#irishsheep

Sheep grazing at Killary Fjord, Connemara

County Galway, Ireland

Killary Fjord, Connemara

County Galway, Ireland

Flyfishing Ireland

The scenery in Ireland is awe inspiring both in it natural state as well as the many ruins that seem to be a part of every view. The back yard of the Cloghvoola Fishing Lodge is an ancient Bronze Age sight where apparently ancient Celts lived and camped. It would be easy to see why this particular spot was chosen by these people. The lodge was on top of a hill that was a high point in a small boulder strewn valley ringed by a series higher mountain ridges what would have been hard for an attacking tribe or band to one, climb and two, cross over undetected. The only real passage to this spot could be viewed from a long way off and required traveling the long shoreline of Lough Currane and then crossing a river that at that time wouldn't have had a bridge. One bright sunny morning before breakfast while I was standing where the fire pit had once been of this ancient village I watched a shepherd herding his sheep on the opposite slope of one of the mountains. He had two sheep dogs that he whistled commands to that kept the sheep together and moving in the direction the herder wanted them to. On an adjacent slope at the same moment I watched two horses gallop across the mountain side for no other reason than run wild and free with mains and tails fly in the wind. It was one of those moments in life that just make you appreciate being alive and on an adventure.