Last week I returned from a short trip to Ireland. The main reason for being there was for my great aunt Brid’s 100th Birthday Celebration. It was wonderful to be with my (large) extended family for such a special event, and it was also wonderful to be back in Ireland again. It had been eight years since my last trip, which was for our honeymoon. Even though I was there for only a few days after flying in, I made sure to make the most of it. That is something you just seem to do when you visit Ireland. Especially in Donegal where my family is all originally from. It is a place of wondrous beauty- all rugged coastlines and rolling hills, flowing streams and deep glens. Its hard to see it all, especially on such a short trip, but I made an effort to try. Of course I took my camera with me nearly everywhere I went. Below in the gallery are some highlights of the trip.
At this point I have written a few posts based around Ireland or the other Celtic countries (here and here). Like my other posts they were based around the idea of finding a musical pairing or match for the photographs I took so I do not want to repeat what I have already written about. On this trip, in between various family events, as I wandered around, I became aware more than ever before about the sounds of Ireland, or Irish ‘noise’ if you will. When I thought about new ways I could write about the country I thought that this idea was interesting. It starts innocently enough when stepping outside in the morning-the chirp of a bird, the incessant baa of sheep which are…everywhere, or the deep rumbling echo of a cow in the distance.
You are never far from water of some sort in Ireland, so a short walk out to one of my favorite local spots-a unique rock formation at the end of a peninsula known as Muckross Head provides the sound of crashing waves and the continuous ebb and flow of the Atlantic Ocean pummeling the ancient rocks as they have for centuries now, pockmarking the rocks into unique patterns. High above the distinctive sea cliffs at Slieve League the sound of wind dominates, even on a calm day, punctuated only by the occasional seagull. The height of the cliffs and the whistling winds often block out the noise of the ocean directly below, as if in subsiding they might reveal some sort of secret.
Away from the cliffs, water also dominates. The gentle burble of a flowing stream or the steady roar of a waterfall are never distant. From small town piers, to large fishing ports like Killybegs, the sounds of ships of all types can be heard. A creak of ropes tied to the wood of small craft, or the more incessant horns and machinery of a large fishing trawler just arriving in port are all a part of the ‘noise’ of Ireland as well. Further inland, in the deep glens that slice through the landscape a different sort of noise is heard. It might be the swish of the tall grass in the summer breeze, or the steady hum of a tractor coming up the road. Once again the sound of sheep dominate, while inside the homes that dot the hills, the distinctive crackle (and smell) of a peat fire can be heard.
In town a different sort of noise takes over, be it a casual meeting between friends at the grocery to the up and down roars of a crowd watching sports in the pub. There is a cadence to the conversations that is uniquely Irish compared to other cultures to my ears. Depending where you are, it might even come with a dash of the Irish language included, especially in Donegal. It was while at the pub one night that I really took notice of this. Beyond the well known lilt of the Irish accent, I realized that the true nature of Irish ‘noise’ was based on the sound of people having fun. From the front rooms of people’s homes or family events like Aunt Brid’s celebration to those pubs, the Irish have nearly cornered the market on having a good time. That is where my musical choice for this post comes in, for few bands in Ireland, let alone anywhere have as much fun as The Saw Doctors do.
From their formation in Tuam, Galway in the mid-1980’s, to their breakthrough singles N17 and I Useta Lover, followed by their debut album, the sublimely titled If This Is Rock & Roll I Want My Old Job Back, the Saw Doctors have remained one of the best bands out there. Right from their beginnings they seemed to have tapped into a part of Irish culture not served by traditional Irish music, or by the full rock style of bands like U2. The roots of its music are based more on day to day life, a narrative of small town Irish culture. Songs about working the land, or a football match. Songs about pretty girls or an old car. Or in the case of this song, about a Céilí band making the rounds at any type of party out there for the pure fun of it. The Saw Doctors music is sometimes humorous, sometimes introspective, but always hopeful in the end. Songs that seem to come from being out in that beautiful landscape or a darkened pub and listening to the ‘noise’ around you. An Irish noise. Long may it stay that way.
Dedicated To My Great Aunt Brid-Happy 100th Birthday!
Joyce Country Céilí Band-Written By Davy Carton, Leo Moran, & Pearse Doherty
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All Photographs By Robert P. Doyle
SHARES AND LIKES APPRECIATED!
That’s was a great read x
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Thanks so much Laila! Glad you enjoyed it and thank you as always 🙂
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Combining photographs and music — what a cool idea! Awesome post 🙂
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Thanks so much Natalie! I appreciate that and off to check your posts out!
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You make Ireland sound so magical! Amazing writing. Good luck with your blogging journey! ~Gloria
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Thank you very much Gloria! Ireland is a very special place. You feel connected with the land and its people instantly.
