Portmuck and Derry (Londenderry) in Ireland

For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday,  today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith.  2 Nephi 27:23

We went exploring on this narrow road to find a National Trust site where there was the steepest cliffs in Northern Ireland--something like sheer cliffs about 600 feet high.  We found this small settlement, which apparently was common in historical times.  People lived close together for protection and to survive by sharing their crops and labor.  


It was raining and cold, so we never did take the hike out to the cliffs.  The trail didn't looked like it was marked well and it was getting dark.  

Beautiful little cottages in their simplicity.  Some were attached.

We went to Portmuck simply because it sounded like a good place to check out with that name and all.  It wasn't really mucky at all.  People were on the beach and swimming in the freezing water, while children splashed around and built sand castles.  They thought it was a regular balmy day, I suppose.  I did meet two women putting on their bathing suits in the "toilet" (sounds funny, but that is what it is called), and they squealed, "We must be crazy!"  Yeah, since I stood there in a coat and scarf wrapped up against the cold.

Portmuck, The Port of the Pigs, is a quaint harbour, originally home to a small local fishing fleet.  To the west of the harbour are limestone cliffs, which have often yielded prehistoric fossils.  Muck Island, just out from this harbour, is an important bird sanctuary for many nesting seabirds and Puffins (which I really, really wanted to see).  This is also the site of an ancient abbey and castle.

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The material on this house is attractive, along with the horse head gate posts.  This place faces the bay almost at water level.

There was a trail to climb the cliff overlooking Portmuck, but we went around the other side to look for shells and rocks.

Elder Blain is checking out the fishing, with Muck Island across the way.  We will go back to Scotland via this North Channel.

Our favorite past time by the sea, checking out the findings

Getting my foot into the North Sea.  From this angle, my leg looks like a prosthesis.  No, I was NOT cheating.

 The next place to visit was close to the Republic of Ireland border.  This city is called Londonderry, though residents prefer Derry.  It is the only remaining completely intact walled cities in Ireland, and stand as one of the finest examples of a walled city in Europe.  It is the oldest continually inhabited place in Ireland (beginning in the 6th century).  The walls around the city were built in 1613-1619.  We walked the entire wall, which had a fabulous view over the city from all angles.

Walking the wall

One of the towers.  There were originally four drawbridges to allow people inside the walls (or keep them out).

Trees planted on the wall

A pretty building

I liked these windows

Of course I admired all the beautiful flowers hanging in the streets

Lovely churches--just can't get enough of them

This is the "Hands Across the Divide" sculpture of two men reaching out to each other, which symbolizes the spirit of reconciliation.  This was erected 20 years after Bloody Sunday in 1972, where British troops killed a group of people.  It is sometimes referred to as the Bogside massacre.

These planters made a pretty heart shape

Hezlett House and Garden in Ireland

And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.  Alma 26:30

Countryside on the way to see one of the oldest thatched cottage left standing in Northern Ireland

The Hezlett House was built in 1691.  Originally built as a rectory, it served as such until it was bought by the Hezlett family in 1776.  Isaac Hezlett, who bought the house, operated it as a small farm and it continued to be the Hezlett family home for the next 200 years.  During the 1798 Rebellion, two half-brothers were on opposing sides.  When Samuel refused to join the United Irishmen, his brother, Jack, threatened to hand him from the Spanish Chestnut tree in the garden.

The uniqueness of the cottage lies in its rare cruck frame, a design more common in England.  The crucks were joined together to form the skeleton of the house and the walls then filled in with whatever material was available locally.  

A cruck or crook frame is curved timber that generally is bent to lean inwards to form the ridge of the roof.  Read more in Wikipedia, if you would like more historical information.

We were not allowed to take pictures of the inside, but it was quite roomy with an upstairs area for sleeping, along with other bedrooms downstairs.

A welcoming corner of the cottage

Very old tree and the wall around the cottage

This is a fairly large place compared even to some of the homes we've been in whilst (UK language) visiting people when on our mission.

I like how there's a fancy curve over the one door.

Though this bike looks old, I don't think hand breaks were invented until the late 1800's or early 1900's.

Very lovely and welcoming.

More modern building are in the back of the cottage with this community garden.

2000 Stripping Warriors

Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country.  Alma 56:5


And they had never fought, yet did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their own lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.  And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying:  "We do not doubt our mothers knew it."  Alma 56:47-48

The story of the strippling warriors (all very young teens who volunteered for war to protect their families) is famous in the Book of Mormon. Today, the Primary children presented their program entitled, "I Know the Scriptures are True."  It is always fun to hear the children sing and say their parts, especially the little ones as their still-baby speech sometimes comes out with a different meaning than intended.  The highlight this Sunday was the child who told us about the 2,000 stripping warriors.