An Aegean-like Sunday on four Fingal beaches

The sun kissed strand at Skerries on Sunday afternoon (Photograph; Patrick Comerford, 2010)

Patrick Comerford

Over the past few days, I have been feeling a little worse for the wear with the symptoms of sarcoidosis. Although I had good news last month, with the prospect of remission kicking in soon, and despite a welcome break of a few days for quiet time and prayer in Lichfield, I have had little sleep for the past few nights, I have felt the pressure on my lungs with renewed bouts of night-time coughing, and I have been more conscious than usual of the constant pains in my joints, especially in my knees, and of the continuing sensation of “pins and needles” and cramps in my feet.

But there was little time for self-pity over the weekend, and a working, residential weekend with the NSM and part-time MTh students is always filled with joy and delight.

I worked through the weekend, from Friday afternoon until this [Sunday] afternoon. There was the usual round of chapel services each day, a lecture on Spirituality and Prayer on Friday evening, a tutorial group and a Bible study on Saturday, student appraisals, a group photograph, and a lecture on Spirituality on Sunday morning.

The weekend reached a perfect climax with the celebration of the Eucharist at noon today. This is the Third Sunday in Lent, and we opened with a beautiful setting of the Lenten prose. It is always a joy to celebrate the Eucharist, and especially so when you know everyone who is gathered around the Altar.

After a light snack, I headed out to Fingal, and the beaches of north-east county Dublin. This is the sunniest weekend we have had in Ireland since Whit Weekend last year. The summer, autumn and winter here have been bleak for the many months too, with a few breaks, but very little sunshine. Yes, there have been bright days with sunshine, but none as sun-filled as these past few days.

Throughout those wet and overcast weekends, I have continued to walk the beaches of Fingal, knowing that these walks by the sea and on the sand are boosting my feelings of well-being and giving me good opportunities to reconnect with nature, to reach some of the depths of my own spirituality and to give thanks to God for the light and hope I have in my life every day.

A small trawler beached on the sand at Loughshinny (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2010)

I went out through Lusk and Rush, and first stopped in Loughshinny, where a small trawler was beached on the sand. A handful of people were on the beach, but no-one was walking out as far as the pier, which gives majestic views across to the islands at Skerries to the north-east and across to Lambay Island to the south-east.

From there, I moved on to Skerries: as the road approaches Holmpatrick, there are eye-catching views across to the islands. A late lunch in Olive is a real pleasure. This is one of the best cafés – not just in Fingal or Dublin but in Ireland. The vegetarian antipasto had a wide selection that included roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, capers, rocket, shaved parmesan, onion, and toasted ciabatta. And they really do know how to make espresso here.

Skerries Harbour from the North Strand (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2010)

Strolling up past the North Strand, the bikers were pouring onto the footpath and the road outside Joe May’s. On the North Strand, the tide was out enough to step down and take a short stroll, and enjoy the tranquil view of the Harbour.

Up on Red Island, the sun had brought out families and children in great numbers. How we appreciate sunshine when we are blessed with it in Ireland.

Back down on the South Strand, there were fewer families. But the sand that has been packed and deep-coloured for the past few months was turning to a golden colour in the sunshine.

A view across the South Strand across the sea towards the islands in Skerries (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2010)

In Gerry’s, I picked up the Sunday papers, the latest edition of the Skerries News, and a bottle of Barbera d’Asti for dinner later this evening.

And then I remembered that I had not been to the main beach in Rush for perhaps 45 years – since I was a 13-year-old. In recent months, I have been to the North Beach and the Harbour in Rush, to visit the church in Kenure, and to the estuary at Rogerstown.

The first few attempts this afternoon to find this beach each ended in a cul-de-sac. But eventually, when I found my way there, I was rewarded with rediscovering a beach I had enjoyed in my early teens.

Lambay Island ... basking in the sun like an island in the Aegean (Photograph: Patrick Comerford)

The sun was still shining down brightly, and there was Lambay Island, looking ever so like a Greek island basking in a blue Aegean sea under the sunshine, and – to the south – a clear vista across to Portrane, so that I could clearly pick out the towers of the hospital, the round tower built by Sophie Evans, and – at the end of the peninsula – the Lynders house at the Quay.

I returned home, and enjoyed that Barbera d’Asti as I read the Skerries News and the Sunday papers.