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Cape Clear, Ireland, 2008
I'd been telling Gosia for ages about the regions in Ireland where people predominantly spoke Irish. So we decided it was about time we went to Cape Clear and heard some Gaeilge being spoken by traditionalists. I'm well able to have a lenthly conversation in Irish, so I was looking forward to the opportunity. Unfortunately, there was no one on the Island even bothering to make an effort, shops were staffed by British people, and most people on the Island as far as I could see were 80% british too, so even the local staff couldn't be bothered to make an effort. Nevertheless, while it was bucketing rain on the mainland, out on Cape Clear the sun was splitting the stones, and kids were playing on the beach. These are all cameraphone photos, so apologies for the quality.

Here's the Naoimh Ciaran II, or as it's commonly referred to, the Cape Clear Island Ferry. We'd a rough crossing over, but the boat didn't seem to mind at all.

One of the RNLI Lifeboats coming in from training into Baltimore Harbour.

That'd be me. Fending off sea sickness.

Cape Clear Harbour itself, nice anc calm waters, and right next to the beach.

Roadsigns next to Ciaran Danny Mac's pub, showing the distance in miles to places like London, San Francisco, and Murmansk.

The view of an abandoned house at the top of the Island, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

Herself getting new wallpaper for her Laptop :)

An absolutely beautifully restored, and brightly painted David Browne tractor. Probably the best kept vehicle on the island ...

... especially when compared with the likes of this. The Island doesn't need Insurance on vehicles, or Tax, or NCTs, so you end up with cars like this, being driven on a day to day basis. Some cars don't have exhausts, some cars don't have glass. There's a famous story that a VW Beetle ended up on the Island after it was deemed too sick for the mainland. The gearbox in the Beetle had packed in, all except for one gear - reverse - and apparently the owner was seen reversing around the Island for a few years in his bright red VW Beetle. I didn't believe the story, until I looked over some of the old photos on the Ferry's internal walls, and right there, was a red VW Beetle.