There is Magic All Around

One of the most amazing things about this country is that all you have to do is keep your eyes open and you find amazing things.

I was driving through a rugged part of the west coast through Connemara last week. I’d taken the coast road up and decided to take a different route home just to see some of the towns I’d heard about but hadn’t been to, like Maam Cross and Oughterard and Moycullen. There were sheep all along the roadside.

They hardly even notice when a car goes by and have no sense of danger that a car is approaching. I guess they realize people will stop and go around them. But they run when you get out of the car so the only ones I could take pictures of were behind a fence.

But when I drove through Oughterard the road follows the Owenriff River through the town.

And in the middle of the park in the middle of that town was what looked like something out of a movie. An incredible Princess Bridge, or at least the kind of perfect stone bridge any Princess would surely be proud to have. So of course I pulled over as soon as I could and walked back just to see the park. And what a spectacular place!

It was so peaceful! Right on a river that has a series of riffles all along so no matter where you are along it, you can hear it almost calling to you. 

That bridge goes to a small island in the middle of the river, but it is built just as the bridges into castles here are, with strength and beauty and artistry. There wasn’t a single other person in the park that afternoon. 

I had it all to myself to just take in the river and the setting and the houses nearby. I’m sure on a sunny Saturday the park is packed with families. And I’m sure every kid in town has viewed that bridge as a part of their own private kingdom at one time or another.

And it shows you that magic is all around you here. There are historical buildings and museums in every town, but there are also these little out-of-the way gems sprinkled in. All you have to do is keep your eyes open so you won’t miss them!