Who would want to live here?

Having been brought up on the coast I am always drawn to it for a day out but I have never really hankered to live coastal again, there are however two places that  I could easily live, both in the beautiful county of Sligo. One is Lissadel, but it is close to Sligo town with quite a lot of new buildings and a lot of holiday homes.

 The next headland is Mullaghmore a few miles on towards Donegal. Again it has a lot of holiday homes, but to me it still retains the feeling of a small coastal village, plus it has one of the best restaurants in the West of Ireland.

Fresh from the sea.

Ethna's, renowned for seafood, all locally caught, she also serves some chicken dishes, the chicken is Organic as are the salads, produced by Tattie Hoaker Organic farm just five k away from the restaurant.

The food is simple delicious, and to us not expensive for Ireland, in fact the prices are on a par to a good class restaurant in Spain. However the wine is expensive. However it was a birthday celebration for Simon who has now reached the official retirement age.

Yes, I would want to live here, even if it does only have a shop that is only open during the tourist season.

The harbour is lovely, and quaint.

The fishermen still go out to catch a few fish

and the small fishing boats go out for the daily catch.

It is a sheltered harbour, surrounded by mountains and the views are outstanding.

At one time it was a thriving farming community, farmed in a sustainable way, the only things these people had to buy were tea, sugar and tobacco. Now most of the land is unused apart from a few sheep and a few cattle, yet it is good land, and a mild climate.

Wild Thyme.

A variety of wild plants grow here including sea thrift and wild thyme.

Classiebawn Castle shadowed by Benbulben.

 
It also has a castle, Classiebawn Castle, built by Lord Palmerston in the 19th century, it is now owned by an Irish person, the first time  the estate has been owned by an Irish person since the lands were seized from the O'Conor's of Sligo in the 17th century.
It is also known for the assassination in 1979 of Lord Louis Mountbatten.
Directly behind Mullaghmore are the Dartry Mountains,

Benbulben.

with Ben Bulben being the most famous and possible the most photographed mountain in Ireland.

It's a stunning area.
The garden is looking good and at last the first roses are now in bloom, the outside strawberries will be ready soon as well as the gooseberries.

Cauliflowers are now beginning to form their curds, we have already harvested the first one, I just hope they don't come all together.