Thomas Moore In Avoca

Thomas Moore (28 May 1779 – 25 February 1852) was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer, immortalised the vale of Avoca with his poem The Meeting Of The Waters and this is commemorated by the memorial located there, which we featured yesterday.

"There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet
         As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet!
Oh the last rays of feeling and life must depart
         Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart"

Thomas Moore

The Meeting Of The Waters

This is the local beauty spot in the Vale Of Avoca where the rivers Avonmore and Avonbeg meet and, from there, become the Avoca River which flows into Arklow, Co Wicklow.  The Meeting Of The Waters is immortalised in the poem of the same name written by Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852).

Mother's Day

Today is Mother's Day here in Ireland and on a quick visit to beautiful Avoca, Co Wicklow yesterday we saw that Fitzgerald's, the famous pub from the BBC TV series "Ballykissangel", was still taking bookings for lunch today in their restaurant.

Happy Mother's Day!

Shut the gate!

Spotted this old LNER (London and North East Railway) warning sign while strolling through Avoca village.  Wonder how much the fine is in euros?

Avoca Village

Above, St Mary's and St Patrick's Catholic church.  Pity it was such a dull day for photographs - a picturesque village with flowers and plants adorning every house and business.

Vale of Avoca

Above and left, views from Avoca Bridge. One of the prettiest villages in Co Wicklow, Avoca is where the BBC's fictional series Ballykissangel was filmed, and where the Avoca Mill, the oldest working woolen mill in Ireland, was established in 1723.