It’s getting tough to write these and not because we’ve nothing to say. We don’t have time or Wi-Fi. Since arriving in Develeash we haven’t stopped, eating, drinking and enjoying great company.
Dad was heading to London for a couple of days so Mum dropped him to the airport at 7am. Her words ‘Time apart needed’ rang out when she skipped back into house!! 😜
Grandad had left an old car here so she decided we would go for a tour around Swinford and Kiltimagh. When she said a tour, it was a tour of all the cemeteries in the area. Who does that to their children?
We started at Midfield. Midfield is a crossroads in the middle of nowhere with a church, a pub/the only nightclub for miles and a shop called Julian’s.
Julian’s was her childhood, her teenage years and some very dodgy 20’s in a place called LaBamba, didn’t get all the stories but she told enough of them, it was going to be long day.
We drove over to the cemetery. Granny’s sisters Joan and Teresa are buried there, also her mum and dad. Mum told a lovely story, when at the funeral of Teresa, the Priest spoke about a beautiful rainbow that had been outside her home in Kinaffe the day she died, he spoke about it being so clear and the colours so vibrant. After the mass when they walked up to the cemetery it started raining so hard that they all had to run for cover but out came this amazing rainbow like no other. Mum said it was amazing and lifted them all onwhat was a very sad day.
Mum took us to Kinaffe to see where she had spent all her summer holidays. She showed us the well and told about the ducks, geese and chickens that would chase and frighten the hell out of them, especially Michael. The house is now a ruin and Mum got a real shock when she seen it, she was so upset. It was a great place in its day and a lot of very happy memories were made.
Off to Kiltimagh and Grandad’s family grave. Mum showed us her granny & grandad’s grave and a bench that had been dedicated in their memory. She also found the grave of her great grandad and granny. Grandad had made the headstone. It was brilliant. Tom couldn’t get over it and said, “he made that and our attic”.
Next stop Swinford. Tom & Harry wanted to get the new Mayo football top. We popped into Lavin’s and the man said they were 45euros each, Mum nearly had a canary but then I showed her the top I wanted and she nearly lost it completely. We were soon on the road again with the promise of coming back to Lavin’s tomorrow. We didn’t believe her nor did the man in the shop.
We thought we’d changed her mind set on the cemetery trail but no there was one more. We went to her cousin Frankie’s. It’s on a hill and looks out for miles. Thanks to a map we found it straight away. A beautiful Celtic cross; we stood for a while.
On this trip, you will find that food is a very important part of the Russell family and you’ll see food mentioned alot as we travel through.
In Castlebar we found a lovely little café, Mum had a chicken sandwich, the lads had toasties and I had a hot chocolate with a cheese and bacon jacket potato, it was soooo good! We walked around for a bit then the rain came so we called it a day and headed back.
PJ & Eileen had decided that instead of cooking we’d all go to Swinford for a Chinese. Ages ago, Granny had told us a story about the time when they went for Chinese in Swinford and she had ordered egg fried rice, when it came out it was bowl of rice with a fried egg on top so we were a little hesitant but Eileen assured us it would be lovely.
Eileen started to order. Honey ribs to start, then duck (my favourite), she then ordered the mains. It was amazing. The ribs had so much meat on them and the duck was so tasty. Mum’s favourite was the chicken chow mein, it was delicious. The whole thing was brilliant and we had such a lovely evening. In Ireland children aren’t allowed into pubs after 9pm (thank God!!) so we headed home. PJ, Eileen and Mum had a nightcap and all off to bed.
Drum roll please…..and the Oscar goes to mum for going totally over the top about the Mayo tops especially mine!!
Day 8
Granny & Grandad were arriving today but not until about 7pm. We had a great lie in and slept until 11. Mum decided that we’d head back to Swinford to get the tops, in the words of Jamie, I wasn’t expecting that!!
The man in the shop also got a shock when he seen us coming back, we must have been in there an hour. I got a lovely Mayo training top and the boys got their Mayo team shirts, I also sneaked in a pair of Gaelic gloves. I explained to Mum that if I didn’t have the right gear how could I play my best, that got her!!
Over to Pontoon, the weather was lovely. The lakes are so lovely but the place we used to drive into has gone so drove a little further. Both the places that mum would have stopped at for a coke & tantos was gone too. Heaneys and Pontoon Bridge, supposedly both are going to reopen (hopefully). Off to the bridge and we stopped and walked down to the lake. 
Mum text Eileen and said she’d cook dinner. We went back over to Castlebar and bought a leg of lamb with all the trimmings. With not much time and a leg to cook we rushed back to Develeash.
I went to the airport with PJ & Eileen to meet Granny & Grandad. Mum had made dinner and when we arrived back we sat back to a lovely meal and as always, in Grandad’s words, you cannot beat a round table and good company.
No Oscar today, it’s tough when Dad’s not here with all his drama!!
Day 9
We were all so looking forward to today. Christopher, a cousin of ours gives his land to be used for the Agricultural fair day in Swinford.
His house is amazing and every time we passed it over the last couple of days there more marquees and stalls going up. Grandad had his car back so Mum had to drive the van which we had renamed ‘the shed’ as were sleep in very cosy bed in the house. It was only her second time but she did ok, a little close getting out of Develeash but apart from that she did good. All she kept saying was, at least Chris has a big driveway and I’m not going into Swinford, then Granny decided to come with us and our simple plan changed. Back into Lavin’s and more Mayo gear to buy, plus when we told them where we were going wellies were bought too.
We parked up right outside and headed in, not before we seen Trish, Chris’s wife who is due a baby in October. They have the most beautiful daughter Sophia who was ordering everyone about in her pink wellies and pink coat, so cute.
We then went over to see Sharon and her gorgeous dog Milly. Granny needed wellies and Sharon had a spare pair, unfortunately she had to put them on her too 😂
Sharon was hoping to win an award for best tricks so we were looking forward to that a lot.
The fair was great, loads of rides for Tom & Harry. I went straight for the chip van and had my first tray of curry chips. Mum ate most of them, surprise, surprise! We walked round, the ground was so wet, Lavin’s were right to sell us the wellies.
We went into the marquee where all the prizes had been given out. Best scone, best sod of turf, best knitted dolly…..it was nuts and all taken so seriously. We started laughing but the looks we were getting, we had to leave.
It was time for Milly’s dog contest. She did very well and you could see how proud Sharon was, it was brilliant and Milly got 1st prize.
Granny and Grandad headed into Swinford to meet a man about some tickets for the match the next day. All into the van and we headed there too. 
It was Joe and his mum Mrs Murphy. She’s 91 and Joe showed us a video from the day before and her going down an inflatable slide. Harry said “that woman is going nowhere, she’s got at least another 10 years!! 😂
hat evening we all headed back to Develeash, Eileen had made bacon and cabbage. We were all so hungry and the ribs so good, meat just falling off the bone, that another night sitting around the table was had.
Told you there’s a lot about food!!
Oscar for today’s performance and it really was a performance went to Granny when she couldn’t put her wellies on and Sharon had to help her. It was very funny!
Are you Shore?? 