On Tuesday morning I was up with the lark as I had an early start for Dublin. I stood at the open bedroom window looking down on the garden, pleased with the work we’ve put into it over the past two months. The sheep and cattle I could see were all lying down, happy out.

The swallows and house martins are busy, although I don’t think we have as many as in previous years. As I stood at the window, I caught the faintest call of the cuckoo. It’s only the second time I’ve heard her this year and the first time was equally distant.

I’ve lived in Ballyane for 28 years and every year we’ve had a cuckoo patrolling within a field or two of the house. I had taken the cuckoo for granted until one year my mother was down for a First Communion. She hadn’t heard the cuckoo for years and couldn’t believe her ears when there it was. After that she visited every May and spent the time outside, taking great enjoyment any time the cuckoo appeared.

I hope our cuckoo comes a bit nearer because that mellifluous call on a bright May morning when all else is peaceful and still is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful natural sounds we have.

The past week I spent a lot of time on the road and it was lovely to see the country looking so well. I was up in Westport visiting the Clew Bay Garden Trail. This group of keen gardeners set up the trail two years ago and open their gardens to the public every weekend from 21 June to 20 July. All proceeds go to charities of their choice.

At the Westport College of Further Education, Cormac Langan told me all about square foot gardening. You just build a 4ft by 4ft container that can grow 16 different plant varieties at the one time. I can only imagine what Graeme Guthrie’s garden will be like in midsummer when his hundreds of lupins and astilbies are in full bloom.

The same goes for Evelyn Harvey Molloy’s garden. Evelyn is unashamedly a woman who loves flowers, with roses and delphiniums her particular favourites. Visit www.clewbaygardentrail.ie for lots more.

Then I was in Ballinasloe to present certificates to a group of women who had successfully completed a FETAC Level 6 course in Women in Leadership and Local Politics. The group included Maura Canning, chair of the IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Committee. Galway Rural Development funded the course and it received a unanimous thumbs up from all the participants. For more on this great course, see Mary Phelan’s report on page 26.

On Sunday I took to the hills again with an 11km walk at the back of Lissvarrinane, near Galbally, which was organised as part of the Ballyhoura Walking Festival. It was a B walk and I thought we were doing great, only to be told that the usual B walks were done at twice the pace.

Finally, I want to welcome Ann Kehoe, who will be a columnist with us for the next few weeks. I’ve known Ann for over 20 years and she’s one of the most straight talking women I’ve ever met. Ann will be letting us into her life and the journey she’s been on since being diagnosed with breast cancer last September. I know Ann with touch a chord with readers so feel free to make contact and share your own journey.