On a lonely stretch of road in Co. Mayo, between Louisburgh and Delphi
Lodge, I took this photo of Doolough, which translates as dark lake.
It was a lovely day, and the light was perfect, as it often is in
Ireland, and I just took one shot. I now have this photo., many times
enlarged, hanging behind the desk in my office. Visitors are struck by
the beauty of the scene, but most are unaware, that, true to its name,
Doolough speaks of Ireland’s dark days. People died along this road
during the Great Starvation, some so weak from hunger they were blown
into the lake. There’s a simple Famine memorial, just out of the picture, and
I took a loaf of leftover bread and spread it around the base. There
was no one around, just some birds and a couple of sheep, as I took a
moment to pause and reflect on all the things I had to be grateful for
before I went on my way.
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Beautiful photo and commentary. Very moving image of you casting the bread about the memorial. Very touching. I felt, reading it, as though all those you mention who died along the road smiled on your gesture of giving. Lovely. Thank you for sharing.