Edge

Posted By: Jack Mackey
Posted On: October 22nd, 2016
Attending: Letterkenny Institute of Technology

Living in Donegal many people tell me that I am lucky to live in such a beautifully serene place. Letterkenny itself is quite aesthetically pleasing however I had yet to explore the rest of the wilderness that is Donegal County. This past wednesday I was fortunate enough to catch a ride up to Malin Head, “the most northernly point in Ireland”, with a local friend and his dog Buster. It is hard to describe just how massive the cliffs and ocean are until you are face to face with them. Exploring Malin Head led us to a spot named “Hell Hole” after its daunting drop off seemingly the edge of the earth. T John and I decided to take a seat on this cliff and admire the vast ocean from the apparent edge of Ireland. Personal significance and material existence seem to take a back seat as the waves crashed on the eroding rocks, calling to the simplicity of everything. As we sat silently, taking in the scene around us our calm was only interrupted by Buster, the water loving dog, desperately trying to make is way down the cliff and into the frigid ocean. Fearing he would actually jump unless we found a way down, we walked to a more appropriate area for Buster to dive snout first into the water in an effort to chase the wooden toy thrown out for him. After several rounds of aquatic fetch we headed inside the home of our friend’s family that was up the road a ways. Over the next hour they regaled us with stories of the area over tea and biscuits, being particularly garrulous about the time George Lucas and his Star Wars ensemble came into town to film a scene, effectively shutting the town down around them. Despite being frustrated with the interruption of the big hollywood production the man joked that he would have welcomed it to his front lawn for future tourist revenue. Following a brief tour of the man’s hostel that he runs alongside his house we piled back in the car and headed back towards Letterkenny. As we drove it dawned on me just how incredible the landscape of Donegal was and how lucky I am to call it home. Of course along the way we had to stop for a guinness, chips and more conversation otherwise we might have forgotten we were actually in Ireland. As we pulled into the driveway of our home I emerged from the car tired yet content, thinking about how simple yet satisfying this wednesday was.

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