STAGE 42-44: With Maureen & Brian on Streedagh beach

Stage 42: Revisited: Streedagh Beach and Conor’s Island 

                    Saturday 15 February 2020

                            15 km or 9.3 miles

‘’To all the friends who met me there, with hearts so warm and true. To each and all, a fond farewell, sweet Dernish Isle, adieu’’ (written by an anonymous emigrant from Dernish island, Co. Sligo)

My plan today was to tackle Streedagh beach (near Grange) and run along that long, thin peninsula as far as Dernish Island. I knew that low tide was around 4.00pm so it worked out really well in the end as the rain seemed to have died down by then. It had been a mild winter up to now but in the last week there’s been two (named) storms. Storm Ciara bombarded the coast last weekend and this weekend Storm Dennis was doing his best to cause havoc. I did think about postponing my coastal run but, as it was half-term, it would have been difficult. So, on the Saturday, Maureen, Brian and I drove down to Sligo, through the wind, rain and floods. It poured rain all day, but thankfully it was beginning to ease off, just as we were driving into Sligo town around 3.00pm.

View across to Streedagh and Conors Island

We arrived at Grange village and drove directly to nearby Streedagh beach and parked our car there. Maureen, Brian and I then began walking along the strand.

Brian at the Streedagh beach sign

Walking on Streedagh Strand

The three of us walked together the whole way along the long beach as far as the tiny, Blackrock Island. I then carried on running on my own onto Conor’s Island. It's not an island anymore but on an 1837 map it was. Since then a sandbank has connected the island to the mainland. At this stage Maureen and Brian turned around and we arranged to meet later in Moran’s Bar in Grange.

Tiny Blackrock Island on Streedagh Beach

I kept running through the sand dunes all the way along Conor’s Island until I was very close to Dernish Island across the rocks. It was almost low tide now, but it would have been a real struggle to get across those rocks to Dernish. There was no proper causeway to the island and I reckon it would not be very safe to even attempt to cross. In the distance I could see Classiebawn Castle in Mullaghmore and in fact the original site for the Castle was actually on Dernish Island.  

View across to Dernish Island

I turned around and headed back, running on the south side of Conor’s Island. In a field in the distance I spotted about 10 or 12 horses and strangely the animals seem to spot me too! And then I noticed one or two of the horses starting to head in my direction. I sprinted over the hills almost afraid to look behind as the young thoroughbreds chased after me. I was so relieved to be back on Streedagh Beach again.

Surfing at Streedagh despite Storm Dennis

Spanish Armada - 3 ships sunk off Streedagh Beach

Back on Streedagh Strand I couldn’t help reflecting on the historical significance of this area. Three Ships of the Spanish Armada crashed here in heavy storms back in 1588. The story of the Armada seems to be following me all along the Irish coast!

After running along the beach again I followed the headland south all the way around, through fields and mud. Storm Dennis seemed to have picked up again and the wild Atlantic was battling away. I eventually made it back onto the road and soon I was enjoying some Cidona and Taytos (with Maureen and Brian) in Moran’s Pub in Grange!     

Back In Grange in front of Spanish Armada Mural

                            Stage 43

                        

                                Co. Sligo: Drumcliff to Sligo Town

                                            Sunday 16 February 2020

                                                22 km or 14 miles

We stayed the night in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo town. In the morning, Maureen drove me to Drumcliff village, and we paused at Yeats Grave (casting a cold eye, on life and death!).

At Cafe in Drumcliff with Yeats picture

On Facebook, I had put up a message on the ‘Mountain & Hill Running in Connacht’ page asking, if anyone wanted to join me today. Nobody took up the offer, so I headed off, south along the N15. Just after passing through Rathcormack, I took a right turn. There was a dark sky above but somehow the rain never materialised.

I took the 'less travelled' right turn to Lower Rosses.

I followed the signs for Lower Rosses and eventually, as I was getting close to the coast, I spotted a lane (right) that took me down to the shore. I was able to stick to the coast along the long narrow peninsula all the way to the end.

At top of Rosses Point

Trying to stand still!

I could clearly see Lissadell House across the bay and of course Ben Bulben to my right. When I turned around to head back south towards Rosses Point, I faced storm Dennis and the wild Atlantic wind in all its glory. I was lucky I had my hat and snood to protect me from the sand blowing in from the shore. Shortly I reached Rosses Point Golf Course – no mad golfers out today! I kept struggling against the strong wind and to make matters worse, the rain now arrived. However, I could now see the pier at Rosses Point and civilisation.

I decided I deserved a break and walked into the first hostelry I could find in Rosses Point. It was the Yeats County Hotel (YCH). I ordered a coffee and water and headed towards the open fire. 

Waiting for clothes to dry at Yeats County Hotel in Rosses Point

Here I got talking to some visitors from Armagh and they kindly let me dry some of my clothes by the fire while I drank my coffee. When I was leaving, one of them (Declan McAlinden) gave me a donation of £20 for Clifton School - thank you Declan and friends!

Wreck and Oyster Island

From here It was a straight run into Sligo Town - the sign said 8km – but it was still a tough ending to today’s adventure. I continued on, eventually crossing the river Garvoge into Sligo town to meet Maureen and Brian. 

