Slow Living

Cottage 1 in Kilreelig Village sitting high above the Atlantic

A classic farm in Dungeagan, Ballinskelligs

Staying at Kilreelig Village (spelled many different ways) is an antidote to our times. I hit my limit in January, the stressor overload simply too much from the years before covid, covid itself, the climate, the long overdue racial reckoning, and now the crisis in Ukraine. It feels selfish to simply turn off, but after 6 years of caring for my mother and just trying to keep my nose above the water as I actively drowned, I know better. As they say put the mask on yourself first, then assist others. I need to turn off the world, the ever present updates and be.

Kilreelig is firmly planted in the 20th century, we do have plumbing, sort of have heat at night, and have hot water through electrical immersion heaters you turn on just for the shower.

the window of the meeting house cottage

A tiny heater switched on in the bathroom to take the edge off. I couldn’t get the peat fire going the first two nights so dashed out and bought slippers, a half hour away in Waterville the first morning. They look like huge balls of wool stuck to my feet and do the trick nicely. The third day, with a huge amount of patience and waiting I succeeded on the fire, with its lovely smolder and smell.

I think that is the trick here in west, west Kerry and Kilreelig. Nothing is complex or goes fast, and if you try you will fail. Last night I was caught on the one lane road coming home when a herd of sheep were being driven down the road at me at full run by their shepherd in his car with his two dogs running beside. I pulled back to the nearest lay by and enjoyed the view.

Mussels and barnacles on the Derrynane Beach