During the Gaelic Literary Revival in the late 19th and early 20th century Coole became a haven in which famous literary figures sought refuge from time to time, drawn by the hospitality and enthusiasm of Lady Gregory, whom George Bernard Shaw once described as the 'greatest living Irishwoman'.
"These woods have been well loved, well tended by some who came before me, and my affection has been no less than theirs. The generations of trees have been my care, my comforters. Their companionship has often brought me peace."
Lady Gregory, Coole, 1931
This ancient Lime Tree took my breath away, is it any wonder that Coole Park inspired Yeats, Shaw, and Synge to write and dream.
'Under my window ledge the waters race,
Otters below and moor-hens on the top,
Run for a mile undimmed in Heaven's face,
Then darkening through 'dark' Raftery's 'cellar' drop,
Run underground, rise in a rocky place
In Coole demesne, and there to finish up
Spread to a lake and drop into a hole.
What's water but the generated soul?'
W.B. Yeats 'Coole Park and Ballylee, 1931
Sad to leave Coole Park we promised to visit soon again
and spend more time exploring .
On to Galway just a fleeting stop on my way to meet Elsa.
Even though it has been over a year since my visit , it feels
like we know each other well. We are both ' shocked' to
find that we have been reading the same books . In hindsight
this is a confirmation that we are on a connected journey. It
was a beautiful ' coincidence' and very reassuring for us both.
Reconnection is such a new form of healing and there are only
a few of us practising in Ireland so it was great to meet and
share ideas, discoveries, and insights.
Then enveloped in Reconnective energy and I said farewell
to Elsa and Galway ( yet again wishing for more time ).
Passing through Kinvara
Famous for it's Galway hookers.
We arrived in Ballyvaughan tired and happy
with much to contemplate.
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