Saving the Hay Inis Mór Aran Islands Galway

Saving the Hay
7/8/20024
A family holiday that had so much depth aswell as so much fun. I left my heart on Inis Mór after this.
We were on our third day of bike adventures on the island. We decided to go find the PUFFING HOLE which turned out to be harder than we thought!
Following the sign to go up small lane only to have gone a wrong the way but the man above works in mysterious ways. On our way back down we met Tom a local island man.
Tom who was working trying to save his hay stopped to chat to us and help us with his local knowledge and gave us the directions. Tom has had a very wet season and was trying to save his hay since June.
My heart was bursting when I saw Tom bring his hay in the traditional way. So much hard work. I filmed him and I feel we wont have very much more of this way of life left. Just for a few minutes I felt transported back on the island to a time that is almost now forgotten. Best of all my adult children did do. Coming from farming background they understood its hardship too.
Tom described the landscape beautifully and how we would get to the Puffing Hole. Three fields back he said. Need to climb walls, pass the shed with no roof and out onto rocky place we will find it there. All the while explainjng the details of each field. Then to watch ourselves as it can be dangerous. You know its just a hole in the ground. Lot of people miss out in the puffing hole as it is a bit of a trek and it likes to stay hidden but thankfully we as a family have a day to remember thanks to Tom.
Part 2 Puffing Hole