The 'Beach'

To be fair we have only been to 3 beaches in Ireland so far, but our local beach at Sandymount is a rather interesting place when you have grown up in Australia and had such wonderful beaches.

The sand is grey and the tide seems to be always out and that means you can only see the water as a thin blue line on the horizon. If you are around when in comes in, watch out, it comes in faster than a Nathan Bracken delivery. There are always people out walking on the Strand, walking their dogs on the sandflats and rugged up and straining against the wind. Despite a wide flat path just up from the sand, cyclists are not allowed on this path. Boo hiss!

In summer I was amazed to see families roll up with buckets, spades towels and park on the very narrow strip of dry sand for a session of play and 'find the water'. It is always interesting to watch someone in their boardshorts and goggles hike the few hundred meters to try and get wet. I'm sure they would be half way to Wales before the got up to their waist!

Today after breakfast we drove to The Strand and noticed the tide was in!! They also had sandbags at all the entrances to the Strand walk and metal 'flood barriers' across the carparks!! Maybe its Spring tides or a storm surge is predicted. The next few days there are gales predicted, but we are on the East coast, not the West where the Atlantic weather comes from.

Last Sunday we drove to Wicklow and the beach there was rocks. And I mean rocks. The size of golf balls, tennis balls - but very pretty at the same time. There was an amazing golf course right on the edge of the beach - you wouldn't want to hook your shots!

I doubt I will ever find myself in my bathers at an Irish beach - let alone get wet at one!