Keen
Speaker: Mary Murphy The curious custom of keening or crying by semi-professional keeners at Irish wakes died out (as it were!) at the start of the 20th century. It had become a source of ridicule with attendees even openly laughing at the keeners. In its heyday, it was regarded as an essential part of properly mourning the dead at any decent Irish wake. © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This...
2m Oct 29, 2021
2m
Bram Stoker's Sligo
Bram Stoker's mother, Charlotte Thornley's eye-witness account of the Sligo cholera epidemic left a long-lasting effect on her and her son.
2m Oct 31, 2021
2m
Me an' me Da (living in Drumlister)
Me An' Me Da Speaker: J.P. Bradley Words: Rev. William Bradley From the Best of J.P. Bradley (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634186-best-of-j-p-bradley) playlist. I'm livin' in Drumlister, An' I'm gettin very oul', I have to wear an Indian bag To save me from the coul'. The deil a man in this townlan' Wos claner raired nor me, But I'm livin' in Drumlister In clabber to the knee. Me da live...
3m Nov 02, 2021
3m
13: BSW1 A microcosm of Ireland
From The Bluestack Way Audio Guide, Part One: https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
16: BSW1 The Friary
From The Bluestack Way Audio Guide, Part One: https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 1. Ascending the valley
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) GPS LOCATION: 54.710835, -8.064785 Directions You'll be turning left and climbing towards the Bluestacks. Get ready to start ascending as you make your way towards Eglish.   Our audio piece gives us an early indication of what to look out for from the Bluestacks'...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 2. Eagles' dens and ancient paths
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) In the audio, Patsy tells us of the Brothers Path, Casan na Brathra and ancient cut through that the friars used. Towards Eglish Known as Leana Mor, this little used road soon becomes an unsurfaced track and affords the most striking views back over Lough Eske a...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 3. The North East range
Speaker: Moya Reid From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) The Bluestack Mountains, North East Range The mountains to the west of Barnesmore are in full view of your current location with a colourful variety of names for about 70% of the stacks: -   62 Croaghbarnes - Cruach a’ Bhearnais, The Stack of the Gap 64 nameless ...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 4. Eglish valley
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Eglish valley Turning northwest and descending from the end of Banagher hill, we reach the townland of Eglish (Eglais, a church). Tradition indicates that a wayside school was situtated beside a brook which passes under the Eglish road. In recent years there were...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 5. Heavenly place
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patrick Campbell had this to say about Eglish: -'Here in Eglish we really have the tempting challenge for the hiker, and the fisherman has to but step from the road as the river flows alongside it. The majestic cliffs and high spinks seem to come so near to meet a...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 6. Lime kiln
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Lime was used in agriculture to reduce the ph value of soil. In our audio piece, Patsy tells us a bit more about the lime kiln you'll see on the left of the path as you descend through Eglish valley.
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 7. The scary woman/Belshade fault
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patsy tells of the woman who scared all the local children when they saw her. She wore a stocking on her head after she burned her face. The trace of the Belshade fault trends down the Eglish valley and lies at the foot of the hills and marks the contact between ...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 8. Sheep dipping
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) After crossing the Eglish river, you'll see an unusual structure on your right - Patsy is at hand to tell you what exactly it is.
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 9. Meenataggart Hall
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Directions  Exiting the Eglish valley turn right and follow the road across the Meenataggart river. At the next junction the main road turns left but the Bluestack Way carries straight ahead. The old tumbled down shed on the right was once a thriving dance hall kn...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 10. Blue Stack range and The Song
Speakers: Moya Reid and Francis Harvey From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Blue Stack Range   Amazingly, the actual Blue Stack mountain range has only five named stacks: -   41 Sruell - An tSruthail, The Flushing Stream 42 nameless 43 nameless 44 nameless 45 nameless 46 nameless 47 nameless 48 Croaghgorm - Cruach...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 11. Meenawilderg's favourite son
Speaker: Helen Meehan From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patrick Campbell was born in Meenawilderg in 1911 and from an early age developed a deep interest in his surroundings. A generous and thoughtful man, his writings reflect a natural turn of phrase that the locals used in everyday vernacular. A transgression was thus...
2m Nov 03, 2021
2m
BSW2 12. Grey Mare's tail
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patrick Campbell wrote that the menfolk of the Crugha Gorma 'were experts in sheep stock and famous for their knowledge of those mountains and hills. Their sheep dogs only understood commands in the Irish language, and like many other mountain districts in Donegal...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 13. The yellow river
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Directions Follow the roadway to the white house: the path that follows the fencing on your right almost to the end of the field. It then swings left and leads the walker to a gate through the next fence and then downhill to another gate and the ruins of an old f...
