Light, Salt, and Stone: What I Learned Painting the Exterior of a Coastal Farmhouse
The farmhouse had stood on the Sligo coast for well over a hundred years before I got involved. Solid rubble stone walls, a…
Ruairi Boyle
Ruairi spends too much time thinking about marine tourism.
How a Small Harbour Town in Kerry Kept Its Community Shop Open for Thirty Years
There is a shop in a small harbour village on the Kerry coast that has been open, without interruption, for the better part…
The Aran Islands by Ferry: Which Island Should You Visit First and Why It Depends on What You Want
Three islands, one bay, and genuinely different experiences waiting on each of them. The Aran Islands sit out in Galway Bay like a…
Growing Vegetables in a Polytunnel by the Sea: What Changed When I Moved to Clare
I moved from inland Tipperary to the west Clare coast about four years ago, and I brought most of my growing habits with…
What Is a Maritime Heritage Trail and How Do You Actually Use One?
If you've spotted a brown sign near a harbour wall pointing to a "maritime heritage trail" and wondered what you were actually supposed…
Autumn Maintenance Checklist for a Coastal Home Before the Winter Storms Hit
If you live close to the Atlantic, you already know what a bad winter can do. Salt-laden wind, driving rain for days at…
Salt Spray and Soil: Building a Garden That Actually Survives on the West Coast
Gardening within sight of the Atlantic is a different proposition entirely from gardening anywhere else in Ireland. The wind carries salt. The soil,…
The Best Shore Angling Spots Along the Wexford Coast, and What You Need to Know Before You Go
Wexford doesn't always get the attention it deserves from shore anglers. Kerry and Donegal tend to grab the headlines, and the south-east corner…
Damp Walls and Atlantic Winds: Mistakes I Made Insulating My West Cork Cottage
The cottage had been standing for well over a hundred years before I got my hands on it. Stone walls half a metre…
What the Tide Leaves Behind: A Morning on the Strand at Mulranny
The alarm went off at half six and I nearly ignored it. The previous night's rain had cleared and the sky through the…
How to Plan a Coastal Walking Holiday Along the Wild Atlantic Way Without a Car
A walking holiday along the Wild Atlantic Way is one of the finest things you can do in this country, but the assumption…