6 minute read
Yvonne Ferry Italian Holiday
Italian Holiday
I pulled back the curtains of my hotel bedroom on an October morning in 2012. I can still see the marvels that met my eyes! Blue, blue water edged with lush greenery and various kinds of vegetation. In the background majestic mountains framed this sumptuous scene. Overhead, the sky was blue, with not a cloud to be seen. I called my companion to have a look. We had not expected to have this marvel await our eyes! It was the first day of a wonderful holiday at Lake Como, Northern Italy. There followed 10 glorious days of sight seeing all around the area, where you took a boat, rather than a bus to travel to various places. We visited Bellaggio and Menaggio, before we took a trip to Milan,where we viewed La Scala, the statue of Leonardo da Vinci, and the Duomo Cathedral.
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Back to Lake Como. On our cruise, we passed George Clooney's villa Oleandra and we got a glimpse of it, though secluded in the trees. Sir Richard Branson the English Business magnate of the Virgin Group, the singer Madonna and Donatella Versace, all have properties on this lake. In my mind's eye, I could see Madonna having her toe nails painted by a handsome male servant and George Clooney sitting on his balcony sipping a "Cardinale". Maybe Donatella Versace would host a dinner party for her friends and produce swathes of colourful material, and get their opinion as to what would be suitable for the next Versace collection. We went to see Villa Balbianello, house and gardens. It was here that the films Star Wars and Casino Royale were shot. Villa d'Este is a luxury Hotel in Como. There are villas to rent or buy on the Italian lakes. I don’t know the cost, but for folks like me I think Air BnB would be a more realistic prospect! That holiday was certainly one to remember. Shakespeare wrote in his play Henry 1V,
" If all the year were playing holidays, to sport would be as tedious as to work"
I'm not so sure!
Yvonne Ferry
Hy Falgia - A Tour of the Ancient Territory
The last thing I wanted to do that day was disturb myself out of my comfort zone and be pressured into taking a car trip, but my sister (on holiday in Ireland for a few weeks) was determined to drag me out. I picked my way through the nettles and brambles of my brain and, as I began to see the potential of an interesting day ahead, I entered into the spirit of planning. She was doing the driving; I would make a picnic. Thence I dived into cupboards and drawers to drag out picnic paraphernalia. Within an hour I had packed an assortment of goodies. It was still early morning when we started off, on what we called our mystery tour in Ireland's Ancient East. The bright sky was promising, no rain-sodden landscapes today hopefully.
In the course of exploring Co Offaly, many great historical facts and monuments emerged. At the dawn of Irish history this county formed portions of the territory called Hy Falgia which included Meath, Westmeath, Kildare and Dublin. From 1170 the English penetrated the country and effected settlements, though stoutly opposed. Constant insurrections against the foreign power came to no avail. The O'Connor's spreading disorder through the whole of Leinster were dispersed by a force from England under King Henry VIII and the lands forfeited were shared among the English.
Offaly, being the ancient name of the Kings County from the times of the Kings of Ireland in 906, was then divided into many baronies and at least 50 Parishes, all under this name. Surprising to me even now I was reminded that I was born in the ancient Kings County in a place called Shinrone, Birr, a former English garrison town that is still the Irish seat of the Parsons family who are the Earls of Rosse. The family were the developers of the town and for a period it was called Parsonstown. Birr Castle was enlarged over the centuries and several succeeding Earls became internationally famous as pioneering astronomers. Before I leave this amazing county I will give you one further gem of interest. It has been said that Anne Boleyn's two nieces lived in Birr. Anne Boleyn, 2nd wife of King Henry VIII had Irish connections through her cousin James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond. Her father, Thomas Boleyn, was first given Clonony Castle in Co Offaly, and after the execution of Anne Boleyn and her brother George, the Castle passed to George's illegitimate son. Two sisters descended from this man and lived and died at this Castle. The Castle is currently being restored, and in time may be on exhibition.
Still close to home my sister and I moved on to Banagher and visited the grave of Arthur Bell Nicolls, former husband of Charlotte Bronte. After she died in childbirth he returned to Banagher and married Mary Anna Bell his cousin. The Bell family has a large cemetery plot with ornamental trellis bordering their graves. The sleepy little town of Banagher on the banks of the Shannon had many surprising secrets, including its great connections with Oscar Wilde's father, the pioneering surgeon, Sir William Wilde. William's paternal ancestor apparently was a soldier in the army of William of Orange who came to Ireland as part of the invasion force in 1689. William was born in Castlerea and was a past student of Banagher Royal School. Banagher area is a treasure of monastic sites, a Martello Tower and a Cromwellian Castle. There are amazing examples of well preserved bow-fronted Georgian houses lining the wide streets of both Banagher and Birr. Anthony Trollope was stationed in Banagher as Post Office surveyor in 1841: it was here he wrote his first two novels, both with Irish settings.
Where better to stop for an alfresco picnic than in the heart of the green jewel of Ireland. Under blue skies we devoured chunks of fresh brown bread with pate de foi gras, Irish smoked salmon in an assortment of savoury sandwiches, washed down with hot tea en flask, while basking in the soft fresh countryside around us.
Moving on we explored a lot of Co Roscommon's famous places, including Strokestown Park House and National Famine Museum. The 18th century mansion has been faithfully preserved. I was stunned by the beauty of one particular room we were shown into. A Renoir masterpiece hung above the marble fireplace, its soft pastels echoed in the thick Oriental rug. A carriage clock was perched on the mantle opposite a crystal vase of orchids. A walnut Chippendale secretaire desk gleamed in a corner. We managed to walk a little of the six-acre Georgian walled garden complex, and got an insight into the horticultural practices from the 1740's to the present day. So, our day of discovery was nearly over. My sister and I agreed with Oscar Wilde's saying that: "We can have in life but one great experience at best, and the secret of life is to reproduce that experience as often as possible".