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Absolutely loved your blog post, beautiful Ireland ☘ So enjoyed reading about your trip, the photographs are stunning. Love that track by the Saw Doctors, seen it on an Irish Country Music show just last night 😀
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Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed! And yes, I love that song as well!
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Lovely photos that make me yearn to go back. I saw the Saw Doctors out here in Ca a while back. They are awesome. Cheers to your grandmother!
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Thanks! I wish I were still there. Especially because I totally lucked out with the weather for the most part! And the Saw Doctors are just a lot of fun!
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I wish I was there too. It has been so hot here in Northern Ca. Even my ten year old nephew suggested we all move to Ireland where it is cooler and rains more often. Can’t argue with his logic. Although by the middle of winter he might be tired of it.
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In Donegal where my family is from it can get pretty rough in the winter. However I was there in January once (for our honeymoon in fact) and the weather wasn’t bad, although the short days were a real downer!
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It is what makes it Ireland!
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100 years old!! That’s amazing and a blessing to be able to celebrate such a milestone with your Aunt. The scenery in these photos are beautiful. I’d love to visit Ireland at some point.
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I know right?! It was special indeed. If you ever get a chance you really should. I’m biased but its just beautiful. Thank you!
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Great post! Your pictures are stunning, it looks so beautiful!! hope you can look at/follow my blog too https://myhappycornerblog.wordpress.com
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Thank you and I just gave you a follow and will have a look around. Ireland is indeed a special place. Thanks for the comment!
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Thanks! It really does look it 🙂
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Fabulous pics of Ireland!! The heavily coated sheep looks like it’s in disguise! Brought to mind *wolves in sheep’s clothing* lol
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Thanks as always buddy! Those sheep are everywhere…and I do mean everywhere! On the roads, in the fields, on the steepest terrain you can imagine with sheer drops to the ocean below. But they need that coating for all that great Irish wool which is so expensive lol
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So glad you went to Ireland! What amazing photos!! Great song, too. I still play the other song you shared by Dan Ar Braz! Hope you’re well. I’m back from a long hiatus of starting a full time job lol. Finally settled in to grab back some time for my blog and life. I just finished my novel edits and hopefully (!!!) something beautiful comes of it. So glad you’re still going strong! 🙂
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Thank you Amy! It was a short trip but I made the most of it with a camera attached to my hip wherever I went. Great to be there with almost all my family. Glad you liked the song and still play the Dan Ar Braz too! Fingers crossed on the novel, that is so great!!! I had a bit of a blogging lull awhile back but I’m there again. I actually wrote a short fictional series recently based on an inscription in an old book I own. Would love to hear your thoughts someday. Thanks again!
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ps LOVE the title — Irish Noise. Brilliant!!!
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Thank you! 😄 It just came to me on my flight back!
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Beautiful photos and accompanying music. Your aunt’s a grand old lady. What a remarkable age 🙂
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Thanks Jacqueline! Indeed she is, and funnily enough, she is one of 13 children and the three other surviving siblings could easily reach 100 themselves!
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Wow! That’s called blessing.
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Indeed!
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Happy Birthday for your aunt! Beautiful pictures, Ireland is definitely on my list of places I’d still like to go
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Oh I hope you get there someday. Its truly a wonderful place. It just seeps into your soul and worries seem to disappear when you are there. And thanks on my great Aunt. She’s got three siblings that are all pushing 100 themselves in a few years, which is really remarkable!
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I live in the Rosses, Donegal and found your blog through a link from Jacqueline. I like this Saw Doctors song but for me Thin Lizzy take some beating. I think I saw them 6 times in all and once in 2005.
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Love that Jacquline! The Rosses are beautiful. Been up that way a few times. There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeing Thin Lizzy so many times! 😄
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Hi Robert!
How have you been? I’m sorry I’ve been away from blogging for a while so I couldn’t read this amazing post as soon as possible. Believe me, it’s one of the first things I did the moment I opened wordpress. How could I miss such aesthetically pleasing pictures of a country I love so much and from a blogger I admire so much?
Honestly, thank you for clicking these. They’re a treat to the eye and now you’ve made me value Ireland even more. May I take the permission to save some of these images? They’re beautiful!
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Hi Aakansha! I saw that you just posted and I will be reading it as soon as I can. Hope you are well and by all means, save whatever you want! I really hope you get to Ireland soon yourself to see it in person. And I’m truly honored and flattered by what you said. Thank you truly! I feel the same about your writing by the way 😄
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Ireland is at the top of my list for my next European vacation, and your post makes me feel like it should be sooner rather than later. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
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You will have an amazing time! I agree you should make it sooner than later 😄 Thank you as ever my friend
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