An Irishwoman, long resident on the Continent, comes back to a Clifden she has known since childhood, and from the Saturday after Christmas Day, December 25th to Wednesday, January 1st, when she departs, has sunshine all the way, blue skies and just that bit of frost lying on the ground. More, much more she has daily exhibitions from schools of dolphins in Clifden Bay.
Remembering a sighting of dolphins a few decades before, she had asked if she was likely to have the same pleasure this time. She was told, regretfully, that the creatures only showed themselves in the warm days of summer. Hah! Next morning after arrival (frost on the ground, remember), first one, then more and more are sighted. She has a spectacular vantage point from the Old Coastguard Station plump bodies entirely clear of the water, leaping over and along side each other. Across the bay, all the relatives agree, there must be at least thirty or forty.
But were they porpoises or dolphins? From size alone, surely dolphins. And isn't the restaurant on the Low Road called Dolphin View? Anyway, consult the expert, Eamon de Buitlear, but first look at his book Ireland's Wild Countryside where he tells of experience of dolphins from Dingle, Loop Head, Fanore in Clare and on to various sites off Mayo. "Frequently seen in summer" is one phrase he uses. Could there be such manifestations in this place, Clifden Bay, and in winter?
You phone him. Helpful as always, he is glad to talk of the experience. "Yes", he answers, "there could be". For, he says, they are all around us, which not only pleases the dolphin advocates among the family as against the doubters, but will maybe do something for Clifden.
On the TV now you are maybe seeing holiday destinations, with blue skies, blue sea, blazing sunshine. All that was spread out for the returned exile, with the extra spice of a little frost. And then there was the outline of the Twelve Bens, and the lakes and the yellow brown of the bogs. Connemara at Christmas.
PS.- And, of course, Eamon is working on another series for TV, two of his subjects being otters and roseate terms.