Health Archives – The Wandering Irishman

April 6, 2020September 4, 2020

Cullenstown Beach Wexford

When I was growing up I took for granted the area I lived in, I think most of us do. I grew up in a rural part of Wexford right at the bottom of this beautiful country. We use to spend our summers out and about exploring, riding our bikes and playing games. I use to think there was never anything to do and this place is boring. If only I lived in Wexford town where all the fun was happening. Little did I know that the kids in town were saying the same thing about being bored and having nothing to do. Life is what you make it and thankful I did a lot of exploring in my childhood.

One of the adventures we use to do was take a trip down to Cullenstown Beach. Our favoured mode of transport was a bicycle, this was to make the arduous journey short. The 3 km trip when you were 12 years of age was a big deal at the time. when I look back now I realise how lucky we were to have such a beautiful place to explore. But that’s enough of me reminiscing.

Cullenstown is a lovely quaint village with a great community. They take a lot of pride in their village and it’s always kept very tidy. There are a number of holiday homes and a guesthouse. There is also a pub called the Atlantic Bar where you can stop in and quench your thirst. there are toilets located at the beach in case nature calls. Thankfully there are a number of bins to so please practice a leave no trace approach.

On a fine day you could mistake it for a tropical beach, the waters are turquoise and the sand is white beneath your feet.

Birds eye view of Cullenstown Beach — Birds eye view

There is a ball alley at the beach which can be great entertainment, Many a game of wall ball have been argued about here. it can be great too if you bring a tennis ball and racket, just be mindful of the tide, if its a high tide and you hit the ball over your getting wet or losing a ball.

The famous Shell Cottage is located here in Cullenstown. It was built by Kevin Ffrench and took 30 years to complete. It is a beautiful testament to perseverance and it’s worth checking out. They have an Instagram page and Facebook page you can check them out. it is the highlight of Cullenstown Beach and well worth checking out.

The beach is a great spot for fishing, you can see fishermen beach casting and spinning here regularly and I have heard stories of 8-pound bass being pulled from here.

The Keeragh islands are located just 1.5 km off the beach. the islands are a designated Natural Heritage Area due to their importance as a breeding ground for seabirds such as cormorants. The islands are surrounded by treacherous rocky reefs and the ruin on the island was built around 1800 for survivors of shipwrecks but is now dilapidated . You can find more information here

The Saltee Islands can be seen from Cullenstown, they lie about 14kms off the coast. the islands are a must-see place and boat tours from Kilmore Quay run daily during the summer season. You will not be disappointed with this trip. I strongly recommend it. you can get more information here.

There is a lot of wildlife to look at in Cullenstown, You can see all kinds of Seabirds and you can spot the odd seal in the Water. Cormorants are a regular visitor. Barnacle Geese are a winter visitor from Greenland, occurring between October & April here during the start of spring, they come down from Greenland and Siberia where they breed.

Cullenstown is definitely worth checking out and it is reasonably quiet most of the year. you should put it on your list of places to go.

I made a video of Cullenstown Beach. I hope you like it. If you would like to check out my other posts you can find them here

Cullenstown Beach is located at the very bottom of the county of Wexford. it is about a 4 minute drive from the village of Carrig on Bannow and about 7 minutes from the village of Duncormick. You can find the map below.

March 16, 2020March 17, 2020

What to do during a lockdown in Ireland

This is a scary time in Ireland, there is a lot of uncertainty. People are unsure about what to do during a lockdown or how this will turn out over the next few weeks. An important thing we can all do for each other right now is to stay calm and remember to have empathy for people around us. People are clearing shelves in Supermarkets and buying suspicious amounts of toilet rolls.

We need to remember that Supermarkets will stay open and food supplies will be kept open. when we panic buy out of fear, the people we really hurt are the most vulnerable.

The Government has closed the Schools in Ireland to help reduce the spread of the Coronavirus and now they have closed the Pubs so you know it’s getting serious. They hope to reduce the number of people infected and not overload the Health System in Ireland which is already under pressure.

We should all read the Health service Executives information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) this will give us solid fact-based information. Don’t believe Facebook memes or Instagram posts.

I would recommend reading up about the difference in Self-isolation and Self-quarantine. There is a big difference and it will impact how you live your life right now.

Here is a quick breakdown:

Self-quarantine means avoiding contact with other people and social situations as much as possible. You will need to do this if you are in close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus and you are still well. Self-quarantine is to stop other people from getting coronavirus.

Self-isolation means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. You will need to do this if you have symptoms of coronavirus. This is to stop other people from getting it.

You will need to self-isolate:

if you have symptoms of coronavirus

before you get tested for coronavirus

while you wait for test results if you have had a positive test result for coronavirus

What to do?

With all that said the majority of us have been asked to socially distance ourselves for the good of society and we should all get on board.

What is social distancing?

Put simply, the idea is to maintain a distance between you and other people. In this case, at least a metre. That also means minimizing contact with people. Avoid public transportation whenever possible, limit nonessential travel, work from home and skip social gatherings — and definitely do not go to crowded bars.

What to do during a Lockdown?

If you are happy you are social distancing yourself and are looking for things to do, there is no reason you can’t be sensible and get outside and enjoy what it has to offer.

The next few weeks are going to be a tough time for everybody and staying inside looking at the four walls is not going to do your body or mental health any good. So get out and use your meat machine, especially if you have kids.

Things you can do to keep your self occupied:

Go for a walk at your local Beach
Go to your local Forest or lake
Explore your local area, see places that are right under your nose
Learn a new skill
Start reading that booking you have on the shelf
Start Yoga
Do a workout at home
Climb a Mountain or Hill
Walk a Trail
Check on a neighbour
Volunteer your time to the needy
Do that project you have had no time for

The list is endless.

