Rural rhymes
This week’s poem is taken from Maresa Sheehan.
moving the fence
The night gave a tiny shake
as it got up for the day,
tiny drops of its sweat
trimbling down to swing
upside-down from cobwebs.
Young spiders,
trampolining and swinging
around all night watch
the older perfectionists
who spun masterpieces
spanning the small gaps.
You stopped
for just a moment,
after moving the electric fence
and giving the cattle more grass,
to admire the cobwebs.
If you’re already running out of ideas for your child’s lunchbox, here’s my approach: don’t worry so much.
Pack small snacks you know they’ll eat. Pepperoni or chorizo slices, string cheese, yogurt and crackers are regulars in my kids’ boxes, with fruit like bananas and grapes that won’t oxidise and turn brown before lunch. It’s not that I can’t be bothered to pack homemade lunches and elaborate sandwiches, but those lunch boxes never come back empty and lead to yet more food waste.
In this week’s local treasure, Amy Forde takes a look at the legendary burial place of Queen Maeve of Connacht – Knockma.
Knockma, or Cnoc Meadha as Gaeilge, is a limestone hill near Tuam in Co Galway. It is 170m to the summit and the hill is the legendary burial place of Queen Maeve of Connacht. There are a number of cairns on the hill, dating back to pre-Christian times.
The trail to the top of the hill is mostly paved, making it accessible for many. All in, it’s about 4km from start to finish. It is ideal for a ramble any day of the week and this walk allows for social distancing, fresh air and great views of Co Galway, including Lough Corrib.
Melanie May
In “normal” times, you might find Melanie May anywhere from Sardinia to Nova Scotia, but while COVID-19 has put a stop to globetrotting for the time being, the top travel writer is still sharing her adventures closer to home on Instagram @_maymelanie.
So, whether it’s a lobster roll by the Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal, the best coffee stop off the M7, an oyster farm tour in the heart of Connemara or the hidden gem that is the Nenagh Heritage Centre, expect plenty of inspiration for your staycation.
Tweet of the week
New bane of my life is popping out to shop only to have to turn back half way there cos I forgot my stupid mask
— Cianan Brennan (@ciananbrennan) August 29, 2020
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