BSW3 20. Glenties - one tidy town
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Patrick MacGill was born in the Glen of Glenties in 1889 and was the first of eleven children. After only a few years’ schooling and after having worked on the home patch of land, he set out at the age of twelve, one of a group of youngsters from the locality,...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 21. View of the glens
Speaker: Sean McMahon From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  View From the rock outcrops at the top of the hill, fine views can be had of the glens with the town nestling quietly below. In the valley, the Owenea river flows from east to west passing Glenties on towards Ardara to enter the Atlantic ocean. To the right is...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 22. The truth about sheep!
Speaker: Patsy McNulty and a local farmer From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  According to Michael Gallagher, sheep are often regarded as being downright stupid, but they actually notice changes in the atmosphere early on, and set out to prepare themselves for it. When in late autumn, winter or early spring, they gath...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 23. Early days of the festival
Speaker: Seumus Gildea From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) .  Nestled between two glens on the north westerly edge of the Bluestacks at the convergence of two rivers, Glenties is the largest population centre in the parish of Inishkeel. Surrounded by mountains and hills on three sides that open along the Owenea valley to...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 24. Talking Shop
Speaker: John McGroary From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) . Youtube video showing the strange case of why Fr. Barney was singled out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HzOkonTzcY Glenties is commonly regarded as being the mythical village of Ballybeg in Donegal that playwright Brian Friel has used in a dozen or so plays...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 25. V.I.P hotel
Speaker: Breesy Willows From the Bluestack Way Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634193-the-bluestack-way-part-three) . 2021 update: please note this was recorded in 2012 and there has been a change in hotel ownership. Directions Carry on along the main road into Glenties. Coming down the Brae, you'll see the Highlands hotel in front of you across the road.   Hearty welcome...
2m Nov 04, 2021
2m
BSW3 26. Jimmy's winning matches
Speaker: Francis Houston There are many reasons why Glenties is on the map for the discerning traveller, but at the time of writing (2012) and no doubt for many years to come, the biggest deal has to be that it produced Donegal's finest son, Jim McGuinness. We've marked where his family still have a cafe in town. Jim managed to guide the Donegal Senior Football team to victory in the All Irela...
1m Nov 04, 2021
1m
BSW3 27. Dancing at Lughnasa
Speaker: Catherine Byrne Our audio piece remembers that famous night of the 11th August 1991 when a great play came home. This is the actual house where Brian Friel's aunts, the McLoone sisters, the 'five brave Glenties women' of the play, Dancing at Lughnasa, actually lived together in the 1930s. Just off Station Road outside the harvest fair town of Glenties, this is the site that inspired a...
8m Nov 04, 2021
8m
BSW3A 1. Glacial deposit
Speaker: John McGroary From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions  After the old ruined cottage, following this track for approx. 2km gives the walker fine views across Donegal Bay on a clear day. Young plantations of conifers are fast becoming the prominent landscape feature of this ares.    A ...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW3A 2. The hungry month
Speaker: Mary Murphy From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Patrick Campbell writes that 'scarcity would still be felt in and around the small mountain farms until midsummer or even the end of July. Indeed July was called ‘the hungry month’, ‘the lean month’ (the old Irish speakers named it Iul an ghor...
3m Nov 05, 2021
3m
BSW3 3. Heather, bees and views
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions The route joins a track of the townland of Cronagrass below Binbane mountain and curves round southwestward to join the main Frosses to Glenties road (R262). Along this section of the route can be found Ling heather moorland. Cro...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 4. Geology of the valley
Speaker: John McGroary From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . The panorama looks north to the western part of the Bluestack mountains. The most westerly mountain is Binbane, the long ridge to the east is Cloghmeen Hill which passes into the more rugged peal of Carnawen. The windfarm at Meenaguse and th...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 5. Beware of the Pooka
Speaker: Mary Murphy From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions You'll be coming out onto the R263 main road from Frosses to Glenties here. Take a right and walk against the traffic until you get to Sir Arthur's Bridge.   Pooka In the village of Killian not far from Binbane, Kinnfaela tells t...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 6. Tullynaglaggin times
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions On a corner of the R262, you'll see a number of buildings on the left. You're looking at what once was The Bog Hotel belonging to Patsy Brogan. No, it is not an hotel and no, it is not a bar. Sort of. Patsy Brogan and his young P...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 7. The north range
Speaker: Moya Reid From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . The Bluestack Mountains, North Range – Name, Irish Name and Meaning   The most westerly section of the range is well named with only a few nameless stacks: -   1 Cronaslieve - Cró na Sliabh, The Sheltered Place of the Mountains 2 Binbane - Bi...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 8. The man who knew his sheep
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . To the south west of our current location lies the ancient castle of Castlemeara. According to Kinnfeala, residents of the area believed that the three last remaining Danes after the Battle of Clontarf, a father and two sons, were condemned ...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 9. Mountain mist/holy wells