28s Nov 03, 2021
28s
BSW2 14. The professor turned sheep farmer
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Local writers such as Paul Peppergrass, Patrick MacGill and Seamus MacManus emigrated to America but one American bucked the trend and came to Donegal leaving behind the leafy arches of Harvard for Meenaguish deep in the Bluestacks between 1970 and 1984. Bob Berne...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 15. Meenaguse Lough
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Meenaguse Lough sits on a glacial deposit and together with the small lake to the east may represent ‘kettle hole’ lakes. These lakes formed as the ice sheets retreated, leaving behind large blocks of ice, isolated from the main ice mass, which were partially or c...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 16. Turf cutting
Speaker: John McGrory From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patrick Campbell wrote: -'On our way we pass by a famous bog in Clogher where in my young years was used extensively by large farmers who came several miles to cut and save turf, and paid them two shillings and sixpence per day. They claimed that a mountain man wou...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 16. The bog
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Directions At the next road on the left, the pathway swings into the hills. Some distance up this road, the walker meets a gate and a little further on, you turn right towards the hill top. Follow the tarmac path to the gate and long the straight rugged path to t...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 17. Bog flora
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) The blanket bog has the typical abundance of ling heather and sphagnum moss as well as a variety of other mosses and lichens expecially Cladonia impexa growing on the stems of the heather. Even at higher elevations looking down over Meenaguse, people have planted ...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 18. Tending to the valley
Speaker: Helen Meehan From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Patrick Campbell had happy memories of a hard day's work out in this valley: 'After the saving of the turf and hay, we children looked forward to the day of the gathering in and the building of the haystack. For weeks we talked of this day of days in glee on our wa...
2m Nov 03, 2021
2m
BSW2 19. Forestry
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) As we wind our way down to the main road, we pass through one of the many forests you'll encounter along the Way - Patsy tells us more about them 
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 20. End of Day Two
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Directions Note: at this point one might wish to turn left and walk to the Hostel accommodation at the Bluestack Centre. Approx 3km away is the village of Letterbarra where the Bluestack Centre is located adjacent to the legendary O’Neill’s pub. Just a taxi ride ...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 21. Bluestack centre
Speaker: Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) Bluestack Centre A stay in the Bluestack Centre hostel is a great opportunity to see how a community can pull together and get things done. The building of the centre itself was from the vision and perseverance of a few locals and today, the place is at the heart...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 22. O'Neill's of Letterbarrow
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) It's a place like this that has made Ireland what it is; where issues are discussed, good pints are devoured and maybe a bit of music will come along. A landmark local hostelry, even if the original boss is no longer behind the bar.   On our audio piece, John McG...
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW2 23. Safe houses/Upper Eanymore
Speakers: Patsy McNulty and a local farmer From the Bluestack Way Part 2 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634191-the-bluestack-way-part-two) This bridge is the starting point for a challenging piece of canoeing as far as Inver.   According to Neil Fox, if the rain is dancing on your windscreen, the Eanymore is one of the best river trips in Donegal. However, it is only worth consid...
3m Nov 03, 2021
3m
15: BSW1 Tranquil shores?
From The Bluestack Way Audio Guide, Part One: https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/
1m Nov 03, 2021
1m
BSW3 1. Daybreak in Drimarone
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions Its three kilometres from the Centre to get back on the Bluestack Way – simply turn right and walk past the church taking the right in the fork in the road. The full wonder of what awaits you will become apparent. In days gone by, you would have s...
2m Nov 04, 2021
2m
BSW3 2. St. Brigid's Day
Speaker: Mary Murphy From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) . More St. Brigid/Imbolc audio can be found on our Brigid playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634585-st-brigid-and-imbolc) An old saying in Ireland concerning St. Brigid went 'put a green cross beneath your roof on the eve of good St. Bride and you will ha...
17s Nov 04, 2021
17s
BSW3 3. Approaching a sacred site
Speaker: Helen Meehan From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) . See Bluestack Way page (https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/) for full details. In our audio piece, historian Helen Meehan gives us an overview of Carnaween and Disert which you are approaching. You will be hearing more about both places, both Helen as always ...
