Words can be superb, beautiful and explanatory and can certainly be wonderfully entertaining and heart-warming when emanating from a knowledgeable, curious and perhaps romantic pen.

A picture gives you the whole story to peruse and enjoy and can often be the reason why you visit a particular place.

The Disney-like world of Castlecomer Discovery Park is summed up magnificently on the Park’s website.

That the Park brought a new life to a proud local community on the death of its coalmines tells us everything about the open air Aladdin’s Cave that has a fantastic range of alfresco entertainment for the young and young at heart.

NO CHOICE BUT TO DO A LAZARUS

The challenging park of 80 woodland acres is the heartbeat of a close-knit community that refused to throw in the towel.

‘Comer had no choice but to do a Lazarus when the tough and oft cruel underground mining industry that provided bread and butter along with clothing for the children of local parents reached a dead end.

The Discovery Park is the Phoenix from the ashes of a collapse that, thanks to the resilience of so many devoted souls, became a reality.

In many respects it is now a monument to an industrial past and to great men like the late Seamus Walsh and his colleagues who toiled beneath the earth.

But, enough words.

Admire and enjoy Donal’s super pics and we know it will be full steam ahead for ‘Comer.

The Eight Wonder of the World will strengthen your faith in mankind’s ability to highlight nature’s mystique and beauty.

The post Donal’s pics worth millions of words appeared first on Kilkenny Press.

Pics by Donal Foley

NATURE’S GIFT TO THE PEOPLE
Windgap has many wonderful features that should tease amateur archaeologists and those who simply like to amble through the ages without having to leave the present time.
A short description of Windgap and environs explains that the bailiwick got its name because of its location on a pass through hills that ramble through the east of Slievenamon, nature’s gift to the people of Tipperary, foes in hurling, pally neighbours.
In recent times, Donal has highlighted Mullinavat Waterfall, the fields of dreams in Mount Juliet and Kells book of picturesque beauty.
For those with a nose for historic gems and a fondness for local people, Windgap is an Aladdin’s Cave of much that was good and certainly interesting in the past married to a modern but truly quaint wonder of rustic brilliance.
If local buildings could talk, listeners would be spell-bound.
A 19th century graveyard means a metaphoric meeting with those who in other times were the life and soul of the rural outback.
Then there is the old Land League Hall, once a home for poor tenant farmers and an early 20th century grotto that dates back to 1915 and was a gift from the then Marquis of Ormonde, one James, Edward William Theobald Butler.

GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM AUSTRALIA
The Butlers of Ormonde then lived in Garryricken House near Windgap and presented over two acres to the local community to do with it what the people pleased.
The green area that was to become home to an amazing grotto, the brainchild of the then parish priest Fr James Brennan, is a fascinating trail of sculptures and mosaics, quartz-lined pathways, voluntary local labour, design and inventiveness and generous donations from Australia.
Like what we might call its sister town of Callan, Windgap is a treasure chest not only for visitors but for thousands of Kilkenny people who we suspect have not yet appreciated this wonderful corner of our county.
Then there is the local forge, a reminder of a blacksmithing trade, a noble art.
We could go on and on.
But seeing is believing.
Do yourself a favour.
Put Windgap and its cousin Tullahought on your bucket list.

The post Windgap: Village Of Beauty And Charm appeared first on Kilkenny Press.

Pics by Donal Foley

Should you wish to bring a dash of real colour into your life then the thing to do is get on your walking shoes, jump on your bike or get behind the wheel of your car and head for Mount Juliet Estate.
Along with April showers comes a feast of beautiful April flowers to warm the cockles of your heart and inject real warmth into your life.
Should you decide that walking, cycling or driving is not for you then Kilkenny Press has a very special treat for you today as ace photographer Donal Foley has been rambling in Mount Juliet with his wife Bridie and Jack Russell Ben and as usual his pics are a joy to behold.
Among the blazes of glory are Anemone Nemorosa Alba and Anemone Blands Blue, Daffodils and a magnificent Magnolia Tree has a giant bouquet of pink and white flowers.
Readers may just agree.
The garden of beauty that is Mount Juliet is a quaint corner of heaven on earth.
It’s pure magnificence me auld flower.

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Pics by Donal Foley

The progressive people of Kells Village in Kilkenny live in a delightful world.
Travel back in time with the local community and your trip down memory lane and your journey back centuries is sure to be sensational and extraordinarily intriguing.
But while the region has a proud tradition centred on its brilliant Kells Augustinian Priory of centuries ago, it also has a passionate and ambitious eye on the future.
A talk about Kells of other days, in front of a blazing winter fire and with a ball of malt in one hand could be loosely described as Heaven on Earth.
But apart from its significant role in Irish history, the village also has a wonderful modern soul, a philanthropic and charitable wing born as Kells Angels Cycling Club to raise funds to fight cancer.
Another imaginative and quite daring fundraiser that attracted up to 2,000 participants was a Reign of Terror, a cross country challenge across rivers and up walls, a dare of mud. sweat and tears that would put a tough commando course in the halfpenny place.

