Photos by Debbie Weeks- Taken at the Giant's Causeway, Co. Antrim/Co Derry- Northern Ireland

Ireland- Day 6

Debbie and I woke up at 7AM and we folded our clothes from the dryer last night. Soon, Lucia got up and her husband took both boys for the day. Her boys were so different, reminding me of my own sons. We had a quick breakfast and discussed what we could do for the day. She mentioned that we could drive to Belfast to see the Titanic Museum, but we found it was not open. I had my heart set on the Giant’s Causeway as I have wanted to go there for a very long time. We could also take a ferry ride later to Donegal, Inishowen, Malin Head. We were off to the Giant’s Causeway which was not a very long trip, perhaps ½ hour. It was an interesting trip. We ran into traffic backed up for a while. When we came to a small roundabout, there was a policewoman stopping each car to ask their destination. We noticed that the car before us must’ve given her a difficult time as Lucia referred to that driver as ‘Putting up Sticks”. After she rolled down her window to see what the policewoman wanted, it was only to redirect traffic if she could, as later we found there was an Orangeman parade and they were hoping that no trouble would break out. I presume it had to do with the anniversary of Bobby Sand’s and the other seven fellow’s death 25 years ago. I asked Lucia what her phrase meant, “Putting up Sticks” She replied it meant that the driver had been giving the policewoman a hard time. Redirecting some of the traffic was a safety precaution. Anyhow I saw no activity.
               The Giant’s Causeway had a nice gift shop at the entrance. Lucia recalled how in her days at High School when she played soccer, that she had only been to the Giant’s Causeway once, with her soccer team, as there was much more security then. She told me that Maine’s George Mitchell played a huge part in bringing peace to that region. Life is very different there now. It is most beautiful with a vulnerable coastline, dramatic high cliffs in many areas of the country, with waves crashing against them. Walking along the coast, The Giant’s Causeway wrapped around a few curves and it is truly a magnificent wonder of the world. Throughout the area, lengthy hexagonal and octagonal rock shapes are spread across the area like thousands of protruding fingers from the earth’s core. They are natural steps of all heights and I am amazed that the rocks are accessible for tourists to climb upon. It has not been fenced off yet. I imagine it will only be a matter of time. Looking against the mountainside, one can see areas where the soil has been stripped away by corrosion from the wind and rain. Left behind are magnificent wavy patterns of hexagonal shapes of rock reaching towards the sky. One area is called the Pipe Organ. Nature leaves me in wonderment of all the beauty around us. There were many steep paths to explore the area. Fields of heather dotted the grassy areas around the paths. I was impressed with the area. We caught a mini tour bus for small fee back to the entrance.
               Afterwards we headed back towards Castlerock as it was in the next direction. My cousin mentioned stopping back at her house for lunch on the way. We had sandwiches made on olive bread. After that we proceeded to the ferry in Malin Head (The most northern point in Ireland would be our destination once we crossed by ferry) The ferry disembarked from Malligan Point and landed in Green Castle. From there we drove to Moville, and over to Cardonagh and up to Malin and then to Malin Head. In Malin, I thought this area had many McGonagles. I wondered if my aunt’s husband’s family came from here. My cousin Billy McGonagle told me later that he thought Malin was where his ancestors originated as today the area is still populated with McGonagles. Lucia said, “Hey look, it is McGonagle’s Pub!” (She knew her mom’s cousin [my grandmothers sister was a McGonagle] So of course I took a few pictures for my cousin, Billy.
               We saw some buildings from famine times and also a very old school dated 1840 in the Malin area. The churches were all Protestant, so no more large Celtic Crosses peering over the cemetery walls. The land was rocky and one could tell that the people who inhabited Ireland a century ago must have been very strong, hearty people with great fortitude. They had to be to survive. 
               When I think that Ireland lost ¼ of their people to emigration, and many more by starvation, it is a wonder their race survived. That is one reason that dual citizenship is offered to grandchildren of Irish Immigrants. 
              Driving in the Malin area was extreme beauty along a raw countryside, exposed to the harshest elements. There were tiny farm building dotting the coastline and the roads similar to West Galway, curvy and no way to see the distance we would be traveling. They were in better condition as well as they were paved. After catching the ferry home, it was dinnertime. Lucia had her husband throw in a lamb dinner she had prepared. It was very tasty as I had never had lamb before. We had mint for flavor, also potatoes and then we had some Yorkshire pudding. I had never tried this, so I enjoyed the taste. We also had cauliflower and carrots. After this tasty meal, we all sat for coffee and tea and chocolate. Lucia, knowing my deep interest in family history had pulled a large box with pictures etc that we all looked through. We laughed when she came across a letter from 160 Devereaux Circle from me when I was 18. I read the letter and told Debbie that I had even mentioned her in the letter from 1978. I told how we both worked at the hospital and made a pretty good wage of $3.01/hour when the minimum wage was $2.67/hour. Lucia then gave me a couple of memorial cards from family which belonged to her mother. One of them was a real treasure. It belonged to Michael Dolly, the blacksmith, from Anbally, Claregalway, Galway. He was my gr. Grandmother’s brother, also brother to Lucia’s grandmother. He had died in 1947. I never knew this. I do not know much about any of her brothers, unfortunately. One brother, William Dolly, married and he is buried in the area. I did visit his grave while there. After chatting half the evening, we were all a bit tired and went to bed by 11:00 PM. Tomorrow would be a long driving day, down parts of Northern Ireland and back into the Republic of Ireland and to the town of Ennis.

Below- Malin Head, Co. Donegal---Northern most point in Ireland