It's amazing how much forestry was gone by the time the Cromwellians mapped the country to divide up among their settlers. In my own country, Westmeath, it's not that much different from today (admittedly, a lot of the county was bog which they had no use for)

Keeping the trail dry (and encouraging hikers to stay on the trail) is an essential conservation measure, to protect the surrounding bog. And the task is a journey rather than a destination, because as soon as we clean out a drain, the bog starts growing back over it again. And so on.

When there are puddles on the trail, walkers tend to walk at the edge, creating a new path (visible on the left of the track). Since the 'new' path is on bog, it will quickly erode and become muddy, encouraging walkers to inadvertently create yet another path to avoid the mud. And so on

This feels like a replay of the 2004 ref to restrict birthright citizenship when we were told that non- nationals were the cause of an overloaded health system (turns out that wasn’t true either)

Yep - I spotted these pheasants at the edge of Galway city, presumably released by the local gun club. As challenging to hunt as farmyard chickens.

Literally no end to it #TheQuays #Galway

We climbed Diamond Hill (which overlooks that Kylemore hike route) yesterday and finished up in Kylemore Abbey for lunch (as we did 20 years ago). The food was lovely and the portions were huge! #DiamondHill #KylemoreAbbey

I got chatting to another member of the club on the hike, whom I hadn't met before. We talked for a lot of the hike (though my recollection is that she did most of the talking). Anyway, We're married 14 years now, and I'm still trying to get a word in edgeways.

This is really good !

If you think you might make a good Presidential candidate, you've got seven years to do some good public service, address any skeletons in your metaphorical closet, and build your profile. If you're in politics already, that should be your default setting anyway. You'll have my No. 1 in 2032 !

Whatever happens today, the next president will be a female college graduate from University of Galway, with many years of political experience. For those who wish for a greater choice of candidates, the next presidential election is likely to be in late 2032. #IrishPresidentialElection

1967 was also the year that Mary Robinson was called to the Bar, and arguably, her presidency set the template for subsequent holders of the office. And finally, 1967 was the year that the state guaranteed free secondary school education to all (up to 18 years old) #IrishPresidentialElection