We have just returned from a week at Ocean’s Edge where we met one of our new neighbours (pictured) for the first time. If you have visited Achill you will have seen the Mayo Blackface sheep who are so well adapted to life on the island. The lambs are really cute with their black faces and legs – look a bit like Shaun the sheep, in fact. It was great to be there as the clocks went forward with the promise of lovely long evenings to come. We had some glorious sunshine, and the mountains to the east had glistening white tops. The sea was magnificent. The Atlantic swell was too great to allow safe fishing from the rocks, so we were especially thrilled yesterday when cousin Charlie presented us with a delicious lobster he had caught with his dad the day before. Charlie senior is the proud skipper of the Lady Leah, and supplies lobsters to the seafood restaurants of Achill. Wednesday evening was one of perfect light, and the views of the interior of the island were fantastic as we drove to Dugort for a pizza. The colours of both land and sea change with the seasons. Yellow is dominant at the moment, the hillsides recovering from winter, the whinbushes in full bloom and daffodils galore. As we were preparing to leave the rain was falling, but as the moment of departure arrived so did the sun. Let’s hope it continued to shine today on those taking part in the sponsored cycle from Galway to the lifeboat station at Cloghmore in aid of the Achill Lifeboat.
