Terri has managed The Skibbereen Heritage Centre since it opened in 2000. It is an educational attraction that tells the story of The Great Famine that decimated Ireland’s population primarily due to British government cruelty. Her 40 minute encapsulation of the famine was captivating and horrifying at the same time. She has also co-written a comprehensive book, Skibbereen: The Famine Story. It tells the story of how Skibbereen became the face of the tragedy for the rest of the world. The centre is worth a visit and tells a cautionary tale relevant today.
After a somber morning learning about the Great Famine and after visiting the site of mass graves just out of town, we visited the picturesque coastal village of Glandore. Up high on a hill, Glandore overlooks an aquamarine bay surrounded by green pastures. We sat with Roger and Ruth for lunch at the Glandore Inn.
Roger and Ruth are Inishfree Irish Music Tour participants from Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada. Ruth is a retired social worker enjoying playing a role in the lives of her grandchildren. Roger is a farmer, author, Camino pilgrim, and soon to be retired counsellor. Roger is rewilding his family farm, establishing native prairie grasses and wildflowers. I did the same with our previous property in Wyevale, Ontario. Like me, Roger is interested in people’s stories, so he asked Kelly and I, “What are you good at that also gives you a sense of satisfaction?” That led to some fun and interesting conversation.
After Glandore, Paddy, the owner of Inishfree Music Tours, and our bus driver, took us to the Drombeg Stone Circle historic site. This unassuming stone circle, used for millennia to celebrate solstices, predates Stonehenge by a long shot.
David (Francey), who lives in a community of 38 in eastern Ontario, Canada, is a folk singer-songwriter who we think is a pretty big deal. He is the musical host of this Inishfree Irish Music Tour, something he has done twice a year for 15 years. Every time he visits this site , he likes to take portraits of all the tour guests. Since it is a meaningful place to him, I asked to take his portrait here as well. He happily agreed and stood in front of one of the two standing portal stones. David played an intimate concert for the Inishfree Irish Music Tour group tonight at the West Cork Hotel. He shared the stories of his song’s origins and glimpses into his song writing process. It was a special night, one Kelly and I felt fortunate to attend.