A grey day in Greystones and a cheeky bird

Children enjoying the rocks, the sand and the sea in Greystones this afternoon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2012)

Patrick Comerford

There’s a bright and cheerful wall painting on the beach at Greystones of children running down to the beach on a bright sunny day, with blue skies, blue sea and yellow sand.


A hopeful anticipation of summer weather in Grestones? (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2012)

Reality was very different in Greystones, Co Wicklow, this afternoon.

Although this is mid-summer, it was a grey day in Greystones today, with grey skies, grey clouds, grey sea and a beach that seemed to be filled with grey pebbles.

But, having worked all morning, I was delighted to get out for a walk on the beach this afternoon. At a small cove below the car park at the back of Greystones Station, a handful of teenagers seemed to be oblivious to the unseasonable weather as they paddled and splashed and swam.

Few people were walking on the beach, and two of us had the pebbles and the sand and inflowing tide, with its ripples and swells all to ourselves.

Out at sea, we could see a dozen or more sails, and a lone pair of men rowing their own wooden craft.


A cheeky bird in Insomnia in Greystones this aftgernoon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2012)

We walked back under the railway line and up though the town before dropping into Insomnia for an Americano and a double espresso.

I’ve noticed him there before – a cheeky little wagtail who seems to make a living from the clientele in Insomnia. He bobs in through the open door and feeds on the crumbs from customers’ tables. First he bounces in the door, then onto the carpet, and then in and out of the chairs and tables, almost fearlessly.

As we walked back to the cliffs, it was interesting to see the hoardings have come down around the old La Touche Hotel. I hope someone has plans to refurbish it and to reopen it ... perhaps in time for summer – next year, if we get a summer next year.


A grey day in Greystones this afternoon (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2012)