We head over to West Cork, near Durrus where we camp at a pretty little site, though somewhat “rustic”. Rumour has it that the origins of the literary Fish competitions lurk somewhere about. Also, plenty of non-literary fish round here, and that’s a fact, who will, no doubt, appreciate the copious rain…

Next day we continue up through Bantry and along part of the famous “Ring of Kerry”, which is stupendously beautiful and stupendously wet….

 

At last we arrive at one of Google’s “Stopovers” in the village of Askeaton. What a great find! There’s no-one here hardly, but there’s water and a chemical toilet facility – all for free. Plenty of water! Look! Askeaton Castle edges an ebullient river, if ebullient is the right word…

We get talking to a local who is down checking out the river levels – it’s not yet high tide, so we’re waiting for it to peak…yikes, our van is feet from the water’s edge! Is that why no-one else is here? We watch as the water creeps up until it’s lapping over the last but one step….and then magically subsides again. Saved!

But this is a great place. Lots of history. Just needs some tourists to bring the village some prosperity…

You can  look round the Franciscan Friary for free…

…and if you’re looking for mischief, what about joining the Hell-Fire Club?

The following day we head north to the Castlebar area – a beautiful, soft landscape, green and lush. In Balla we read about one Patrick William Nally who was an Irish patriot and martyr deprived of his liberty by “the brutal jailers of England” and apparently “had no enemies except the enemies of Ireland”. Touring around, you certainly get a sense of the history of oppression and “the troubles” and the pride and suffering of the Irish people…

However there are certain inhabitants that don’t look at all oppressed…