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| It had just finished raining when our adventurers first sighted the Emerald Isle and a rainbow appeared over the port bow of the ship. |
On the morning of May 28th, 2025, the MS Vista cruised into Killybegs, Donegal and tied up to the pier. Killybegs is a very picturesque town in a deepwater fjord on the south coast of the county. Killybegs was mainly about fishing in the old days. Today though, the economy has become more diverse, especially since the infrastructure was given a boost by the European Union. Ireland joined the EU in 1973. EU grants helped to improve the port and build new highways. These investments allowed tourism to become an important part of the economy.
The dynamic duo decided to go on a scenic hike that day. They would be driven to a very special place in the foothills of the Bluestack Mountains. They lucked out with the local fellow that led the group that day. Keith Corcoran, the author of several books on Irish folklore, would be the guide.
About 30 kilometres outside of Killybegs, the small group piled out of a mini-bus in a parking lot next to a rural soccer field. The hike involved a 2.2-mile loop that climbed up and back down the side of the impossibly green foothills.
At the halfway point of the hike they came to the Disert Graveyard of Donegal. This is a site where pagan Druids and later Christians gathered to worship in a beautiful outdoor setting between the mountains and the sea. Massive stones were used to build a tomb and erect an alter at the site. A nearby well provided water for baptisms. It is said in the literature that most of these constructions date from the times of St. Colmcille in the 6th century. Keith did an excellent job of passing on the lore and keeping everyone entertained. Then, everyone hiked back down to the mini-bus. There were no casualties.
Keith's Corcoran's latest book is titled; "Finding Fairy Mysteries in Donegal; Close Encounters with the Wee Folk". Find him at https://www.irelandguidedtravel.com/
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| A point near the Rotten Island Lighthouse |
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| A nice place overlooking the harbour |
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| A stream running through the valley in the foothills of the Bluestaack Mountains |
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| Author and guide Keith Corcoran |
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| Alter |
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| Iconic scene from the Emerald Isle |
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| Gym hiked by this lovely farmyard |
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