I have that calling for the sea, I can’t help it, and it haunts me from time to time. Not that I dislike where I live, not at all, but when you spend over 30 years in full view of the Atlantic, it is like an old friend you enjoy sharing a moment with, paying that friend a visit sometimes, that is what friends do I guess, communion with a wordless and reassuring company. So when my Italian pal Marty rang last month, expressing the wish to visit Ireland again for a very short weekend in June, I knew I had to do something special. As a former gastronomy student from Turin, she enjoys real local food, and there were a couple of home cooked Irish dinners on the cards. But for our escapade, I wanted something a bit special, not only for the food, I wanted it to be a feast for the eyes and the senses… Unlike most of Europe, Ireland was under clear blue skies,flirting with mid-twenties temperatures… The perfect plan was unfolding itself nicely…
We headed from co. Meath, my neck of the woods, towards Enniskilen in the North, a clean drive through Cavan and Fermanagh, before reaching Ballyshannon where the Rory Gallagher Festival was taking place. Born in the town, and since he is one of my guitar heroes, we had to stop to soak it all in…
We drove for another 20kms through Donegal Town, my old base when I worked in Glenveagh National Park in 1991, always a fond memory, so well kept We then took left, Mountcharles direction; Killybegs was just another twenty, just in time for a late lunch in a place that I have fancied going for many years. Melly’s Café overlooks the harbour, one of the busiest and most dramatic looking fishing harbours in Ireland; this place is real! The town, the people… This is not a review by the way, I don’t do reviews… All I can tell you, is that I was starving, the welcome was friendly, we had fresh Hake and chips and that it was all really good, unpretentious and satisfying. I enjoyed looking at the customers, mothers with their kids, still in school uniforms, young adults who had sneaked off from an afternoon wedding for a bite before dinner, workers from the piers below… My kind of place.
We checked in to our hotel, a family business right on the harbour, before showing my friends the beauties of West Donegal, a place that they never visited before and that I knew well enough, a place that inspired me to write a fish and chips recipe and an old story, nearly two years ago this September when the weather was as sunny and hot. Our first stop was the cliffs of Sliabh Liag, 600 m high mountains plunging in the ocean…
We continued our Atlantic drive towards Malainn Bhig, the beautiful silver strand near Gleann Cholm Cille…
We headed back to Killybegs, four hours later, for a well deserved beer in the Harbour Bar, a place I wanted to visit as it inspired me to write a song nearly twenty years ago. May you be in Ireland or in Brittany, every port has a harbour bar… It wasn’t far off what I imagined it was going to be…
I slept well that night, even leaving the window of the hotel room open, so I could listen to the sounds of the night, some diesel engine gently purring in the distance. The view didn’t disappoint!
I got up early that morning, before saying my goodbyes to this lovely little Irish Atlantic town, I wanted to take some last shots before bearkfast that I will share with you now; I will be back again in Killybegs, for sure! A place where we received a friendly and honest welcome. A place that has often inspired me in so many ways, songs or recipes… Maybe it has even a part to play in starting this blog. I am pretty sure it has, I just can’t quite explain it. When I was talking to the locals of Donegal town or Killybegs during this long and sunny weekend, the phrase “we are the forgotten people of Ireland” kept coming back; a reference to the economy, I can understand that, and sometimes I can’t help to think that it may not me a bad thing. But that is a conversation we’ll have another day… For now, if you are a foodie fond of the simple fruits the sea has to offer, or simply have a thirst for beauty and freedom, I can only recommend a visit to Killybegs and West Donegal… It won’t let you down!
Keep well, Eat Happy
Slán Tamall
Franck
Hungry Breton 
Gorgeous photos as always, Franck. I miss the sea!
Thank you June! Oh yes of course, are you quite far inland?
Beautiful piece, beautiful photos of my home town. You did it justice.
Awh, thank you Patricia, this is my reward. You are very kind, Killybegs is such a wonderful place in so many ways, it must have been quite something growing up there! Thanks again! 🙂
Lovely post that reminds me I should revisit that part of the world.
Thank you so much Conor… This area of Donegal has a way to give me peace. Killybegs was so friendly, I cannot recommend it enough as a base 😉
Beautiful Photo’s of my town, thank you for visiting us.
Dear Kathleen, you are welcome! I cannot wait to go back ( again, I have an attraction for Killybegs 🙂 ) . You ought to be proud, not only Killybegs is beautiful, no matter how the weather, but it is the people that made it special for me this time!!! Thank you for the lovely comment, I’ll be back soon! 😉
Beautiful land and sounds like beautiful people. Your telling of your trip was wonderful and your pics were so beautiful. Thank you
You are welcome Maggie, thank you for visiting! 🙂
We stayed in Killybegs last year; just going through my batch of pics as I write this. You definitely got the best weather for your trip, and much better photos too 😉
We came back via Sligo and did the Shells Café experience in Strandhill. But we are shameless Shell sluts, so admit a small bias there…
Share your grá for Donegal, Killybegs and the cliffs… everything really. Beautiful part of the world. Great post as always.
Thank you! Yes, we drove back via Rossnowlagh, Mullaghmore and lunch in Hargadon’s Sligo. Very lucky with the weather, the same as September 2014 when I was over last in Killybegs. 🙂
Stayed in Kyllibegs last year. We were not so lucky with the weather but we falled in love with Donegal anyway. We also tried to approach a bit the Slieve League walk but it was raining to much, But the view on the ocean from the cliffs was amazing. I want surely come back, there. Your photos are gorgeous. You made me curious. What do you use for shooting?
Thank you Manuela; yes, sunshine is never garanteed, that is for sure! I simply use a Sony 58, 18-55mm … I don’t use photoshop, just a simple editing ( contrast, colours etc…)on my laptop, that is all. And a good eye maybe? 😉
The good eye is the first thing and you have it 😀 that blur is so catching 🙂
Thank you Manuela, yes, I like to have fun with it! 🙂 Thanks for sharing my post btw 😉
You are welcome. Reading the other post was quite interesting for me. I arrived recently In Ireland and very curious about the local food scene. I’ll keep reading you 🙂
Thank you Manuela, have a good weekend! 😉
Living in London now such fantastic photos of Killybegs one onwards. I used to be a tour guide for cruise ships. Sliabh laig is just wonderful. Next time you must take the boat trip around the cliffs with Paddy Byrne. Glencolmcille not to be missed. God’s country as they say!!
For sure! Thank you. I lived in Donegal a long time ago, but Killybegs is my new found love, my retreat. Thanks for the tip, I have noticed them. I might wait for the Spring, when the birds are coming back. Thank you Ann!
And you passed by the lovely Kilcar without stopping you must be working for failte ireland
Dear Paul, no I don’t work for Failte Ireland, I am just a guy who enjoys the beauty that touches me. Please, tell me more about Kilcar, I would be delighted to discover more and share it! Thanks man! 😉