Whiskey In The Jar

LETJOG E2W – Day 32: Wednesday 15 May – YOUGHAL to MIDLETON (16.9 miles)

With some whiskey in the jar and a trace of blue in the sky, what a perfect way to spend a day walking in Ireland! Things did not start quite as well, with the early forecast of ‘light rain showers’ manifesting themselves as the heaviest downpour that I have walked through on this LETJOG E2W challenge to date. But after this early deluge the rainclouds relented, leaving a fine day with even an interval or two of bright sunshine to dry the waterproofs.

My walk today was largely on the flat, along country lanes and then, following a coffee stop at Mogeely village, joining the brand new section of ‘Greenway’ (opened in March) for five glorious miles along the former railway line to Midleton. Given my early start, I completed the walk by late lunchtime, giving me the opportunity to visit the Jameson Distillery before my bus back to Youghal. I decided last night to retain my room here due to the lack of availability in Midleton this evening; a shortage that the local folk are blaming on a certain Mr Springsteen’s presence in town tomorrow evening! Anyway, here are the pictures of my day’s adventures.

After my distillery visit it was time for me to take the bus back to Youghal, and another walk through the centre and along the coast to return to my overnight accommodation.

So it has been an active and busy day, in all weathers, and I have covered some fine country and had the chance to see the region a little closer than during my rain-bound road-walking march of yesterday. Also today I have met some interesting local people and visitors on the trail, as well as at the distillery and back in Youghal, making this quite a day to remember on my LETJOG E2W journey.

The song ‘Whiskey In The Jar’, that I have adopted today for my Blog heading, is a traditional Irish ballad about a highwayman who robs a military official and is then betrayed by a woman. Although the details and place names vary between versions, many set the scene in the mountains of Cork and Kerry, not too far from where I am now. The song was revived, and a new arrangement written, by The Dubliners in the 1960s, and since that time many artists from Ireland and further afield have recorded the song. The version that I know best, and that I am including on my E2W playlist, is the 1973 cover by Irish hard rock band Thin Lizzy, featuring the vocals of Phil Lynott. The song certainly seems to capture the spirit of my day!