MINNIE, BATTY AND THE RIORDANS
We could go on and on extolling Kills virtues, including god only knows how many stories of Minnie, Batty and The Riordans of Leestown of other telly times.
But instead we looked to our good friend and colleague, photographer, Donal Foley to put us in picture.
An intrepid trio of Donal, his wife, Bridie and their Jack Russell Terrier, Ben headed into the great outdoors, a rural ramble they love so well.
Result is a fantastic photographic special in a super area.
Enjoy the pictures, treasure the stories but our suggestion is that lovers of song, story, drama and adventure should, when travel allows head to the super hamlet and environs, stuffed with character and a home, sweet home for some great characters over many generations.

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Pics by Donal Foley

If photographer Donal Foley were to slip on a banana skin after climbing to the top of Mount Everest, he would land in a new suit.
He is that kind of man; loves a challenge and he would walk, or even climb a million miles – well maybe a few furlongs – to get an out of the ordinary photograph for Kilkenny Press.
On Sunday he motored from his Hugginstown home to a local medieval beauty spot called Leac an Scáil that could well have been the scene of a recent miracle.
Driving his trusty van, he was accompanied by his ever friendly wife, Bridie and pet dog Ben, perched in the back.
Highlight at the site, not too far from Mullinavat is what is described as a type of Dolmen Megalithic (large stone) tomb known as Kilmogue Portal Tomb.
But it was a pair of crutches lying idly, or maybe lazily, on green, green grass that tickled Donal’s fancy.
Lost souls perhaps, the crutches we mean. If only they could talk they could have enquired their way home.
The tomb is fascinating but the walking aids were wonderfully mysterious.
Had some local been so impressed by a stone spectacular that a man or woman who arrived with them performed a ‘take up thy bed and walk’-type miracle?
Donal has an eye for a good picture.
The beauty of the area is sensational, inspiring, particularly for those who, with respect, may consider themselves stone-mad.

REGION IS STEEPED IN ANCIENT HISTORY
But the sunny stroll story kept returning to the crutches that no doubt helped someone to hobble to Kilmogue but forgot or neglected to help him or her home.
There was another possibility.
The pair of sticks may have served their purpose as a local somehow walked tall having soaked up the pre-Summer sun in a region that is steeped in ancient history.
Again information provided at the site, tells us that two portal stones – the tallest stones in the tomb – form the entrance to a stone-lined burial chamber, roofed by two giant stone slabs.
Leac an Scáil is on flat land, a healthy neighbour of the free-flowing River Suir.
Builders were more than likely local farmers who rolled up the sleeves of their shirts or whatever they worn under their jumpers thousands of years ago.
The tomb was for the burial of what were described as ‘important members of the community’ and was often the fulcrum of home, sweet home for a particular tribe.
Thanks to information stones provided by the Board of Works admirers broadened their knowledge of what the area meant to local farmers so many moons ago.
Yet there wasn’t even a hint of where the crutches came from or if some mystery man or other would return to collect them for a lift home.

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Pics by Donal Foley

Eagle-eyed cameraman Donal Foley never fails to highlight a gem in his travels through the Kilkenny countryside he has loved ever since the day he said ‘I do’ to a proud daughter of Hugginstown, Bridie Cleary.
Donal remains loyal to his Limerick Roots and probably had a few euros on his native place to win the All-Ireland hurling final last year.
But he is as snug as a bug in a rug in his adopted Kilkenny and likes nothing better than to ramble through the green fields of South Kilkenny, more often than not accompanied by his four-legged mate Ben wearing his black and amber coloured doggie facemask, a perky Noreside canine.

FIELDS OF NATURE’S FINEST
Mullinavat, not far from his family home, was Donal’s latest conquest and as usual he came up with a selection of beautiful shots.
The focus is on Poulanassy Waterfall, a stone’s throw from the Vat or The Rod Iron, which ever you prefer.
The waterfall is the centrepiece of beauty, a candidate perhaps for the 8th wonder of the world, in a region that boasts fields of nature’s finest, still wearing some Winter gear but well prepared for Spring and Summer

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He can be contacted on 087-3549208. The books would make nice Mother’s Day presents and in fact should be enjoyed by all members of a family.
Books can be delivered worldwide and PayPal is accepted.

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