I hope this has given you some knowledge and inspiration to get out and about during this difficult time.

Please remember to stick together during this time even if it is a metre apart.

The Wandering Irishman

March 16, 2020March 19, 2020

Edenvale, a Hidden Gem

My sister first introduced me to Edenvale in Wexford when I was a teenager and I’m so glad she did. Edenvale is a special place with a secret garden feel to it. Don’t be fooled by the underwhelming entrance, it disguises A stunning trail filled with rivers, waterfalls, flora and fauna. One of the best trails in the Sunny South East.

There is a small car park at the entrance with a gate that is used regularly for access so be mindful not to block the entrance. Most of the walk is on a dirt track, it can be muddy at times so wellies or sturdy footwear is advised.

The walk leads down to the River Sow but if you want a slight detour you can follow the trail on your left which leads into a clearing. You can find an interesting carving in a tree in the middle of the clearing.

Edenvale is a place for exploration, if you keep your eyes open you will find some interesting shapes, colours and plants. This is a place to stroll through, take your time and remember to look left, right and most importantly overhead.

Edenvale is not a long walk, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. A lot of fun can be had here if you allow your inner child to come out and play. If you leave your busy lifestyle at the gate you will not be disappointed.

The trail leads on until you have to turn right and head downhill until you meet the main track, here you will see the first of Edenvales Waterfalls.

A strange beauty surrounds this place, There is an ancient feel to it, perhaps resembling what Ireland would have looked like long ago.

Ireland is a wild place and winter can bring powerful storms, a casualty of these powerful storms is a large tree after falling across the river which has made a stunning natural bridge. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to cross it.

When you continue the trail, once you have finished playing on the bridge you come to a small pumping station. Wexford County Council has owned this since and 1930’s and the river Sow which flows here provides water for many houses in Wexford.

If you follow past the pumping station you will find yourself on a walkway and you can start to hear the main attraction of Edenvale. A lot of water passes over these falls and you can really feel it. The noise is loud and imposing but stunning all the same.

As you go further up the river you will come to the rest of the falls, I could sit and stare at each of them for a long time.

As you go further up you will see an Old Mill on the opposite side of the river, it’s starting to become part of the forest but still standing tall. You can cross over the bridge and take a closer look at the old mill but be careful as its unsafe.

From here you turn around and go back the way you came and take in the waterfalls for a second time. You can continue and do a loop walk that takes in Randalls Mill.

This walk is short but has a lot of character. It is perfect for families who have small kids and want a manageable walk for the little ones. If you bring wellies you can play around in the streams and rivers. There is plenty of flora and fauna to see so you could bring along a good field guide to spot some of it. I love the Collins Complete Guide to Irish Wildlife its a really comprehensive guide and a must for anybody trying to learn more about nature in Ireland.

How to get here

Edenvale is located 1.5km from Castlebridge. if you head North on the R741 towards Crossabeg it is located on your right-hand side about 3 minutes from Castlebridge.

March 4, 2020March 5, 2020

Running for life

Growing Up I was never really sporty and if I was really honest with my self I would say I was overweight. Not obese but enough that other kids noticed and that is never fun.

” I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. “

I was overweight because my parents fed me too much and I didn’t exercise enough. I was lucky growing up because we grow our own vegetables and we had our freezer full of our own animals so we had good healthy food and it was delicious so I got fat. later on, into my teens, I realised I needed to do something so I lost a bit of weight and I felt good about myself.

When I was about 18 I joined up for my first run it was a 5km and I absolutely loved it. it was the start of my running career and I haven’t stopped since.

“I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in. “

I have been doing one or two events a year usually a 10km since then, so although I enjoyed it I never really invested a lot of time into it. then in 2017, I decided to up my game and I started running more consistently. I ran a couple of events in 2017 mainly 10 km but I was running better and I was enjoying it more because of the training I was putting in.

Then in 2018, I fell off my Motorbike and broke a few bones so I didn’t do as much running as I would have liked but still got in Turf Warrior in Galway which is an obstacle race. I got in a 5km, 10km and I was meant to do the Clonakilty half marathon but my Mam got sick and I couldn’t go down so I did it on a treadmill instead(Not the same I know).

In 2019 I really upped my Running, I felt like I had missed out a lot from the previous year so I wanted to make up for it so I ran

Run A Muck
10km Road
Tintern Abbey 8Km
Wexford 10KM
Viking Qtr Marathon
Stone Mad 10 Mile
Hell and Back
Greenway Half
Clonakilty Half

I had a good year of running and I enjoyed every second of it especially the hard times. I think it was during this year that I realised how much I need Running. I can easily wander and get distracted in life and I constantly need a compass pointing me in a direction and running gives me that. Even when life is not going to plan and things are falling apart I still have running to remind me to stick to the plan and keep working hard and move forward.

“there is no lying in running”

I love the challenge running brings to my life and the simplicity of it. there is no lying in running you can either run the distance or you cant.

I need challenges in my life especially physical ones. I find that if I slip into a routine where I don’t challenge myself physically I get into a rut and life becomes monotonous and boring and I get to a place where I don’t want to be. you learn the most from yourself when you’re challenging yourself. This is where true learning and development comes from. learning doesn’t come from just plodding along in life, you have to get up and rise to the challenge, not just in running but in work and relationships too.

Some of the best memories I have are of the times I had the hardest challenges.

” Get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later “

The name of this post is running for life and by that I mean, running gives me life. The energy I use when I’m training is given back to me in my self-esteem, dignity, self-worth and my overall energy levels. I cannot stress this enough, get out and use your meat machine, if you invest in it now it will pay dividends later on in life when you will be healthier and happier and probably richer because of potential future medical bills. if you hadn’t of looked after it.

I hope you enjoyed this post. the subject means a lot to me.

Shane