( Overview
/ Two Bullocks on a Boat Go West
John Lavallin Puxley’s company operated the Berehaven copper mines at Allihies from 1812-1912. Puxley Manor was ruined during the War of Independence but renovated during the Celtic Tiger era into a super luxury hotel, but is now sadly abandoned again.
The Mountain Mine man engine house installed in 1862. Daphne du Maurier’s novel ‘Hungry Hill’ (the rocky peak seen from Adrigole Bay) is loosely based on the history of the Puxley family.
Allihies or Na hAilichi, meaning the cliffs, has many of the brightly painted buildings typical of West Cork.
In tradition the Children of Lir are buried in Allihies. King Lir’s jealous 2nd wife turned his 4 children into swans. Spending 300 of their 900 year exile on the Bull, Cow and Calf rocks off Dursey Island, the spell was broken when they heard Allihies’ church bells and they came ashore as humans.
We then continued on the Ring of Beara to Eyries. Eileen is not just an expert on bars, she is also a keen wild swimmer and knows some fantastic spots. She’s even swum around Fastnet Rock. Respect!
The Old Forge.
Part of the road twists very close to the houses.
More beautiful views leading us into Eyries.
Eyries is another pretty village with beautifully painted houses.
O’Sullivan and Harrington are very common names in the area and Cotter and Keane is Eileen’s brother’s milling and animal feed business.
The village is so quiet, this dog was asleep in a sunny spot on the road until we disturbed him.
Not all the buildings are so well maintained, but still very pretty.
How could we resist?
Padraig O Murchu was a storyteller, blinded by measles, but making a living from fishing and farming, whose parents and siblings emigrated, like many others, to Butte, Montana.
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