Doug led us in daily devotions today drawing from 1 Cor:13, exhorting us to trust steadily, hope unswervingly, and love extravagantly. We applauded his stirring rendition of “You Raise Me Up.”
Shortly after 10:00 a.m., Eion arrived from Corymeela with a bus to take us on our day’s journey.
First stop: Carrickfergus Castle. Our tour guide, Simon, explained that Carrickfergus dates back to the Norman invasion of 1066.
This castle remains one of the most intact Norman castles in Ireland and Britain and had a continuous military presence from its inception until 1928. Its cannons have been fired only once, serving as a warning shot. The castle has survived attacks by Scotts, Irish, English and French, and served as an air raid shelter for the people of Carrickfergus during WW2. Although nearly surrounded by salt water, there is a fresh water well in the center of the castle which was crucial in staving off a siege which lasted over a year.
The ultra-primitive loos and damp winding staircases convinced us that none of us were cut out for full time castle life.
Leaving Carrickfergus we embarked upon a 75-minute ride along the Antrim Coast passing rolling meadows filled with swaths of yellow, blue and white wildflowers with sheep and cattle lazily grazing under gray-blue skies. Bright hillsides, yellow with gorse, greeted us around each turn as we passed through small coastal villages of Larne, Drains Bay, Glen Arm and Carnlough.
Arriving at Laragh Lodge, we enjoyed a scrumptious lunch, anticipating a spectacular walk in the forest. Glenariff Waterfall Nature Preserve lies within Glenariff Glen, known as “Queen of the Glens”. The deeply wooded gorge is marked by pools, rapids and multiple, breathtaking waterfalls. Songbirds and abundant wildflowers, ferns and mosses graced the trails.
A quick round trip through the Glen:
Following a “wee tea” and desserts at 5:00, we again boarded the bus, heading this time to Corrymeela. We traveled through markedly hilly country on sharply-winding, narrow roads passing miles of stone walls. We arrived at Corrymeela on Rathlin Sound at 6:00.
Corrymeela has existed over 50 years as a place of refuge and reconciliation where all may be safe and be heard. We look forward to spending four nights here.
The day ended with a light supper of stew, an evening worship, and a beautiful sunset.
Submitted by Mary Alice Nyhan
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