Wouldn’t this be a nice entrance to one’s home…or maybe it’s a bit too pretentious for a country cottage! This is the old entrance to Kilronan Castle just outside the village of Keadue in County Roscommon. It was here we met today for the second Bards in the Woods of the year. The first was last week at Hazelwood near Sligo but I didn’t get to that one.
Just beyond the entrance is this impressive folly which is known locally as the Fairy House. It is believed that it was used by the occupants of the castle as a place where they could play at being peasants. The roof is long gone as are the toffs in the castle. Very pretty isn’t it? The castle has a new lease of life now as a popular hotel.
As I waited for the others to arrive I walked a little by the shore of Lough Meelagh. Something so very soothing about the sound of lapping water.
About a dozen people turned up and we set off happily on our walk. The weather was ideal…sunny but not too warm.
Spotted this Oak tree with what looks like a deer head growing out of it.
At the place called The End of the World we rested a while and had a cup of tea.
John recited a couple of his own compositions here.
What more could a body want on a beautiful sunny Sunday? Beside a beautiful lake, listening to poetry, the company of good friends and a picnic when we returned to the folly. Perfection!
A lovely Sunday in the woods!
fromacountrycottage 
What a beautiful area.
Yes it is beautiful! We are very lucky here in NW Ireland. To me it is the most beautiful part of the country.
So green. So beautiful. I love to see the land where you live! Donna at the Small House Homestead in (snowy!) SW Michigan
Hopefully the snow will go soon. Its less than a week since we had the last snow here. At least I hope it was the last!!
Breathtakingly beautiful .. all that lovely stonework. And I can see the deer head, too!
Looks like a stunning spot and a lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon 🙂
It really is very beautiful and the walk is just the right length.
Looks like you enjoyed a most wonderful Sunday, Bridget. One of these days, I’d love to have hang out with the Bards in the Woods…the walk, the mountains (and Keadue is so lovely), the lough, the picnic, and getting together with friends and just enjoying nature and one another’s company.
Thanks for sharing this, Bridget.
Come along one Sunday June. You would love it! xx
I love the photos of the views through arches and other openings! I want to tell you that, after reading a post you did last year about the Cavan Burren Park, we sought it out when in Ireland in September. We were there all alone and it was magical–thanks for the inspiration!
Thats wonderful that you were inspired to go there from my blog. It is such a wonderful spot! You were only about an hour’s drive from my place. You could have popped in! x
Beautiful landscapes, Bridget, and what a lovely day to enjoy it. The folly does look like a fairy house. 🙂
Oh my I would have loved that trip and visiting those ruins…fabulous.
It was a beautiful Spring day in such a lovely spot.
Missed this wonderful walk I had family down they left on Sunday afternoon so next time I hope to be free to come I do miss the Woodland walks with you all..
We have the Summer long to meet in the woods. See you at Janice’s party on Saturday! xx
Sounds so romantic–a fairy house made into a hotel. A poetry reading. Beautiful stonework. Amazing scenery. Who could ask for more?
I seem to have missed quite a few posts from you…lovely photo’s in this one!
Coming back to the blog and garden world after a long hiatus. As usual it was wonderful to visit your blog. What a beautiful place. Is that water body part of the river Shannon? I watched this documentary on River Shanon in Ireland. It was a beautiful documentary to watch but also as usual depressing because all these types of documentaries all the time tell how nature is being destroyed; how bird population has gone down; and so on.