Speaker: Sean McMahon From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . According to weather postman Michael Gallagher, the mist clearing from the top of the hill in the morning is a good sign for the rest of the day. If there is mist over rain or valley, looking like grey smoke, a good spell of weather is expect...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW3A 10. Out and about by Sir Arthur's bridge
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions You'll be getting off the R262 and heading right at the incongruously named Sir Arthur's Bridge, rejoining the Way from the back of Binbane. We suspect the Sir Arthur in question was Sir Arthur Chicester, a landowner whose son wa...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW3A 11. 'Pooching' and fasting
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . The Owentocker is regarded as one of the best Grade IV rivers in the northwest.   According to canoeist Neil Fox, 'the starting point is at Lough Nillan bridge which is on the Alternative route and is marked on our guide. It’s a 35m/km grad...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 12. Rambling houses
Speaker: Sean McMahon From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Our audio explains what a rambling house is. Patrick Campbell writes 'Those rambling hours and the old men’s tales were my greatest enjoyment, as I listened with excited eagerness to Big Owen Ward tell of his years in Colorado and his weeks o...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW3A 13. The Casan/All Souls Day
Speaker: Mary Murphy From The Bluestack Way - Part 3 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634199-the-bluestack-way-part-three-alternative-route) . Directions At this point, you'll rejoining the main Bluestack Way, meeting up at the Owenea river. You'll be carrying on over the bridge into deepest Doobin and along the Casan down into Glenties.   In our audio piece, we tell you about All ...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW4 - 1. Leaving Ballybeg/Lughnasa
Speaker: Mary Murphy From The Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) . Just as Gar had to leave Ballybeg in 'Philadelphia Here I Come', we must leave the beautiful town of Glenties to complete the Way. With any luck you'll be back for the MacGill festival, the Harvest Fair or just to base yourself for a future visit.   The startin...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW4 - 2. The Harvest Fair
Speaker: Dan Gallagher From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) See Bluestack Way page (https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/) for full details. Photo: the Lawrence collection. In our audio piece, Dan Gallagher tells us about how Glenties would have been thronged with sheep during the annual Harvest Fair in early September. ...
3m Nov 05, 2021
3m
BSW4 - 3. The view of the mountains
Speaker: Mary Murphy From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) To those of you who are looking hungrily at the imposing mountains across the way, the good news is that there is a highly regarded waymarked walk called Sli Cholmcille that takes in the mountains to the left - Mulnanaff, Crocknapeast and Common Mountain (the hor...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW4 - 4. Metal bridge/Diarmuid
Speaker: Sean McMahon From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) From this laneway, the route turns left into a field and goes directly to the riverbank. Follow the waymarkers carefully along the river, crossing many bridges and walkways as you head towards Ardara. Some of the bridges were built to facillitate anglers using t...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 5. The glamourous West End
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) According to Michael Gallagher, the river in all its moods, was a very accurate forecaster of weather conditions; the sounds of a flood being heard from upstream when the river was low, meant a flood in the near future that was known as “Tuile Bhreige’ or false f...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW4 - 6. Owenea fishing tale
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) The Owenea River runs for some 13 miles, draining Lough Ea in the west of the Croaghs, into Loughrosmore Bay at Ardara. The Owenea is primarily a spate river taking around one to two days to run off after a good flood. The season on the Owenea runs from 1 April t...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 7. The Irish storyteller
Speaker: Sean McMahon From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) Local writer Seumas MacManus collected and told of the gentle people in his book, 'Donegal Fairy Stories'. Writing on Old Lammas Day from Donegal town in 1900, his preface starts:- 'tales as old as the curlew's call are today listened to around the hearths of Do...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
BSW4 - 8. Fairy lore
Speaker: Mary Murphy From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) Fairy lore is prevalent in Donegal, albeit not to the same extent it was over 100 years ago, which some sceptics tie in with the development of modern technology to entertain us and the diminishing of native poteen making and of tales spun around to keep people a...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 9. Kentucky in the Donegal hills
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) The Bluestack Way makes its final river crossing at 'Iron Bridge' in the townland of Glenconwal. Take a final look at the panoramic views over Loughros Mor Bay and the rising mountians of Meenacurrin and Slievetooey in the distance.   Just by the bay is a place ...
29s Nov 05, 2021
29s
BSW4 - 10. Owenea standing stone
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) Upon getting onto the R261, you may wish to turn right and view the nearby Owenea Standing Stone, a massive block some 3.5 metres high in a scraggy field behind a ruin. Folklore says that Fionn McCumhaill threw this shoulder stone from “Clo na Cleire Mountain” an...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 11. The cowpat golf course
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) Directions You'll be taking a left at the T-junction to bring you into the last stop of Ardara. On leaving the river, the route makes its way to the main Ardara to Narin/Portnoo road, the R261. At this road, you turn left to make the final kilometre of the Blue...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 12. Ardara fort
Speaker: Bart Whelan From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) The end of the Bluestack Way is at Ardara on the Atlantic coast on Loughros Bay. Ardara - Ard an Ratha (pronounced 'Ardra') means Hill of the Fort, named after the large ringfort situated above and overlooking the village. Located behind the national school at th...
