November 6th: Donegal, Drumcliffe and Sligo

Beaches to Castles









When going to beaches, I prefer to bake in the sunshine and push my toes through the sand. I will tell you that there was none of that at this beach in Donegal! I included a picture of me on the beach. There is something special about this moment, however. Aside from the scenic view, this was the first time I saw the Atlantic Ocean.



Shortly after taking this picture lovely picture, however, the rain poured from the sky in golf ball sized drops. After sprinting to our bus, we were all soaked to the core. We were so wet we all had to sit in our long johns while we attempted to dry our pants.







Our next stop was Donegal Castle. Afterwards, was a view of W.B. Yeats grave site in Drumcliffe. My heart aches to think that many of my students may not know who W.B. Yeats is. Here is a poem he wrote and a picture I took of the Lake Isle of Innisfree. Yeats wrote this poem when he was living in London and homesick. You can see why he loved his home so much! (Students, by the time you get to high school, I expect you to be experts at Ralph Waldo Emerson, Jane Austin, Edgar Allen Poe and William Butler Yeats. (p.s. If you are still starring blankly at this screen with an open mouth and questioning who these authors are, time to research!))






Dedicated to my amazing 6th grade students:

The Lake Isle of Innisfree

W. B. Yeats


I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core.

Our day ended in Sligo, where we were served another wonderful meal. It will be a miracle if I do not come back ten pounds heavier. With every dinner I am served appetizers, the meal, dessert and tea. If anything else, I will be leaking tea from my ears at the end of the trip. Tea for breakfast, tea for lunch, tea for dinner, tea for supper(dessert) and tea for a late night treat. Tea, tea, tea,...oooo how I love tea!