Excerpt from Ireland, Unrushed: A brand new story featuring one of everyone’s favorite places, out now in Wander Magazine
All fairytales aside, I believe there actually is a special kind of magic in these atmospheric hills of Ireland. It lingers somewhere in the serene morning mist. There’s a symbiotic quality in us and nature here. And while that may be ubiquitous in the pretty Emerald Isle, it became all the more immersive as I tuned in to the slow, gentle pace of the winding River Shannon, exploring lovely little villages, feeling unrushed in hidden heartlands.
I felt it wandering the hills of Glencar by Sligo and following the sun along trails with wide bogland loops. It was in the birdsong while drifting on quiet loughs, and in the air as I slept soundly, tucked in by castle gardens as it rained. It was there when I danced with the spirits of Drumshanbo.
In the hidden heartlands of Leitrim and beyond, it was an invitation to the comforts of local culture, set amid landscapes, both wild and bucolic. It felt remote and grounding, with all the beauty and charms, and indeed, it was a dreamy spell to be under.
Looking out from my second-floor window at Lough Rynn Castle in County Leitrim, I saw the lough in the distance, framed just so in the pane. An elegant white statue watched over the tranquil 300-acre Victorian luxe estate, and thick petrichor rose from the ground.
Read the story by Christopher Ludgate and get inspired at Wander Magazine.