var title = 'IOS at Mullaghmore - 11 July 2009';
var intro = '
Under Ben Bulben
Under Ben Bulben, The Sligo Field trip
An Mullach Mór
Cast a cold eye, on life, on death, horseman pass
by....hold on, wait a minute!, stop the horse, is that a Dactylorhiza
viridis I see?
I felt it was high time that I investigated the much
talked about annual IOS field trip to Yeats country.
So I railed it up to Sligo town where I stayed the day before in a Bed and
Breakfast. There, the landlady on hearing the purpose of my excursion, exclaimed
an astonishment for she had been a keen hill walker in the area all her life and
had never known that it was an orchid hotspot.
The weather was warm and bright on arrival at Lomax’s boat-house, the
Mullaghmore rendezvous, despite the grim forecast. Inside there was an obvious
bon amis between friends reuniting to take part in this traditional rite of
summer. As usual a feast of food and refreshments was to be had before we
ventured out for the serious business of orchid rustling which began in a nearby
field as always led by Brendan.
Within about a mile’s walk there was an impressive range of orchids, two of
which; the fragrant and the frog were first time viewings for me. Yes, I found
that the fragrant orchid was actually deliciously clove-carnation scented just
as Brendan’s field guide predicted but as for the “frog?” well it was green I
suppose. Further along the damp ground passing sporadic tufts of Ragged Robin
and Cotton Grass there were all our other favourites including Marsh Helleborine,
Lesser Butterfly, Pyramidal, and Common-Spotted orchids and not to be outdone
eventually the Bee orchid.
Brendan delivered an educational piece on each, although his efforts were
clearly unappreciated by the three energetic dogs with us who were convinced
that they were the centre of attention and that he was interrupting.
After lunch we travelled along the coast eventually finishing in Strandhill
having seen the Northern Marsh Orchid and some Dactylorhiza hybrids but
by then it was time to abandon ship as the rain lashed down.
The real value of any field trip is in the participation and the experience. It
is that alone which makes it special year after year whereas writing merely
repeats what has already been said previously. So I urge you to give it a go
next year. For who could ever put into words the pleasure of seeing the
curiosity and smiling faces of the children brought along by Moninne Dargan and
her sister. Perhaps they won’t grow up to be oblivious to it all like my
landlady.
Thank you everyone in Sligo
Shane Kerr
Chairman
Irish Orchid Society
Return to Pollinia
';
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