Lismore Public Hall is the most important hub of the island and, before the Heritage Centre, the only place, along with the church, where islanders met as a community. Obviously COVID-19 locked it down, but before that it was the home of ceilidhs, country dancing, read more
How many times have you been told how lucky you are to live here. Mostly in the summer and by dewy eyed visitors who are not fighting horizontal rain. Fact is, visitor, I may say ghoulishly, Lismore is lucky to have me. And you are read more
The February 2021 rainfall was 46% below the 20 year average (91.60 mm). January was 21% below. This is relevant because….. The fundamental difference between mainland life and island life is water: it surrounds us, it falls on us, we try to keep it out read more
The lights went on in Lismore on 31 October 1970. A mere fifty years ago. On that Saturday, at 3 Newfield Terrace, the late Donald John and Margaret MacDonald with their children Peggy and Lachlan (and a few dignitaries) stared up and witnessed a lightbulb read more
A flock of sheep are stock-still on the beach, heads raised, horns alert. A curlew, a blackbird, and a gull are busily rearranging the seaweed; they appear to be squabbling. Three oystercatchers are hurrying somewhere. A heron, like a predatory medieval cleric (can’t explain that read more
Has it ever happened before? First footing nil. New Year’s dance nil. Watchnight service nil. Virus Three. Sadly they were germ-fests; we had to forgo them. Our second complete lockdown started on Boxing Day. We were already in Level 4, so it is not like read more
3 January 2021 The wonderful weather is continuing. Outside is the new inside, exercising the new slumping and slouching. Wherever we go, we meet folk loving the winter sun. And of course we rhapsodise to each other about how lucky we are to live in read more
We may be in Level Four and to all intents and purposes locked-down, but this day has started perfectly. No wind, the tide exactly right, only decorative clouds, and the sun fully lighting our world just after nine. Normally we would be starting a day read more
27 August 2020 A dreich day when they promised better. A woman came to the door needing a lift to Balure where she had left her mainland car keys. We have all done that. Nothing worse than getting to the ferry and remembering your other car keys read more
26 August 2020 Amy is here cleaning my shiny surfaces. As I type I hear soothing sounds with the odd squeak as she cleans the windows outside. Music as good as Bach. She arrived on her bike in the rain clasping her bucket and pole. read more