Black Rugby, White Ponies and a Train of Thought

For the benefit of those residing on a distant planet, the rugby season has started in earnest in Ireland. Thus in the true Irish tradition of supporting the underdog I continue to support the Connemara Blacks team from Division 3 although this particular ‘underdog’ in true Connemara style has yet to bark let alone bite, having lost their first two games by a ‘wide’ margin. Nevertheless, I am undaunted by these lacklustre displays to date as ‘hope springs eternal in the human heart’.

The Connemara home games are played in Clifden which is a small town about an hours drive from our house on the outskirts of Galway. To some people this is a very long journey to view an ‘under performing’ rugby team. However, they fail to appreciate the beauty of the scenery on the way or the historic character of Clifden itself, particularly around the old Railway Bar, Hotel and Transport Museum. The old Galway to Clifden railway line is unfortunately now no more but the station in Clifden has been restored in a fine and memorable way.

Even in autumn, one can see the wonderful range of light and colour in the bog, limestone and heather landscape, the wild Connemara ponies grazing alongside the road or the ever diligent sheep doting the landscape. It is these reasons and the range of little specialist shops in Clifden that persuades my good wife to accompany me on my journeys. Needless to say I haven’t as yet persuaded her to actually attend the games but we both enjoy a fine meal in the Railway Bar before the game and meet up again in Griffins, the local supporter’s bar, after the game for a celebratory pint with friend and foe (other team supporters) before returning home after each match.

So I am writing this blog by way of encouraging people in a hopefully gentle way to ‘leave no stone unturned’ in their efforts to visit Connemara as soon as they get a chance and they could do worse than leave some time in their schedule to ‘roar on’ the Blacks at Monastery Field just outside the town.

According to my blog counter this is my 100th post! Good grief!