I was visiting Kerry this summer and stopped off to see the homeplace of my grandmother Bridget Connor. She lived in Rossdohan near Sneem until she left to go to the USA as a young girl. She met and married my grandfather there and they returned to live in Bandon.
My mother visited her grandparents there every summer during her teenage years. She would cycle from Bandon to Sneem in a day. I took her back to visit and to meet her two 1st cousins. It was 70 years since my Mum and Jack had last met and they were overjoyed to see each other. I could see the young people they had been. Shortly after my Mum died I went to tell Jack but he already knew. He could see how upset I was so he sat outside with me and told me how to forecast the weather by looking at the sea and the mountains. I have never met a wiser man. He was content with what he had and with living out his days in his homeplace.
It is sad to see it empty now and it would be lovely to hear it ring to the sound of children's voices again.
A very special place.
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