Why have we chosen this photograph to head up our ten year anniversary blogpost? That’s simple: the pic was taken on 15 October 2012. We had moved into Ard Glas – just outside Ballydehob – for a six-month rental to see how we liked West Cork!
But – what about the giant sparrow?
Wait a minute. We very obviously ended up liking West Cork so much that we bought a house in Cappaghglass (the townland next door to Ard Glas), and have stayed there ever since. As you can see, we have been thoroughly enjoying ourselves over the last decade:
Yes, but, that very large sparrow…?
Be patient! Believe it or not, we have kept the blog posts going, with hardly any interruption, ever since. This is Roaringwater Journal post number 968. In the last decade, our Journal has been viewed over 1.5 million times and we have acquired over 5,700 followers between our various platforms.
Our posts are all still there in the archives – and you can still read them. Search by using the three-bar icon on the home page and select All Pages-Navigation, or one of the other menus. Alternately, press the cog button under the Roaringwater Journal title at the top of the page, then scroll down to Archives. Roll down through all the months. Or enter a search term into the magnifying glass symbol next to the cog. That will show whether we have mentioned your chosen subject in any of our blogs. We warn you that some posts (especially the very early ones) haven’t survived the test of time perfectly: but we leave them in there because it’s all a bit of history.
Sparrow?
Hang on! Of course, things change a bit as the years go by (although we don’t*). We have varied the layout of the blog, and the header etc. We had thought of refreshing it all again to celebrate this milestone but… ah, well – perhaps for the twentieth anniversary.
Sp……..?
Another pic from 2012 (above) showing mixed weather conditions over Roaringwater Bay. It hasn’t always been sunshine here (have a look at this) but it always feels sunny to us – or just about to be sunny. One of our newest posts -here – shows us doing what we like the most, and always have: exploring remote and often forgotten West Cork byways.
Our regular readers will know that, over ten years, we have developed our interests to take in history, archaeology, rock art, stained glass, architecture, topography, folklore, wildflowers, art and culture, landscape and language… and very much more. We share our adventures often with Amanda and Peter Clarke, our fellow bloggers and friends – see Holy Wells of Cork and Kerry and Hikelines.
What of the next ten years? Well, we are trying to be innovative. This week we have introduced a ‘guest post’ for the first time: this one, by our friend Brian O’Riordan, explores the exploits of an intrepid 79-year old woman who sailed solo across the Atlantic to Ireland in 1994 , which falls right into our own interests, and – hopefully – yours too.
S…………..?
Ok – we have got the message! About the sparrow, that is. The original giant sparrow is one of two (a male and a female) which were created for the Olympic Park in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010 by the sculptor Myfanwy MacLeod. One was transported by our own photo magic to Ard Glas! Perhaps they are not relevant to West Cork, but they are meaningful to Finola and Robert, as we saw them together in Canada ten years ago – pic below. We have just recently returned from a visit to Canada, enjoying a long-awaited catch-up with Finola’s family there. We made sure to record our presence there with another photo-op (below the below).
* Hopefully this demonstrates how youthful we remain, imbibing as we do the stimulating West Cork air. Here’s to the next ten….!
Roaringwater Journal 
Comhghairdeachas! You have produced a remarkable record and resource. I look forward to it every weekend.Your energy and dedication is inspiring.
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*are* inspiring, I should say! WordPress got away from me . . .
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Happy blogaversary both, this is only the beginning.
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Since I found Roaringwater Journal in 2019 I have been hooked. I am especially interested in stained glass and also in the natural environment and the stories behind abandoned objects there. It is a joy to read your descriptions and to feel your obvious love of your surroundings.
Stained glass is very difficult to photograph well, but you do it superbly. You have the ability to find the back story to the various windows.
To the next decade- Slainte
Brian O’Riordan
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Thank you, Brian – for your comments, your friendship and your contributions!
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Fantastic work. You have created a treasure trove of detailed information about this wonderful part of the world which will be a valued resource for years to come. Thank you.
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Congratulations on your prolifically productive first decade! The last two photos confirm my personally-verified observation that the two of you are virtually unchanged by the years! The sparrow, on the other hand, seems to be sporting a fresh coat of paint. Which hardly seems fair…
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Many congratulations-wonderful work over the past ten years=heres to the next ten–go néirí libh
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Thanks so much for all the invaluable information you have given us over the years. Such treasures ye both are.
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Your regular Roaringwater Journals are absolutely fantastic! I have learned so much about interesting aspects of West Cork (I’m from Millstreet though I don’t live there) and each time I go down to Cork I explore something that I have learned from your journals. Thank you so much!
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Thank you for this journal…and for sharing all of these lovely places with us. One day we’ll meet. We got rained out of the wildflower walk on Long Island in June, but next year, we’re there!! Thank you again!
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Well done, you have done wonderful research too.
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Lovely!
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Congratulations to you both on 10 truly wonderful years! I have so enjoyed your journal and it was so great to see you in Vancouver.. Look forward to the next ten. All the best and warm hugs, Jane
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Well done to ye both on the last 10years….brilliant research and presentations….
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Congratulations to you both. Here’s to the next ten!
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Dorian Greys the pair of you! Many congrats on a decade of blogging and how fortunate we are that we have enjoyed so many explorations with you – here’s to the next 10 years!! And I love the sparrows 🙂
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Thank you, Amanda! It’s been a great decade for us all!
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Congratulations, quite a feat accomplished. I have followed you since I came to settle here seven years past this month. Thankyou for all of your entertaining annd formative posts.
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