A Different View
‘Wild Atlantic Way’ or West Coast – I’ll always love it!
Double Vision with Charlie Adley
It was really hard not to feel pure joy, but somehow I managed it. The scene in front of my eyes would put any Rom-Com montage to shame. I’m on one of my favourite Connemara beaches, under a cloudless blue Atlantic sky.
Walking beside me along the pristine white sand with the Snapper is a very over-excited three-year-old collie-labrador who goes by the name of Lady, or on occasion, Lady Dog. As soon as she jumped out of the car, it was apparent that she’d never seen the sea close up before.
Immediately she is fascinated by the waves. What are these watery animals that keep rolling onto the sand?
Running along the beach up to her knees in ocean, Lady goes into hunting mode, learning quickly that when she takes a bite out of the Atlantic, the wave collapses, so clearly she is killing them.
Look, there’s one, got it, oh no there’s another one, got it, oh no there’s another one, got it, oh no…
What a smart doggie!
Steady there now, if anyone’s going to say my dog’s thick, it’ll be me, if you don’t mind thanks missus, sniff cough cough.
On the drive there we’d listened to radio reports of calamitous thunderstorms around the country, but here, just beyond Cleggan on the way to Claddaghduff, here the weather is perfect.
That which used to be the West Coast of Ireland is now branded the Wild Atlantic Way, which is a wonderful thing if it helps to keep the area as unspoiled and stunning as it is right now, while at the same time supporting those who work to show others the road from Cork to Donegal.
One of the great things about being a bit of an empiricist is that every happy day appears as if the like had never before.
I have walked this beach a hundred times, yet each has been unique.
Time moves on, taking with it emotion and energy, but one constant I give thanks for: this little beach is always empty.
The sun is beating high in the sky, the water a blinding array of turquoise shades that put the Aegean to shame.
Looking at this wondrous scene, I try to imagine what the soundtrack music would be to this particular movie montage.
It’s that part of the film when time passes as dogs run up beaches, husband and wife walk hand in hand and there’s scones and jam for tea.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.