Peaks for Patrick 2 - Kerry Way Derrycunnihy Church to Lord Brandon's Cottage 28 May 2021

https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/11429343_in-memory-of-patrick-michael-o-loughlin.html

Not as much of a peak but an amazingly beautiful stretch of the stunning Kerry Way on a sunny day in May. The previous day was my birthday on which we did the Liscannor to Cliffs of Moher cliff walk...In pouring rain that (rather unsurprisingly for Ireland) got worse and worse as my mood nose dived. Soaked through to the skin, I refused to walk back to the car and insisted on a taxi which the good people at the visitor centre kindly arranged for us. Our hike the following day more than made up for it though!

Starting out at Derrycunnihy Church just before the famous Ladies View, we descended down the hill through some ancient oak woods. Over streams and along boardwalks we strolled along to the sound of the water gurgling and the birds chirping in the warm early summer sun. 

This is an out and back walk that is really enjoyable but probably tends to get muddy in places during the wetter months. The boardwalks help - as will good hiking boots. It was lovely to take our time to notice the beauty of nature around us.

There were traces of the people that used to live there a long time ago. Some time, someone built this house, raised a family there maybe. The air would have been filled with children laughing and the smell of the fire going. I often ask myself: Who lived there? Did they have a good life? What became of them? Why did they leave? Does anyone remember them still today?

The thought of people getting lost and forgotten in time is something that makes me a little sad. Knowing that eventually Patrick will be forgotten is something I struggle with even though I know it is envitable. His existence will some day be reduced to the few lines on his headstone with only occasionally someone stopping and wondering who he was and why he died so young. We do our best to keep his memory alive - hopefully these written records of us writing his name and telling his story will help our children and (please God) grand-children remember him.

Now, nature has taken back what was hers. There is a tree growing out of the wall of the cottage that strong hands built so many years ago. The people who lived there are long gone. I do hope someone in the area or even further afield remembers them. Maybe someone who traced their ancestors back to this spot. 

And what a beautiful spot it was. The walk rewarded us with stunning views of the Macgillicuddy Reeks. There were deer and streams and I wish we could have taken even more time immersing ourselves in our surroundings. Alas, we were on a deadline to be back to pick up the kids from afterschool so had to keep a beady eye on the time along our way.

We had our lunch at Lord Brandon's Cottage. Probably normally very busy with tourists from abroad, it was rather quiet given the ongoing travel restrictions. We had our pick of any of the lovely picnic benches and no queue to delay our getting a cool drink and something sweet to go with our packed lunch. The staff are very friendly and while the Cash Only policy (mainly due to the very poor internet connection) might catch some people by surprise, they are prepared for that and will seemingly often hand out self addressed envelopes for people to send the money later. A very decent thing to do and hopefully folks are honest enough to actually post what they owe.

It was enjoyable sitting there with a coffee and sandwhich for a while and watch the world go by. Some day, it might be nice to hike out there from Muckross but take the boat back across the lakes, taking in the Meeting of The Waters and Muckross Lake along the way.

Sooner than we wished we needed to, we started on our way back to the car but not without stopping at the Derrycunnihy Cascade and Falls for another short break. Given the rain the previous day, the river was full and the force of the water coming down the Falls magnificient to watch. However, stand still just for a second and the midges will be upon you. Stay longer and all they will have left of you will be your gnawed-clean skeletal remains....

So on we went up the hill and back to the car covered in a considerable amount of midge bites....

but with even more wonderful memories in our hearts.

Maybe you know
These people asleep
Suspended in time
Lying beneath.
Go seek the story
A life once known
Now twelve words chisled in stone

    "Hill of Graves", Hermitage Green