Working, Living & Travelling In Ireland

Category: Coole Park

  • Things to do when visiting the Burrenlowlands – Coole Park & Sundial

    Things to do when visiting the Burrenlowlands – Coole Park & Sundial

    Hello all,

    As I am writing this the sun has just set, and it has been one of those days you didn’t quite expect in October, but grateful to make the best use of the time! I hear there is a heatwave in LA, I guess we are have a “temporary- weekend” heatwave in the West of Ireland, though maybe it can still be classed as our Indian Summer, all by it a little late in the year! ( I reckon we were owed some nice weather after the below apar July and August)

    Temperature gage
    Very late Indian Summer in the West of Ireland, 11th of October

    We headed to Coole Park, which is a nature reserve a short drive from the house. We are no strangers to Coole Park, and have written about Coole Park before here and here . I added the below maps to give you an idea where Coole Park is located, so you know how to get there by car.

    How to get to Coole Park from Galway:

    How to get from Shannon to Coole Park:

    The walks are fabulous at Coole Park, and a great way to stretch your legs and clear your mind! Dogs are welcome, but need to be kept onto a lead.

    Check out the Sun Dial in the walled garden, which is a fun way to find out the time.

    Guess the time!

    Can you guess the time we were in the park? Answers on my Facebook page please:)

    Coole Park Sun Dial

    I am currently working to add details  of recruiting companies in the technology and medical sector in Galway. There are two maps you can consult, here is the technology one, and this is the Medical one. If you are thinking of moving to Galway and want to have a heads up who is recruiting, follow my blog and you’ll find out!

    Have a great day, wherever you are:)

    Katleen & the gang

     

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  • Yeats ‘s activities around Galway this weekend

    Yeats ‘s activities around Galway this weekend

    Hi all,

    This weekend there will be hive of activity around the 150th anniversary of the birth of William Butler Yeats.  I was at the park during the weekend, and sat on a bench, overlooking the scenery, it was absolutely beautiful!

    The below tree, better known as the autograph tree, is located in Coole Park, where the poet spent a lot of time with Lady Gregory and many other famous people that were at the base of the then “literature revival“.

    Signature Tree in Coole Park, Co. Galway
    Autograph Tree, Coole Park Walled Garden Co. Galway

    autograph_guide

    It’s called autograph tree, as when the friends of Lady Gregory visited, they carved in their name on the tree. At this stage it’s hard to make out the names, so the above display which is at the base of the tree makes it just that little bit easier!

    As for me, I am going to the picnic at the Kiltartan Museum :

    Kiltartan Gregory Cultural Society is hosting a picnic in the Millennium Park at Kiltartan Gregory Museum to celebrate Yeats’ birthday on June 13th. Bring your choice of picnic, enjoy a recital by Coole Music Ensemble, poetry reading by local school children, face painting for the younger generation and a Trad session with Gaillimh Theas Comhaltas.
    ‘ Mr Yeats ‘ is on the guest list. Come in period costume. Time. 12.30 to 2.30 pm.

    And after that, I am heading to the official opening of Thoor Ballylee.

    The Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society invites you to the re- opening of Thoor Ballylee on the occasion of W.B. Yeats 150th birthday.
    With special guests:
    Senator Healy Eames, Chair of Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society, Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Joseph Hassett, Yeats Scholar and Thoor Ballylee Benefactor
    Niall De Burca, Internationally acclaimed story teller will perform at the event
    Followed by Community BBQ

    So my next quest is, where I am going to find “period” clothing as seen below!! Help!!

    picnicatkiltartanHope to see you there!

    Katleen

     

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  • The New Look of Coole Park

    The New Look of Coole Park

    Dear Readers

    Coole Park is park very closely located to where we live, and we love going there for a walk or a picnic in the walled garden. I had noticed a while ago that there was some signage up that they were going to do some tree felling, but didn’t take too much notice.

    I did take notice when the beautiful avenue of trees was taken down, however I understand this was done for safety reasons, as some of the trees were rotten/diseased and from time to time  some branches would have broken off, which would have been very dangerous if you were walking under it.

    This is the way the trees used to look:

    Once that the avenue trees were felled, there were bigger plans to fell a large amount of Norwegian Spruce trees. The result if a significantly brighter park with ….fewer trees.

    Below are a few images. The largest transformation(first image) is across from the toilets in the park. This area would have been the back of Lady Gregory’s house. Someone told me that when they lived in the house, they could see the lake from the back of the house. The area that is now tree less, used to be their vegetable garden.

    Image of Coole house in its hay day. The house fell into disrepair and has been leveled to the ground many years ago. 

     Exiting the walled garden, I took following images.

    The play tree – the kids love it!

    Sown off tree trunk – Counting circles, I think the trees was about 80 years old.

    It’s of course a pity to see all the trees felt, but I think there good things happening too!!
    The kids spotted this fresh growth of Cowslip, which is a protected Irish wildflower: I took following info from the Irish Wildflower website :

    The yellow-orange flowers (8-15mm) nod in a one-sided umbelwhich is borne on a hairy, stout stem.  The individual flowers are comprised of five joined petals, each flower bearing orange spots in the centre, and are scented.  The bloom in April and May. The leaves are not unlike those of the Primrose in that they are wrinkled and hairy, forming a basal rosette. Like the Primrose, there are two forms of this flower.  (See Primrose).  One of fifty-six species which are given special protection in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (NI) Order, 1985, this plant is now quite rare in Great Britain due principally to being overpicked and dug up for gardens. 
    This is a native plant and belongs to the family Primulaceae 

    This pictures was taken on the avenue , walking back from the lake into the direction of the car park.

    I took this last picture as it reminded me a  bit of the once avenue we had. It’s not quite the same yet, but over time the trees will grow,so hopefully when our kids are adults, their kids can enjoy this wonderful place.

    Have a great week ahead!
    Katleen

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