that I'd never thought about and that I found pleasantly surprising. Snails.

Those little suckers were everywhere. I mean, it makes sense. Snails like damp places, Ireland is quite damp, perfect spot! I first noticed how numerous they were on a walk along Ballinskelligs Bay. This particular bay, on the Wild Atlantic Way, was a treat. The mister wanted to climb around on the ruins of McCarthy Mór Tower, a castle built in the 1500's on a narrow spit in order to protect the bay.

I snapped that from quite a ways back, it's bigger than it looks here. While he scrambled around, getting the photos that he wanted. I enjoyed my stroll toward a 12th century abbey a bit further down. As I walked and enjoyed the fresh ocean air, I was disgusted by what I thought was quite a bit of dog poop on the path. It was everywhere! I was grumbling about irresponsible owners who don't pick up after their pets when I noticed one of the pieces of poop was moving across the trail. It was slugs! BIG ones!

I started looking a bit closer as I walked and lo and behold, the ground was heavily populated with snails.

I've always thought snails are absolutely adorable, so this discovery was just one more thing to enjoy in Ireland. Even though I was enthralled by the ancient abbey (and its wonderful graveyard!) the little mollusks were a sweet bonus that afternoon. Maybe Irish gardeners would disagree with me, but I never minded having a few snails in the garden. They mainly eat dead leaves and plants and their poop is good fertilizer, but I've never been overrun with them either. After this particular stroll I started looking a bit more closely everywhere we went, and there they were! Hedges, berry bushes, potted plants, stone walls, tree trunks...everywhere!

Does Ireland have a national animal? If not, I have a suggestion. And while I'm on the topic of flora and fauna, I noticed tons of hedges along country roads with small red flowers on them. We zipped by too quickly for me to get a good look, so I was delighted when I walked around on Inisheer and spotted some.

Imagine my surprise when I looked closer and realized that it was a whole hedge of Fuchsia! Sometimes called Bleeding Heart, I've only ever seen it in hanging baskets at garden centers - something like this.

But those big, healthy hedges were covered in blooms!

We were there in October, I'll bet these are glorious in the summer. Am I the last person to know that Fuchsia could get that big? Anyway, cute snails and unexpected floral revelations - Ireland delighted even in the most ordinary ways. Before I sign off and head for bed, back to that abbey on Ballinskelligs Bay for a moment. Here's a blurb if you care to read it:

It was windswept and haunting.

I thoroughly enjoyed the graveyard.

Some headstones were very old, some more recent. But along one wall of the abbey, there was a crumbling headstone too weathered to be legible. Beside it, mounted on the wall, was this ...

That is absolutely the best tribute to a departed soul that I've ever read. Isn't it just wonderful? "Much natural acuteness of mind, genuine wit, and original humor...honesty, fidelity, and courage." But the big finish, that Maurice "valued him living and regrets him dead", oh my. Isn't that all any of us can hope for? I just loved it. Makes me wish I'd known him. I'd love to know more about him. I wonder how many Patrick O'Sullivans died in Ireland in 1841? Probably a lot. But how many are buried at Ballinskellig Abbey? As far as I know, just the one. Good place to start. On that note, thinking of a life well-lived and appreciated, I'm going to drag my underachieving self off to bed. I have a full day of mediocrity ahead of me tomorrow, I need my rest. It takes everything I've got to be this average. Sending out loads of love tonight. Take what ya' need. Stay safe, stay well. XOXO, Nancy

[journallingweeks]

A list of everything that happened since my bf left in a May:

- I got into running, and eventually ran a 10k run

- I asked + received a title change in work, to Brand Manager

- his granny passed

- l*ah + t*m broke up

- sh*ne + m*ch*lee got engaged

- sinead o connor died

- Ryan tub was involved in a public scandal

- I got a Rimowa suitcase!!