Famine Memorial, Sligo Town

Famine Letter

   

                            Stage 44

                        

                                Co. Sligo: Sligo Town to Ballysadare

                                            Monday 17 February 2020

                                                31 km or 19 miles

This morning I had an early breakfast and left the Clayton Hotel in Sligo Town about 8.30am. (Maureen and Brian staying in bed). I think Storm Dennis had died down and I only suffered one heavy shower today. 

Clayton Hotel - it used to be a Hospital

Sticking by the coast as always, I followed the dock road in Sligo after I crossed the river. This wasn’t easy and at one stage I had to double back on myself. Eventually, I did get onto to the main Strandhill road and had to run along the main R292 for quite a few miles. 

Start of Killaspugbrone Loop

As I came into Strandhill, I was lucky to spot a sign pointing towards the ‘Killaspugbrone Loop’. This was a lovely path that led me down to the shore and took me past Sligo Airport. 

I followed the coast all the way around and reached the only house in this area. Around the back of the building, I come to a high wall. Once climbing over that, I landed on a beach that I was able to run on. At the end of the strand I could spot some ruins and headstones. 

Ancient Graveyard at northern tip of Strandhill

Killaspugbrone Graveyard

This was the ancient Killaspugbrone church and graveyard that St. Patrick attended and apparently, he crossed over to Coney Island from here. Although this seems to be the closest point to Coney Island, there is actually a proper causeway further east which gives easy access to the island at low tide. 

After leaving the old churchyard I was still able to follow a grassy path to the tip of the peninsula and loop around back towards the village of Strandhill. 

Still following the 'loop' sign!

The wind wasn’t as strong as yesterday, but it was still a struggle! I eventually arrived back to civilisation again and this time I stopped at Shells Café in Strandhill. 

Meeting Brian at Strandhill

Shortly Maureen and Brian arrived, and we enjoyed some coffee and scones in the cafe. Soon I was running again – this time, south towards the sand dunes. As it was high tide there was no possibility to run on the beach. Running through the dunes was a lovely run and brought me around the bottom of Strandhill peninsula. 

Sand dunes - south of Strandhill

Nice soft path to run on

I then came to Colleenamore beach. Not really sand for the feet of the runner as it was too soft. At least the weather has brightened up.

On Colleenamore Beach

I could do with seeing more of these 'You are here' signs!

I left Colleenamore strand and at the top of the road I took a right turn towards Ballysadare, following the R292 for a few miles with Knockrea (Queen Maeve’s grave) on my left.

Knockrea (Queen Maeve's Grave)

. 

This is where you take a turn down to shore

At a sign for a Marian Shrine, I took a right turn towards the shore and then a left just before I reached the coast. There was another rough trail to the right after about a mile, which I should have taken – it would have brought me onto the coast again and probably made my journey shorter. 

10k to go - this seems about right!

In any case I got back on the main Ballysadare road again. At this stage I was struggling – running three days in a row was taking its toll – so I decided to walk the hills. Still, nobody said this adventure was going to be easy – and soon I had reached Ballysadare, my final destination for this weekend.

At last I've reached Ballysadare!

Stage 44: Revisited: Co. Sligo's Coney Island 

                    Sunday 20 September 2020

                            13 km or 8 miles

I knew that I needed a low tide to be able to run (or walk) across to Coney Island and we got the perfect day to do this. I had completed Stage 48 in NW Mayo the day before and I was so glad that Maureen and Brian could join me today on a less strenuous adventure. We arrived at the start of the causeway at 11.30am , about two hours before low tide. Our first reaction was that the tide was still quite high - we definitely couldn’t see any causeway! However after chatting to a few people we quickly realised that it was quite safe to cross in our bare feet and what a lovely experience that was. (much nicer than driving across, especially as we knew we had four hours to return again)

With shoes off before heading across to Coney Island

Coney Island is sometimes called Inishmulclohy. There are a few similar named islands in Ireland as coney or coinin is really the Irish word for rabbit. Apparently the New York Coney Island is called after Sligo’s Coney Island as the sea-captain of a ship called the ‘Arethusa' (that used to sail between Sligo and New York) noticed lots of rabbits on the New York island and it reminded him of Sligo’s Coney Island.

Half way across to island

At Rock no.10 of 14 on way to Coney

 

It’s a good 2.5km across to the island from the mainland and we had the most beautiful day to do this with Ben Bulben watching over us the whole time. There are 14 (rock) markers about 150 metres a part to guide you on the way to the island. On reaching Coney I put my running shoes on, left Maureen and Brian, and ran clockwise (sea on my left) around the island. I continued along by the shore, first running on soft sand and then on the grassy headland. 

Eventually I arrived at Carty’s Strand on the west side of the island where I had arranged to meet Maureen and Brian again. Maureen gave me a drink here and we watched the horses running on the strand. 

At Carty's Strand on Coney Island

I continued running on my own around the rest of the island, first up through the big rocks and soon I found a narrow grassy path. I could see a lighthouse on my left side (Blackrock Lighthouse) and shortly I came on to another beach on the north side of the island. I ran along the strand here until I came to the pier where again I was reunited with Maureen and Brian. Looking across to Rosses Point we could see the famous Metal Man across the bay (not exactly the Statue of Liberty but he’s still 12 feet tall!). 

Looking across towards Metal Man and Rosses Point

At the Pier on Coney Island 

We still had plenty of time on the island and we were even able to stop at Wards pub for some coffee and crisps for Brian before walking slowly across the strand back to the mainland. It was such a lovely day that will forever live in my memory. Bye, bye Coney Island.