SPECIAL THANKS TO ALYSON WHO IS HIKING THE BEARA WAY
Carmel always greeted our many campers for years and years. If someone showed up at our front door un-announced, she would take them out to our Back Garden and tell them all they needed to know. She'd go through the few rules we had the most important being, "Enjoy Yourself but be Safe especially if you have children. Do NOT walk up the steps to our top deck. It is dangerous! But do feel free to use all the outdoor furniture anywhere on our bottom Deck. Anything at all! And if you'd care to, feel free to use our Barbeque to grill steak, chops, sausages or chicken. If we're grilling any meal at any time of day, you're welcome to join us for a very, very small price!"
Which is also very true. Carm was a delight to live with for well over 14 years. We had a wonderful time in our cottage home with our small, loving family: Carm, Tom, Jack and Sasha. When I was forced to place her in a local hospital and then into an Irish Nursing Home, it almost killed me. And I mean Literally! The stress and grief due to Carm's loss was much more than I could bear. I still can't bear not having her near me. I can't stand not living in our cottage together.
Today, as I write this, only I am left. Carm is in Nursing Care well over 6,000 miles from me. Jack and Sasha have both passed away. The home was so lonely I made the very difficult decision to move back to the Chicago area, not far from where I was born. But - and a BIG BUT - I still have so many memories and photographs which always make me laugh. Or at least smile as I think back on the excellent times we had together.
SOME MEMORIES
I have a number of pictures of campers who stayed with us for one, two, three days...sometimes much more than a week. Carm and I made so many friends during their stays. Many would book just as they were leaving, wanting to stay the same time the next year. We'd write those many bookings into our reservations calendar. We loved having families with children stay with us, as well as their dogs (unless they fought with Jack. For that reason, we preferred smaller dogs or pups). Some of the families brought along instruments during their stays. As the day grew darker, they would take out those instruments and entertain us as well as the campers with Irish Traditional Music.
Carm and I would stand on the main Deck, dancing, clapping or singing along until it was time for everyone to eat or go up to Causkey's Bar - one of two pubs in our Village and only 6 doors up a small
hill on Main Street. Sometimes, Carm and I would join out camping guests. Often, we would buy them a pint and they would buy one back for us.
We both loved hiking parts of the Beara Way, which is a small segment of the Wild Atlantic Way, one of the longest hiking / biking / motor tourist routes in all of Ireland and as long as some in Europe. When Carm had to leave our home, I would climb in the car and relive some of the many sites we travelled to together.
Sites like the Kerry Way, stopping to look out on the Skellig Islands. Traveling again to Galway and even farther north. Every place that I visited reminded me of Carmel, who would always sit on my left hand side, in the passenger seat of our Blue Pickup Truck.
Those are just some of the memories I have of my girl, my partner and my almost-wife. You see, I proposed to Carm only weeks after we first met. She said yes, way back then, so we began to plan our wedding. But then Covid hit and the courts were closed for what seemed like forever. By the time they reopened, Carm was in Hospital and then in Nursing Care.
Many of us, including Alyson's grandmother, have the grave illness of Dementia or Alzheimer's. Those illnesses ARE NOT FAIR to any of their spouses, relatives or friends. When and if they succumb to that dreaded disease, we are left to pick up the pieces of our lives. This is why, someday within the next few years, I WILL COME BACK TO EYERIES and live in the same home Carm and I lived in (though she will not be there). I will re-open the Camping Site and call it by the same name. The only real difference is this: I will change the name to the Carmel Murray Camping Site, Solas Mor, Main Street, Eyeries Village, Beara, Bantry County Cork, Ireland. Then, and like Carm and I often did, I will give one free night to those who have already stayed with us. And if you can't afford our small nightly tent camping fee? I'll half the price in honour of Carm, because that's what she did many times. Memories, all the good ones, put a smile on my face as I type this entry. I'm sure, when you all stay with me again, Carm will be looking down at us also with a smile on her lips and face.
HOLIDAYING IN IRELAND? WHERE SHOULD YOU GO?
If you can do it, stay only one or two nights in Dublin or Limerick City. Rent a car and enjoy the west coast. Drive some or all of the Wild Atlantic Way. Maybe start at Fannad or Derry in Northern Ireland. Then drive south south west. Enjoy all the glorious beaches on the coast and if it's warm, swim in the amazingly blue waters in Counties Mayo and Donegal. Drive further south and go to Galway City and if you have time, turn right to enjoy Connemara, made famous by that wonderful Feature Film THE QUIET MAN.
