‘Sruth in aghaidh an aird’.
The tallest waterfall in Ireland.
With a demonic, if pleasing, twist.
Artist Annie West writes:
I was commissioned to draw a map of the lovely new walk built by those adorable people at Sligo County Council . Thought I’d send a bit of info about this impossibly beautiful spot in County Sligo if anyone wants to visit
This is not Glencar Waterfall (Leitrim) but is about 2 miles up the road from it on the Sligo Leitrim border.
The gas thing about Sruth in aghaidh an aird (roughly translated: “Stream against the height”) also known as The Devil’s Chimney, is when the wind blows a certain way and it’s been raining the waterfall is sort of upside down.
Bad news for Powerscourt though- Sruth in aghaidh an aird is actually the tallest waterfall in Ireland at an eyewatering 492 ft. Also nearby there’s this remarkable bit of creative forestry which no doubt was planted by a fan of John Paul Jones.
The walk itself is a trip through the beautiful twisty gnarly enchanted woods filled with creatures real and imagined.
The walk was built by Sligo County Council under the stewardship of Michael Carty and Ray O’Grady with kind permission of the landowners, Fiona and Mark.
It’s not hugely demanding on the knees and you can do it in about an hour (but add a couple of hours’ awestruck gazing time).
On the subject of real or imagined, I have a very nice (approx A3) limited edition print to give away to whoever can spot how many monsters there are in that map. Not as easy as it looks lads.
Lines MUST close at Midnight.
Sligo Walks – The Devil’s Chimney (Sligo.ie)
Where is Sligo? And has anybody been there? “I’m going on holidays… To Sligo”. Looks mad written down.
It’s in glencar in sligo. The locals say when the waterfall blows upwards it’s a sign of bad weather and they are right. If you head for Glencar lake you can’t miss it.
The real monsters were us. All along.
By my count there be 3 monsters in that there map!
None. Two. Thirteen. Eleven? Seven. Three. Five. No, don’t tell me: six?
Blue sea serpent in the sea in bottom right.
Red ‘land’ serpent in top left field.
Grey/white head of a horned monster in the top right field below the cliff.
Small blue version of the horned monster in the top right field immediately below the cliff.
A total of four.
Other monsters….
45 sheep
4 donkeys
Two bubble pool ripples in the river…. hmmmmm… :)
Answer is 4, me thinks.
They are not donkeys, they are rabbits the size of donkeys = monsters. And there are 5 of them, a pair of ears are lurking on the ridge of the hill. The whole forest that the path winds through is a velocoraptor, so that’s 10. Plus there is one so cunningly hidden that my Rorschach glasses have not picked it out. So 11.
4 monsters (if we aren’t counting sheep and donkeys)
There are no monsters. They’re just misunderstood. Also I need new glasses.
I like this answer
Bad news for you, Powerscourt is a cascade and not a waterfall
Five
Hey Annie! Coincidentally while you’re here – any chance of a piece on making a living as an artist and your (and/or friends’) experiences of government supports (if any)? Anne-Marie wrote a piece on it earlier. Would be good to get a story from the ‘front line’!
PS – your Home To Vote piece was much admired chez moi on the anniversary this weekend. Thank you!
Hi Kieran, I don’t have , never had and probably never will have Government Supports. I just do work and get paid. I haven’t time to sit down and write out grant forms and it gives me the freedom to work away. It also allows me to politely decline to be photographed with politicians.
I did apply for one grant once , and was successful, but when I replied with questions of my own re ownership of work/copyright/other matters, I didn’t get a satisfactory reply so I declined the offer and did the project on me ownio.
Thanks for your kind words on hometovote
Hugs
Annie
Thanks so much, Annie! Much appreciated.
Reports that Leitrim has ehh, gone native again true.
Though great for the tourists.
Visit Leitrim and see Ireland as it was before the dawn of civilisation.
Though use civilisation there advisedly.
Why are we talking about Leitrim
Umm, not too sure about Sligo.
Does ‘monsters’ include sheep? Because I’ve been chased by a sheep once, and it may be because I’m a wimpy sort of fellow, but it sure did come across as a monster to me.
I love this picture so unique i see no monsters just some very cute looking magical creatures thank u for such an amazing piece of art x
Im going for 4 “monsters” or 4 leitrim folk out for a stroll