2m Nov 05, 2021
2m
BSW4 - 13. Ardara, heritage town
Speaker: Nancy's Jennifer McHugh From the Bluestack Way - Part 4 playlist. (https://audioboom.com/playlists/4634200-the-bluestack-way-part-four) The capital of festivals not just in Donegal, but possibly Ireland? We're not going to list out all of the festivals here - you'll know of the Cup of Tae festival and maybe the Walking festival, but rarely is there a week that goes by in the Spring an...
1m Nov 05, 2021
1m
S1 Ep7: BSW1 Local love song in Irish
From The Bluestack Way Audio Guide, Part One: https://www.racontour.com/Bluestack/
6m Nov 23, 2021
6m
Bonus DHS - P.J. Ward remembered
Bonus Shrine: a proud son of Donegal Location: 54.643029, -8.433699 (http://www.google.com/maps/place/54.643029, -8.433699) Speaker: John Ward Theme: grace under pressure. The 6th of January 2022 marks the 52nd anniversary of P.J. Ward and the 7th of January marks the 100th anniversary of his Treaty speech in Dáil Eireann. Here his grandson, John Ward, looks back at those momentous events and ...
4m Jan 06, 2022
4m
1. Imbolc overview
Speaker: Mary Murphy Imbolc is strongly associated with Saint Brigid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigit_of_Kildare) (Old Irish (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Irish_language) : Brigit, modern Irish: Bríd, modern Scottish Gaelic: Brìghde or Brìd, anglicised Bridget). Saint Brigid is thought to have been based on Brigid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigid) , a Gaelic goddess. The festiva...
18s Jan 31, 2022
18s
2. Saluting Brigid
Speaker: John Ward In 2022, there's a great new lease of life for Brigid's memory around the capital city. Audio based on an Irish Times article (https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/dublin-to-host-st-brigid-s-day-events-celebrating-the-original-brigit-1.4789324?fbclid=IwAR0OMUxGnqjkF2tT1coI1TShR2lfm-qrl89vlL2SB2e5VRfFHUvs2RRzTek) about Brigid or Brigit as they have it. © 2021-2...
5m Jan 31, 2022
5m
3. Brigid - a starting point
Speakers: Dessie McCallion and John Ward Dessie tells John about the harbinger of better days herself and of the miracle that was the survival of Catholicism in ireland no less! © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or...
7m Jan 31, 2022
7m
4. Gretta's Brigid overview
Speaker: Gretta Browne Wexford native Gretta Browne gives an excellent overview of Brigid and the customs that are associated with her. © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social media tag to Racontour Productio...
9m Jan 31, 2022
9m
5. Desecration by Diarmaid mac Murchadha
Speaker: Dessie McCallion Never shy of a theory, Dessie tells us that the real reason for the invasion of Ireland by the Normans has more to do with the sacking of Brigid's Kildare monastery by Diarmaid than it does with his Breffni shenanigans!  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racon...
2m Jan 31, 2022
2m
6. Brigid's Cross
Speaker: John Ward There is a lot of lore to explore with the ancient custom that still exists. Here, John tells us about them in a comprehensive review.  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social media tag to ...
8m Jan 31, 2022
8m
7. Holy wells
Speaker: Sean McMahon RIP Sean discusses that most pagan of shrines that was appropriated by Christianity. There are some 3000 or so in Ireland with accompanying customs and pattern days. Many are believed to have cures for particular conditions.  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Raco...
2m Jan 31, 2022
2m
8. One powerful woman
Speaker: Dessie McCallion Brigid was a woman with serious clout who managed to get things done. Here Dessie explains how much of a force of nature she actually was.  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social me...
6m Jan 31, 2022
6m
9. Imbolc rituals
Speaker: John Ward Pagans or indeed non pagans out there will enjoy the list of activities that can be done in anticipation of Imbolc.  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social media tag to Racontour Productio...
6m Jan 31, 2022
6m
11. Divination
Speaker: Mary Murphy Divination being the practice of foretelling one's future husband was a well established custom in ireland at both Samhain and Imbolc. Here, Mary tells us more about this curious tradition.  © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to shar...
1m Jan 31, 2022
1m
10. Getting her dues
Speaker: Dessie McCallion Dessie speculates on whether Brigid - along with Patrick and Colmcille is actually buried in Downpatrick. He also salutes her in ensuring she got her dues in the ensuring her position in the pantheon of irish saints. © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour...
3m Jan 31, 2022
3m
13. Beliefs around Brigid
Speakers: Dessie McCallion in conversation with John Ward Brigid served an important role in helping Christianity gain traction. In this piece, Dessie elaborates just how she went about it despite John teasing him on whether she actually existed! © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racon...
6m Jan 31, 2022
6m
14. Imbolc review
Speakers: Dessie McCallion in conversation with John Ward Dessie dwells on the pagan elements of the festival and the portents that people expect at that time of year. © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social ...
6m Jan 31, 2022
6m
12. There's something about Brigid
Speaker: John Ward With some wry Patrick bashing, John talks about Brigid has a proper aura about that Patrick simply cannot compete with! © 2021-2022 Racontour Productions. This clip forms part of the Celtic Calendar (https://www.racontour.com/celtic-calendar/) audio archive from Racontour Productions. Feel free to share if enjoyed, but with a credit or a social media tag to Racontour Produc...
4m Feb 01, 2022
4m