the murray school

The Murray School is the second stop on the heritage trail and is located only about a few minutes walk from the coast guard station.  From what I hear, the people who bought it restored half of the building, the side with the red door.  A lot of people who purchase homes in this part of the country use them as holiday homes.

 This building was erected in 1860 as Male and Female schools to replace the earlier Lady Anne Murray’s Charity School for girls built in 1842.  Lady Ann was the wife of Alexander Murray, then landlord of Killybegs.  It was erected at a cost of £1,500 at the expense of Horatio Granville
Murray Stewart, the main landlord of Killybegs at that time.  The Murray school was the main
school in Killybegs town until the the Niall Mor National School was established in 1879 by Monsignor Stephens, P.P. The coming of Independence in 1922 marked the end of the Murray schools.

Courtesy of the Maritime & Heritage Centre Brochure

coast guard station

A brochure was created by the Killybegs Heritage Council  that lists 14 historical stops on the heritage trail here in town.  It comes with a map so you can walk to these places.  The first stop is the Coast Guard Station. 

The large cut stone military-style building looking out over the harbour is the former Coastguard Station. E. Trevor Jones designed this building and it was erected in 1875 as modern accommodation block and look-out for the Coastguards. The landlord, H.G. Murray Stewart, provided the site to the Admiral Commissioners.

Killybegs was the head of a Coastguard District from Donegal Town to the Gweebarra River  The Station and the Tower House accommodated the chief boatman and ordinary coastguards. In addition to their normal duties of chasing smugglers, the Coastguards often came to the rescue of local fishermen and seafarers in bad weather.  The Coastguards kept their boat at the ready in a special boathouse which stands on the water’s edge below the Station. It is now a private
dwelling which has been preserved intact. The Coastguards left Killybegs in 1922 at Independence.

Info courtesy of the Maritime & Heritage Centre Brochure

choices

There are 1300 people in Killybegs according to the 2011 census.  I find it amazing that within a few blocks of each other there are 3 butchers.  It was the same in Ballinrobe last year when we lived there.  Three butchers in a small area all offering the same basic items.   Who to go to?  We go to Dave Ainsworth's simply because our neighbor bought some of his sausages for us to try and we loved them  They are good and he also has some Thai Chicken that is great and when you add some Thai vegetables, it's very tasty. 

Our neighbor goes to Gallagher's simply because the butcher is a family member of a friend.  That's loyalty for you!

McLoone & Sons offers something different .  Along with the meats that everyone else has, he has a deli which I've seen quite a few people in there.  In warmer weather he has tables outside his shop which you can grab something to eat and have a seat.  I assume this shop is popular with tourists and is close to the harbour and visitor center.

a hospital yarn bomb

I stopped by the hospital today to make an appointment for a blood test tomorrow.  This bike was in the lobby on display.  A yarn bombing bike!  Shari was very happy to see this.  She's a yarnoholic and proud of it :)

the veg man and recycling

The recycling bins are about a mile from where we live.  I usually walk down there about once or twice a month with all of our cans and glass.  All the other recycling items such as plastic are kept in a clear bag that you purchase for €3.50.  We burn any paper or cardboard that we have in our fireplace using it for starting a fire.  Recycling and garbage are picked up on alternating Wednesdays.  The garbage bags cost €5.50.  So once a month we put it both out for pickup on the appropriate week.  It's cheaper buying the bags instead of having a bin which would cost €25 a month.  We do have a barrel out back that has a lid so that is where the garbage is kept until pickup. 

On Saturdays you have the "veg" man who sets up his stand and truck in the same lot across from the recycling area.  So if you decide to buy veggies on Sat. make sure you bring your recycling.  We happen to walk so we get the benefit of all that multi-tasking :)  Have a great day!!

banners everywhere

It's election time in Ireland again.  The great thing about it is that is lasts only until people vote on Feb. 26th.  As soon as the election date was set in motion by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on Feb. 3rd, the political machines went to work and the banners began to appear on the light poles throughout the country.  On our way to SuperValu this afternoon, we saw who was running to represent our county. Mr. Pringle is currently representing our county and is seeking to be re-elected.  In case you miss one poster, the next is not far away.  The whole process is fast and to the point and doesn't last forever.

headquarters

plaque mounted outside headquarters

room for one more?

It's getting pretty crowded down at the harbour.  A lot of ships were sitting around yesterday but now most of them are out fishing and getting their quotas .  It changes everyday and it's amazing how many ships can fit in to a relatively small area.  Interesting seeing Popeye the sailor man making an appearance :)

Popeye looking for an open space