RTÉ's Cian McCormack is on the road again for Morning Ireland's travel series Ireland by Bike. His mission is to discover and promote business owners who are unlocking the potential of rural Ireland. Next up, West Clare.
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Cian McCormack is preparing to cycle in some unexpected conditions. Met Éireann has issued weather warnings across the country with temperatures expected to hit 27 degrees so our Ireland by Bike reporter could find himself peddling in some seriously sweltering heat as he makes his way from Kilkee in Co. Clare to Co. Kerry.
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Yesterday afternoon, Cian explored the village of Doonbeg in West Clare where the local community are trying to attract tourists with something a little different. Listen to the full report on Morning Ireland above.
Cian met Caroline O'Brien of Doonbeg Community Development by the protected Doonbeg bridge to take in the beautiful views and learn about the family friendly activity the village have used to generate money.
"Paddle boats. We put them in here three years ago.
"Clare County Council helped us put a jetty in and gave us a grant towards the paddle boats and they're very reasonably priced, it's only eight euros per boat", says Caroline.
The paddle boats promote tourism, create jobs during the summer and any other profit goes back into Doonbeg Community Development to help the amenities of the village.
Later, Cian spoke to a white witch about a special Summer Solstice ceremony on Loop Head. Listen to the full report on Morning Ireland below.
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Cian received an e-mail (irelandbybike@rte.ie) from Trea Heapes informing him of a Summer Solstice event she was hosting at a stone labyrinth at her glamping site at at Loop Head - so he went to investigate. Worth getting in touch with him.
After 45 kilometers of cycling, our reporter found himself at the Pure Camping eco camping site. Trea explained that she has found a way to make a living in rural Ireland.
"Our season is from May until September, so with the Wild Atlantic Way now, they're really trying to get us to move our businesses really into the shoulder seasons so what we've done this year is opened up two cabins with stoves in them so it means that people can stay a little bit longer", says Trea.
Soon after his chat with Thea, Cian had the opportunity to meet German white witch Suzy Mitika who explained that she will be performing the "witchy part" of the ceremony by blessing people with St. John's spirit oil.
She also described the decor of the labyrinth to Cian: "The centre of the labyrinth is being occupied by a statue that symbolizes the mother goddess, Danu which is the mother goddess of the Tuatha de Danann and as it is Summer all the decorations are in yellow and orange and a little bit of red - all the fire colours."
Tomorrow, we will join Cian in Co. Kerry as he continues Morning Ireland's Ireland by Bike series on RTÉ Radio 1.
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Early yesterday morning, Cian found himself in Lahinch, Co. Clare where the town is preparing for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann this August.
He spoke to music teacher Mary MacNamara who encouraged her students to purchase concertina shoes, she herself had an impressive pair in sparkling red.
The story of Mary resonated with one listener in particular who sent in a poem about Mary and her shoes which you can read below:
Concertina Shoes - for Mary McNamara
The concertina player spoke
about her concertina shoes –
red shoes with a sole
of soft leather
and concertina boots for winter
for tapping out the rhythm
she prefers hard floors
bare rooms for resonance
so that every tune
will sing through all her bones.
Bernadette McCarrick, 20/6/2017
Listen to Ireland by Bike on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1 between 7:30am - 8:00am and 8:30am - 9:00am. Follow Ireland by Bike on social media @morningireland and @cian_mccormack
