Donegal at Easter

[Belle Starr]

Here is part of west Donegal, where we spent Easter weekend.
The pictures were taken at Maghera, just below Slieve Tooey.
The map is an Admiralty (pre-partition ) chart, with topography from the 1828 ordnance survey. The engraving (?) on it is exquisite. All those lead lines dropped over the edge of the boats to measure the depths of Loughross beg bay. Amazing.
Have tried to match the map with the photo.http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-7/33361/ZLPCI-caves2.jpg


Next one is the next generation heading down to the caves.
Fella, on left, with pink hair and lip ring (but very well brought-up) tried to tell me all about Mozilla.

Over to the left is the almost sea-level station of the little purple saxifraga, which shouldbe on a mountain in the Alps. (left over from last ice age)http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-7/33361/RRVJO-cavesgroup1.JPG

This is the blind channel as shown on the 150 yr old map.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-7/33361/RGPRS-caveschannel.JPG[/img]

[Dave]

Looks lovely Belle :)

My sister & brother in law are in Dublin for the weekend celebrating their wedding anniversary. He texted me today saying he felt like Charlie in Willie Wonkas Guiness Factory as they were visiting the Guiness Museum in Dublin :lol

[Belle Starr]

Thanks, Daav,
you can call me Belleval.
Those photos can never convey the panorama there.
Must put the saxifrages piccie up.

[Belle Starr]

This plant, Saxifraga oppositifolia, has only one station in NI, the north facing slopes of Ben Nevenagh, Co Derry, high up.
Here it is, growing just a few metres above sea level., in ROI.
Its appearance in the tundra- like burnt landscape of west Donegal at the end of winter is startling.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-7/33361/XERXN-asaxafragop.JPG, normally found in garden centres.