Our first glimpse of the mountains, from Rathfriland, was so unexpected I snapped a picture of them through the windshield as we drove through a junction.
I didn’t know that we’d end up walking along the beach the next day, right past a monument to Percy French from whose lyrics so many of us have first heard of these beautiful mountains.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcxUrfcNImM7YmqDLTx4kffjbrDFlrgnI60mQB8H9eeIcEeHUSBDP6BphEk4m7b2m50mJxKpizjJTxMGtnnl4q_7bT-QyExbib4hyphenhyphenHfXrStZb4BGkE9WhrwGYnQjbZWNqcpO8Apc9rGBs/s400/explorers2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEKkArtC8ZH9uevSZyPyxWk9JGZA-rT9Qk3CL7izopUmHuU4KcITzPmDXOpU0YKKzlvIoQJUleKiwtEAZHWndl7_qUXNlFx8__d8HSsBgGDjIhjMezy2VB7iYsFjhh4FCtZMD_GIebXxl/s400/beach.jpg)
It's a gorgeous, long beach with a wide sandy strip across the top and rocky tide pools closer to the waves. We saw a family coming out of the water after a swim, which we wouldn't have thought the day was anywhere near warm enough for.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0DFn0hf3vtpby6exSZOb_JNo3ulUfNA-l4cqXhoH7ECJdUwE9pl58ZjyEUqOGFcZ7rSQqAtLEnf1bLKoJE6qXpopxkM1HpFc_mpLlMqbhdNKLjIOXyzHcJcKiyexOFZZ4lWdDGsGZf-yM/s400/beachcombers.jpg)
Beachcombers were more common; a couple of lines of hoof prints showed that some riders had been by that way; and, mostly, folks were walking like us, enjoying the fresh sea breeze.
The sand was littered with washed-up jellyfish. Most were six inches across or less, but a couple were much larger.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEituQAvUmzb-3IQhCaiS6Q7ZJOPdNWZnsaO2v7031_09OB8iu7oeqgk6g_PkyIT1sW7YLxjW5tuWmfjYzea-zcdY3BPvuFFcQezOknqGI3-W0WtVO2bMYkyFIx9qylUX613nrXLIP8XQiOL/s400/jelly.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrAx1Z94jhCOE8iK_t8DfowCA9RiqF_wuZt-fswbpbvhJp5VG13xg5S4EVHdhERWxiQVHp9JgWFhM2AmhbrT3coCvybh0FrF_ySzeYEUUia4071pYW004sbAkjAFT4Y8K9xPXEXIb9mMl/s400/foldedjelly.jpg)
"Oh Mary, this London's a wonderful sight,
With people here working by day and by night.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RVVIRZkcH9nidqoyzCOjRhJKUOwPFVnCNPiHIKr11mq-4GtDbAmp0mx_mEgwuSmXZQu7hRJiwf-NQ4BzHuoIyKY4ai39_Wt187Go2aSze6ENNYV0YN028QoKWud6w21Okd7g_l5simNo/s400/fsmandmountains2.jpg)
They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat
But there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAunG4ikURc-vQJ85b7N9z49AHuyTSByEPpvaJUiV6wqMSDadyXHld7V1bFUZgfkpkW0DGTr0z1bUlbaOb4RtpPDbpeoAVnbn-CrhQv3FBJxpPR5k65Hbnikh2znEq5DdYl2mrgY2lnZY/s400/fsmandmountains.jpg)
"At least, when I asked them that's what I was told
So I just took a hand at this diggin' for gold;
But for all that I've found there, I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONHKYKGahenHzKSZ8-VJognrD5A2yyKyuAoS6x2bB2nwPqtj7EW6-Zk2y3vyWdWsn237DSjWGlLooGHbhC5i8DXgeELpD49EJ7YZIed_PswP1iT1MpafK7iLS5JtLNmEQTpXNmoIXl-Bj/s400/mountainsofmourne.jpg)
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