Keep going south and take a ferry to one or more of the many famous Islands located off Ireland's west coast, such as one of the Aran Islands. Stay the night in a small hotel or a BnB. After that, keep going south into County Kerry. Drive along the coast to Valentia Island. There, take a tour of the Lighthouse just like did. Stay the night in Portmagee at one of the best hotels in our country. While there, book a trip to Skellig Islands, if they are running. Sometimes, the tourist boats aren't running due to the foul, windy weather and the storms that come in from the West and the South.
Continue around the Ring of Kerry. When you get to Kenmare, ask for directions to the Beara Peninsula. Then, if you dare, drive down the very narrow roads and be prepared to stop! Farmers often herd cattle or sheep down those very narrow, ancient roads and streets.
Keep going and you'll start to climb the large hills before getting to Laraugh, County Kerry. These roads are very dangerous because they are switchback very narrow roads. Descending the hill, gaze into the Valley to the left. If it's been raining, you may able to see waterfalls like Carm and I always did.
Stop in Laraugh to say a prayer in the Church. Or simply stop to take a rest. Maybe hike up the hills a little or, if you're hungry, take your car and turn left to eat at one of the best restaurants in all of the local area.
Not tired or hungry? Then drive straight until you get to the Village of Ardgroom. Now stop there at the local petrol station and after you fill up, have some delicious buns or cakes and a cup of tea in their restaurant.
Turn left after you've filled up, then make an almost instant right. Keep driving and you'll get to the top of the last hill before you make it to our Village. Drive down the hill and look for the Eyeries Village Sign. Turn right at the sign, and that's Main Street. Now, you can stop at The Cafe, if it's open, and treat yourself to some fine home cooking. Or, head into the Village and ask anyone if Evie's Place is open. If so, have yourself a fine sandwich to take out or, if it's sunny, sit on a bench right alongside Main Street.
Thirsty? Then maybe go to our 'second waterhole'. This Pub, owned by Mary, is just up the road and on your right and goes by the name of Mary O'Shea's. She has a wonderful stove with a great fire which is lit most days when it's cold outside.
Rather go to the pub where Carm and I always went? Then drive straight ahead, and Causkey's Bar is on your left, just across the Street from Saint Kentigern's Catholic Church.
If you have anything to drink, maybe one of the Best Pints of Guinness in all of Ireland, tell Jay or her son Kenneth Tom sent ya. Whatever you have there, or even if you don't, ask Jay or Kenneth if you can walk out on their back deck for one of the best views of Coulagh Bay and the Wild Atlantic you've ever seen.
Just down the road form Causkey's, and on the left hand side, is our home Cottage. It is still Robin's Nest Blue and for all I know, always will be. We're not there now so you can't stay with us. Someday, as I write above, I hope you can again.
SUMMERTIME READS
Might I also suggest you visit our novel and book Website. All you have to do is click on this:
We still publish travel books / Memoirs about living, working and travelling in Ireland. Look for this latest edition, HOW AN 'AULD YANK LEARNED TO LIVE IN COUNTY CORK IRELAND.
I started this travel book and memoir before Carm had to go away to her Nursing Home. I finished it when I had to move to the States.
On that website above, we have many other fine Summer novels and other books you can buy and read. One really good Summertime Read is Dolphin Song which went to Global Number One. Carm was still with me when I finished that novel, and man was I tired! She read every page of the Manuscript before it was published and her loving criticism helped me so much you could say she is a co-writer. That's why I dedicated the Novel as follows: To Carm and Your Faith in Me.
I almost ended that dedication like this: xxx But Carm told me she'd be embarrassed if I did. So I didn't.
That's it from me now, my friends. Whatever you do this Summer, wherever you go, know that Carm and I send you all t his;
SEE YOU HERE NEXT TIME AND HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE SUMMER HOLIDAY.
And if you're hiking anywhere, then we finally end on this;
HAPPY TRAILS TO YOU ALL AND A BIG, BIG BLESSING AND HUG,
TOM AND CARM
(Oh, don't I wish it could be so - Bye for now - Tom)
IF YOU'D LIKE TO:
Write to me on my new Company Email Address: tomrichardsstorylines2026@outlook.com
THE END
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