Limerick

The McCarthy family greeted me warmly. Their home (outside the main house) is a sprawling collection of lean-tos, garages, pits, half-assembled cars, bicycles, tools and gates. Hens wander underfoot, and the animals (four dogs, a dozen or so rabbits, and a pair of degus) are housed out back. Lola the cat is in and out at all times, and her indeterminately gendered kitten, V, curls up beside her sometimes. Their company helps a bit while I miss the cats at home.

On Friday I went cycling (for the first time in eight years) with Aaron and Shannon, the two younger children in the McCarthy family. I had to walk my bike, borrowed from Sean (their older brother), up the more taxing hills, but it was easy enough to rediscover the muscles required.

Some time later we went out again, for a walk that ended up lasting two hours. I remembered the camera this time.

A solitary bull.

Just a country road.

Cows in the waning light.

A view looking towards Charleville, the nearest town.

Shannon and I happened upon an old water pump halfway up the road. A black cat mewled at us, and we walked along the wall behind the pump. There were little holes full of bottles and weeds and refuse, flowers growing through every crack.

The most flattering high-vis vest in Ireland.

A wee man atop the water pump.

Shannon flashes her most extreme smile.

The weekend was relaxing overall. On Saturday evening I went out with Ciara, the eldest McCarthy daughter, and her fiancé Jamie. We joined their mutual friends and made the most of our evening with generous libations. The following morning I bade farewell to Limerick, and to my host family. Not long now and I would be settled in the Burren.