3m Nov 04, 2021
3m
BSW3 4. Songs of the area
Speaker: Patsy McNulty and a local farmer From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Local songs and ballads in the area are unfortunately very rare. As each day passes more and more ballad material will be lost as the old folks pass away with no-one to take up the tradition and keep it alive. People from the Mountcharles d...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 5. Field of dreams
Speakers: John McGroary and Patsy McNulty From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  A hallowed place It is a good 5 km from the Bluestack Centre to the Tymeen Football field which you’ll see on your left. Surrounded by an uneven boggy surface in all directions, this verdant patch is all the more striking – ask the folk in...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 6. Disert graveyard
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions Come down the brae and at the bottom of it turn left where you'll see the sign for Disert graveyard, going past sheep gates. There's a well worn path to get to the site and more signage.   Hermitage Diseart is the Gaelic word for Hermitage. Afte...
6m Nov 04, 2021
6m
BSW3 7. Disert during the Famine
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Disert – the area around the wall and burial site at Disert presents a restricted, but interesting flora. Bluebells thrive in the area, even in intensely grazed fields, probably due to the non-application of artificial fertilisers. Thistles are common and are...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 8. At the foothills
Speaker: Helen Meehan From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions  Make your way back through the fields to get back on the road. You’ll be turning left and carrying on down the road for some 300m before turning right. Follow the tarred road for approx 1km where it turns left through a gate onto an unsurfaced trac...
3m Nov 04, 2021
3m
BSW3 9. Divergence
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  GPS LOCATION: 54.730491, -8.191558 Here you are faced with a choice of routes; one, the main Bluestack Way traverses the mountain of Loughnabrogue, before crossing the Bluestack range to drop into the valley of Doobin (pronounced Dibbin). This is a route for...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 10. Climbing the Bluestacks
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions This is the toughest part of Bluestack Way. Stick closely by the Yellow man markers. The terrain is wet and uneven with large clumps to overcome which are a result of turf cutting from many years ago.   In our audio piece, John tells us what to ex...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 11. Carnaween
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) . See Bluestack Way page (https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/) for full details. The first Sunday of June, found the youth of Patrick Campbell’s day making their way after Mass to Carnameen mountain top, a tradition that is still practiced to this day. Campbell...
3m Nov 04, 2021
3m
BSW3 12. I can see for miles and miles
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  The view from the top of Lughnabrogue is one of the great treats in life. Everything that is magnificent and epic about the north west can be saluted from this point, with you as lord or lady of all you survey. With views as far south as Cavan to one side and ...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 13. Donegal's famous postman
Speaker: Michael Gallagher From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions You'll be carrying down the mountain. Once you get to the pathway, you'll be turning left following the course of the Owenroe river. If you were to turn right and walk for four miles, you'd be in the heart of the Croaghs.   One of the great am...
2m Nov 04, 2021
2m
BSW3 14. An emigrant's farewell
Speaker: Michael Gallagher From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  If you were to turn right after Lughnabrogue and Cloghmeen Hill and carry on past Carnaween, you'd be going in the direction of Meenalig by the Reelan river.   Paddy McGroary had been reared in the bare mountainless townland of Meenalig and in 1883 he sai...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 15. Along the Owenroe river
Speaker: Sean McMahon From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  After your descent, you drop into the valley of Doobin joining the roadway at the bottom of the hill and taking a left turn along the track to Glenties.   With no habitation and little disturbance, the occasional glimpse can be had of the peregrine falcon and ...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 16. Fionn's frolics
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Directions This point marks where the Alternative route rejoins us - ensure you follow the signs to the right to get to Glenties.   Following the track down to the site of the old school, turn right over the concrete bridge and take a left turn through a gat...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 17. Deepest Doobin
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Doobin, which needless to say is pronounced 'Dibbin', is the remotest point of our journey. Now with sheep as the only permanent residents, this place once had a community as the derelict national school will testify to - built by the indefatigable Canon McFad...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 15. Along the Owenroe river/Mass Rock
Speaker: Sean McMahon From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  After your descent, you drop into the valley of Doobin joining the roadway at the bottom of the hill and taking a left turn along the track to Glenties.   With no habitation and little disturbance, the occasional glimpse can be had of the peregrine falcon and ...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 18. Beckett's boulevarde
Speaker: Mary Murphy From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  You are now approx 7 km from Glenties; known as the Cosan, this path has been used by the people of Doobin for centuries going to mass or to the fairs in Glenties for shopping. It was used by the people of Disert, Drimarone and beyond for the same purpose, cross...
20s Nov 04, 2021
20s
BSW3 19. The path across the moor
Speaker: Seumus Gildea From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  The Path Across the Moor Words: Seumas MacManus; Tune: Traditional, set by Eamonn Monaghan   One harvest evening as I took the road from Glenties fair, I overtook a fresh littl’ coleen of modest mean and air; So pleasant our discoursing was, it grieved me t...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m