bean ag siúl mall (slow moving woman)

Moving slowly through the streets of Dingle on a busy Sunday afternoon, taking in the sights. Here’s a taste of what I saw:

a bit of history to put things in context

Then, a couple of doors caught my eye. The Irish excel at the welcoming door.

Drain pipe graffiti in the middle of the land

Yet right around the corner is this lovely garden

Then I noticed the street sign on the corner thinking of a past life brought the smile to my lips.

Well, after that, this hallway into the “ladies” was just too perfect
but the dispenser in there seems rather risqué
condoms and tampons, what more could you possibly want?

Perhaps a drink to put one in the mood? this pub specializes in fine Trad music

Should your tastes run to spirits and horses, then this is worth a drop by
or, just go have some lively fun!

What? Not in the mood for a pub? No prob. How about a cuppa, instead?

Refreshed, and still moving slowly, I come down a quiet side lane to discover this beautiful church complex which is actually now the site of this theatre program.
How nice to receive the funding the arts receive in Ireland, to be able to buy a building for a program to have a home. Without that pressure to focus on producing things that will sell, the theaters can actually focus on producing art.
And, since theatre was born in the church, this purchase is most fitting.

Now, St. Mary’s Church, on the other hand, is still very much a church.
That tower is pretty impressive. It was designed by a McCarthy. J.J. McCarthy, apparently a name in church architecture of the time.

But inside it is the Harry Clarke stained glass windows which bring me to a complete stop. Here is one panel for you to contemplate

This mother and daughter were contemplating something else. They took their candle lighting and prayer very seriously.

I went on to contemplate this entombed Bishop and then got out of there

back into the streets where the people are alive

With children

without children

who knows?

Even the shop windows have their own kind of alive

happy, creative minds in that yarn store!

I also loved this cow in a gallery window

unfortunately the artist’s name was not to be found.

So I wandered slowly back to my car, mooooved.

Yes, I was a slow moving woman this afternoon; one whose brain was a fast moving machine. Taking it all in.

Farewell, prosperous Dingle Town, and your old, busy harbor.

photo g.duff