- I got my hands on two b city bags

- I am (nearly) finished my course of laser hair removal, with only one session left after Japan

- I saved €5,200

- I moved home

- I lost five pounds

- I went to Copenhagen with the girls

- I went to Dublin on a work trip

- I went to Ballinskelligs with family for a few days

- I got much closer to his family + to d*lt*n

- I got my lips done again, .5ml

- I bought some of my now-favourite clothes: Bershka tops and tanks, Levi’s jeans floor length. I also realised I love wearing jumpers around my shoulders

- I ticked off the majority of my wishlist for Japan

- I gained a new freelance client

- I reached 500+ connections on LI

- I began to design my freelance website

- I bought a dress for the wedding that I love

- I got an average of at least 10,000 steps a day, spending more time outside/walking/running than I ever have

- I read more books that I ever have

- I fell out (kind of) with a***bh*

- bean brownie closed down!!

- songs of the summer are: padam padam, home to another one, vampire, doses and mimosas, bad idea right, what was I made for, speed drive, dance the night, billie bossa nova, hurts me, need 2/pine grove shuffle, world class sinner.

- Oppenheimer, barbie and the idol were what was huge in media. Also saw insidious 2

- I discovered the wonder that is benzoyl peroxide in skincare

- I read Glow, which probably stands as the most impactful book I’ve ever read

- I spent loads of time with my mum and grew much closer, same with my uncle

- there were protests on the fair deal scheme for my granny

- my granny’s cancer is thought to have come back

- I gave up oat milk

- a*ne got the job!

- l*na finished Hybernia

- I helped my uncle sell his Rolex

- I did extensive research for Japan

- my bf’s family finished their kitchen

- cleared out my wardrobe properly/finally

[acrossthearctic]

Day on Ring of Kerry

Like yesterday the morning started out gloomily but ended up as a beautiful sunny day.

We started early to beat the crowds and the first stop was Torc Falls. A lovely walk through the trees to see the anazing waterfall.

We then continued on our trip clockwise around the "Ring" being constantly amazed at the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains. We stopped at Sneem for our morning coffee only to find that all the cafes were closed as there was a water supply problem in town. However one enterprising lady with a mobile coffee cart was doing a roaring trade!

We had a stop at Ballinskelligsan and viewed the Skellig Islands and wandred around the ruins of the Ballinskelligs Priory.

The drive to the Cliffs of Kerry like yesterday's Gap of Dunloe drive was pretty hairy but well worth the effort.

Lunch was at Cahersiveen, the birthplace of Daniel O 'Connell and there is a magnificent church there named the Daniel O'Connell Memorial Church of The Holy Cross .it has a lovely altar and fabulous organ.

From there it was an uneventful trip home.

Dinner at one of the many restaurants along High Street completed a very enjoyable and tiring day .

[rossstewartart]

Ballinskelligs harbour, evening light Mixed media on board, 70cm X 70cm #visualart #painting #contemporaryart #contemporarypainting #art #irishart #artist #artwork #fineart #oilpainting #landscapepainting #landscape #ballinskelligs https://www.instagram.com/p/CVVi9SoqJTf/?utm_medium=tumblr

[aquitainequeen]

Watching the Skelligs on Coastal Ireland.

I miss Kerry and Ballinskelligs so much.

[seinzofageing]

[dangerously-human]

Ballinskelligs Abbey, Co. Kerry, Ireland

March 2024

[flores-et-dracones]

Witchy weather around Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry

[dervalfreemanartist]

[theirishaesthete]

Keeping Watch

In 1809 in an effort to put a stop to marine-based smuggling the British government – then at war with Napoleonic France – established a body called the Preventive Water Guard (otherwise known as the Preventive Boat Service). Operating across these islands, the Waterguard was the sea-based arm of revenue enforcement, its members based in Watch Houses around the coast of Britain and Ireland, with…

[gaelicmemoriesphotography]

Gaelic Memories Photo on the cover of Ballinskelligs Remembered Volume 2, raising money for the elderly in the local community.