Help Protect Hearts in Ireland
I am taking part in Walk 100km with your Dog in June Challenge to raise funds for the Irish Heart Foundation and I’d love your support to help protect hearts in Ireland. ❤️
The Irish Heart Foundation’s mission is to eliminate preventable death and disability from heart disease and stroke and to support and care for those living with these life-changing conditions.
Your donation will make a real difference to people and families affected by heart disease and stroke.
Thank you for visiting my page and for your support.
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Day 6: Trip in to Town
Saturday 7th JunAnother evening walk and Lyra’s second of the day! This time we stayed local, taking a short trip into town, passing St Michael’s Church along the way.On a recent walking tour of Gorey with Lorraine fromGallivanting, I learned some fascinating facts about the town but one story really stuck with me: the tale of Augustus Pugin, the architect behind St Michael’s.
Pugin was a leading figure in the Gothic Revival and designed parts of the Palace of Westminster. His work, including St Michael’s, reflects his passion for medieval Gothic design and Catholic tradition. But behind his genius was a troubled life. He suffered from mental illness, likely caused by syphilis, and died at just 40 after being committed to the infamous Bedlam asylum.
Knowing his story adds a whole new layer to the church’s dramatic presence. It’s a reminder that beauty often comes from complicated places.
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Day 5: Wet Wet Wet
Thursday 5th JunSpent the morning correcting exam papers. Full disclosure, not exactly my favourite part of teaching, so I didn’t get out for a walk until late afternoon. The second we stepped outside, the heavens opened. It bucketed rain, and it didn’t let up.
Lyra, as usual, was unbothered! We passed a lone fisherman casting into the Ounavarra River, just as undeterred by the downpour. I pulled my hood up, pressed play on a new podcast, and off we went.
I listened to the first episode of Stolen Sister, a gripping new RTÉ true crime series about the 1976 murder of Elizabeth Plunkett in County Wicklow. The podcast retraces the tragic events and includes interviews with her family. The storytelling is both sensitive and powerful, raising questions that still resonate nearly fifty years later. Definitely one to keep listening to.
The puddles were plenty, the dog was happy, and the story of Elizabeth stayed with me long after I got home.
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Day 4 Woodland Walk
Wednesday 4th Jun Back to Courtown today but this time we took the Woodland trail. This 25-hectare woodland, once dominated by oak and ash, was acquired by the State in the late 1950s and replanted with commercial timber mainly mixed conifers and broadleaf species like spruce and ash. Some original oaks, chestnuts, and lime trees remain. Notable trees from the fifth Earl of Courtown’s conifer collection still survive, including Californian redwood, swamp cypress, and Japanese cedar. While common oak, ash, and sycamore are present, most 1840s English elms have been lost to Dutch Elm disease. Share
Memories of Sea Road
Tuesday 3rd Jun Took a quiet evening stroll along the beautiful Ballymoney Beach. I didn’t cover many kilometres as I felt a bit off all day and had to really push myself just to get out the door! But I’m glad I did! Some days it’s not about distance but just about showing up. Lyra paddled happily in the sea while Lily stayed dry, watching from the shore.I lived on Ballymoney’s Sea Road until I was three, so this stretch of coast always feels like a return, not just to a place, but to a part of myself.
Day Two: Kilometres, Company and Costal Change
Monday 2nd JunDay 2 – Courtown (Burrow Beach)
Today Lyra and Lily were joined by their friends Dee and Pico on Day 2 of our Walk 100k adventure. We racked up some extra kilometres today compared to yesterday. It's always so much easier to go further when you’ve got someone to natter with I think!
It’s been a while since we were last on the beach. It definitely looked clearer than before, though still scattered with plenty of uprooted trees. You can really see how the coastline has taken a battering in recent years.
On a hopeful note, there’s a beach regeneration plan in the works. Wexford County Council has announced a long-term project aimed at restoring Burrow Beach and the surrounding coastline. The first phase is due to start in 2027, with plans to re-nourish the beach and even develop a marina in the years ahead. It’s good to know steps are being taken to protect and revitalise this special stretch of coast.
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Day One: Direct hit from a feathered sniper
Sunday 1st JunDestination for Day One: Curragh Woods, just a seven-minute spin from Gorey town.
Lyra was joined by her four legged pal Lily, who’s staying with us for a few days . 🐾
The plan was a peaceful post-walk coffee at Lavender Farm… but a feathered sniper had other ideas. 🐦💩
I’m off to do the lotto!! Clearly, the universe owes me something.
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