Travelling Back and Blueberry Picking Weekend

August 14 and 15:  The early morning drive across the Midlands on Saturday took Maeve and I  four hours.  Lashing rain for the first hour or so slowed us down but not Maeve she chit chatted about the past few days. We waved goodbye to some familiar sites as we flew by ...the wistful Gaelic Chieftain standing watch looking out over the Curlew Mountains and Lough Arrow and Lough Gill,  the goodbye "slan go foill" wave to Lough Key Forest Park, and on into Roscommon.   A little over mid-point, we stopped in Mullingar at Genesis for a stroll through their shop and a morning break in their sweet little coffee shop.  We ordered freshly baked fruit scones, raspberry jam and cream ....just right to keep us going.  The rest of the way to Belpatrick was steady going mostly on the faster motorway into Dublin and around the link road to pick up the N2 to Slane and Collon.

It is so special to spend time alone with a grandchild. The mix and wisdom of the two generations plants seeds of hope and blessing.  It is also a reaping time,  a reminder that the fruits of parenting lies in the next generation.  Our sons Chris, Matt and Jeff, each following their own paths have become wonderful caring parents for our six grandchildren.

On Sunday,  Matt and Kristin had planned a special trip down to Derryvilla Farm in  County Offaly to pick blueberries ....http://ireland-guide.com/article/blueberries.8834.html

HISTORY:
The Derryvilla Blueberry Farm is owned by John Seager and managed by Nuala O’Donoghue. Blueberry farming is labour intensive; at the start of each year the bushes are hand pruned and the grasses cut. They then flower in May and by mid-July, weather permitting, handpicking begins.

They’re closely related to the native Irish fraughan or bilberry, a fruit associated with celebration, feasting and fertility, and the much bigger cultivated berry is a juicy, versatile fruit that can be used in the same ways, fresh or in baking, desserts, preserves and drinks.

The history of Derryvilla Blueberry Farm involves a number of dedicated farming pioneers including, for the last five years, Nuala O’Donoghue who has been involved, in particular, with development of the innovative Blueberry Tonic and delicious blueberry preserves – both of which are out-sourced to other well-known artisan food producers such as Con Traas of The Apple Farm in Clonmel and Ciara Morris of Slieve Bloom Foods.
No pesticides are used at Derryvilla and most of their delicious, naturally grown berries and the products made with them – a tangy blueberry tonic and preserves - are supplied directly to fruit traders and selected retailers, or sold at Farmleigh Food Market (www.farmleigh.ie.)