Lough Ree is in the middle of Ireland, an easy ten-minute taxi drive from Athlone train station, and it’s on Lough Ree that fifty-two islands sit. One for every week of the year. The water rises during the wintertime, and it drops during the summer months and that is the way it has always been.
Tourists flock to the edge of the water and they learn about Queen Maeve of Connaught who lived and bathed off Inis Cloitherann. She was a brave and ambitious warrior queen, and stole Ulster’s prize bull, the Donn Cualing after a long conversation, with her then husband, about who owned the most impressive cattle collection.
She had many lovers, and several husbands and was said to be beautiful, charming and fun. She had seven sons, who were all called Maine, and two daughters, and it was said that she had a great sense of humour and was wise.
This was a queen, when queens were queens. She was not the queen of Instagram.
When the sun rises over Lough Ree, you can’t help but feel connected to it all.
The tourists sit on benches or on blankets on the ground, and everyone feels peaceful there.
It can be hazy, misty, orangey and sinewy.
It reminds you that life is temporary and today wasn’t guaranteed. No matter what, we may as well be grateful for the sunrise over Lough Ree. Not because of oneness, or wellness or fruitfulness or soulness or anything else you can buy and sell, but because it would be rude not to.
The tourists notice that roses are still blooming, in the gardens near Lough Ree.
Their delicate petals on show for such a short time. All year through they survive drought, heavy wind, rain and all the frost. For this surprisingly short chapter of bloom.
That’s what it’s for.
Strangest of all are the memories.
Time hops back and forward near Lough Ree. Now, and later and before, are all in the same colander, mixing around gently. One piece simply doesn’t work alone, and everything is clear and extraordinary.
Queen Maeve would want us to bathe in the waters and laugh with friends, and feast after successful cattle run, before someone tries to take our queendom away.
Autumn approaches, the nights draw in, and a coolness comes in the air.
Leave a comment