An t-aonamh latha deug

Fortified by another hotel breakfast (only eight more to go !) we headed over the county border to Clara a small town in County Offaly. My great great grand parents, Bridget Robbins and Patrick Timmons, were born and brought up there before moving to Dundee.

It was interesting to walk around and get a feel for the place. This includes the remains of the mills which once provided work for the inhabitants and a former church which  Bridget and Patrick and their families probably attended. 

While there we also visited the Clara Peat Bog Visitor Centre and then the Bog itself. The visitor centre was quite new and well done and the assistant was very helpful.

When we left we got talking to an older woman walking her dog and she asked where we were from and if we were visiting the Bog. The bog is now part of a national park with preservation  orders in place, including broadwalks to discourage people from walking on the bog itself. However the woman told us that some locals now "accidently" walk further than allowed and then cut themselves some peat as fuel costs are so high. A really interesting encounter.  Traditionally peat cutting for fuel is carried out by communities in a sustainable way and problems are caused when others intervene through, for example, digging drainage channels. 

We also visited Tullamore, the nearest big town.

When driving around we've noticed different villages flying flags to commerate their town reaching a local GAA (hurling) final. Thus is one such flag.

Ooh and we also had Tayto crisps at lunch !