Taking Coco for her 1 hour walk every day means that I get to explore more of Ballinamore.
Many roads lead to this wonderful town and today we walked along the road that goes to Eniskillen in Fermanagh.
For my international readers … Fermanagh is a county in Northern Ireland and it borders Leitrim.
Ballinamore (in Leitrim) is only about 35 to 40 minutes drive to there.
As we walked along we came to the playground and community centre … both great places and much used by our community.
No children playing as it was the crack of dawn! Around 9am.
Places like those only happen because of the efforts of community members … often working for years fundraising and trying to get grants.
I was looking at the playground and thinking ‘ great … a place that’s fenced in … I can let Coco of the lead and she can run around.’
Nada … No Dogs Allowed.
Ah well.
Then there was another place with a field that I got excited about … another sign … No Dogs Allowed.
Sigh.
Mags is going to take us to Garadice Lake soon so that Coco can run off the leash safely.
I can’t wait to see the lake as I hear it’s really lovely.
Then further along on the road is the GAA football field (I think that’s what it’s called … Maggie and Adrien will let me know).
Where ever I walk … on any road around Ballinamore ... there is beauty.
On the walk back we saw the Ballinamore sign and then the fountain.
When you turn right you enter High Street where I live.
When you turn left at the fountain you see some other cottages … think they’re called Railway Cottages … Maggie … do you know their history?
As you turn right you come to Shaylyn (no idea what the irish means).
Shaylyn is a traditional dance centre and has done some great work.
They currently are the only dance centre in Ireland that is running a module from a dance degree from Limerick University.
They’ve done some cross border dance workshops and programmes and have a touring company.
And on the way we stopped to chat with the neighbours.
And lots of strangers stopped us to say how beautiful we were … well Coco anyway!
I may need a siesta after these early morning starts.
The exercise is doing me the world of good ... lost 4 pounds in 4 days and feeling very pleased with myself.
I can just see the new best seller ‘take in abandoned dog & shed pounds’.
Coco has also met the abandoned cat ‘Stinky’ that all of us in the cottages have adopted.
They tend to ignore each other.
Have a great day.
Liz
What a great pic – the cat, the knee, and the dog
Love your walking tours of Ballinamore – next best thing to being there (kinda, almost:).
I do hope Stinky didn’t get his/her name because of the way s/he smells?
Better to have these 2 ignore each other than do what most dogs do when a cat comes around.
Namaste, Lindy
Lindy, sadly, the kitty’s name does come from his smell…but since he’s been taken to the vet and is getting an infection cleared up he’s no longer stinky at all (in fact, he spent a couple of hours sleeping in my lap yesterday evening and he wasn’t a bit stinky). So we should probably think of a new name for the poor boy so he’s not saddled with the evidence of his olfactory offense for the rest of his life.
He’s very brave, though. When dogs rush at him he just looks at them like “So?” and they kind of get embarrassed and wander off. He also gave John Joe a smack on the nose the other day, but John Joe was so completely focused on the ball about to be thrown to him he didn’t even notice.
(Sorry, Liz. Here’s your blog back now.)
You’re right Lynda… pusscat needs a new name …any thoughts?
Lovely rainy day today to stop us getting even faintly complacent about sunny days.
Liz
Your blog is excellent reading Liz.
Did you know that the railway cottages in your photos,are the ones owned by the Shah in McGahern’s book, and the garage is the business that he owned, his dog ‘captain’ was well know in town. The man who runs the garage now is the character ‘Frank Dolan’ (john fox).
Hi Conor Joseph
I didn’t know that and many thanks for filling me in.
I do know that this part of town was where his Aunt and Uncle worked.
It’s always a pleasure to hear that peopl enjoy wht I write.
Regards
Liz