a cara.....today is whit sunday.....perhaps no big dealtoday......but to us on mchale road....this day was a happening....this was the day on which our beloved saleen lake became a paradise.......we were always told never go swimming before whitsun.....now the day arrived ....and so we gathered .....for the trip to the lake.....paddy....tatto corcoran....his brother danny....the wilson brothers....brian and norman.....the feeney brothers.....bowie bennett....myself and others ....walked to the station bridge ....buzzed in excitement .......i can still see the trodden path we made on the bank by the tracks.....we didnt worry about swim suits...an old short pants was enough....and some old towel to dry off......the train signals.....are still carved in my memory as we walked and talked....the last few yards to the lake entrance was made on the track threshels.....always hoping not to bang the ankles on the track......there the lake lay......perhaps still high from the winter and spring snows and rains.....the island was barely visible....but its tenants....were to be seen....gliding along close by....the pair of swans...that made that their turf for years.....some ballcoots and other wild fowl were to be seen as well......as we approached the power house......we wondered how cold the water might be ....but no worries.....as we got to the "beach"......we hurriedly got into what ever we had to wear......and as quick made the run to the rocks....where our diving point was......that first feel of the raw lake water....brought us to our tippy toes.....some of us splashed water on our chests....to get climatized....those that dallied had to put up with the chill on the groins.....the daring ....like tarzan....climbed up to the rocks and took the plunge.....once in ...everything was grand.....now the dog paddlers ....the breast stroke pros splashed like hell to keep afloat.....some of us dared to swim to the island......but the swans always seem to tell us on those early days we were not welcome in their sanctuary......after some time in the water.....we lay on the grass.....to dry off and get a few rays......some of us climbed and lay on top of the power house.....not an easy task as the only way up was grabbing the pole that stood close to the walll....the whin bushes were a golden blaze of yellow flower......and just a little away....john jennings sheep grazed lazily...and unconcerned....it was almost as if they knew....the boys were back in town....over in the other side....what we call the swimming pool.....girls too...had a splash....peggy and betty corcoran.....eileen and patsy whittaker.....mercy and katherine lacey....mary thornton...and others.........over on the other side of the lake and tracks was langstons hill....this was our peak ......in hopng kong the view from victoria peak ....is breathtaking.....in our youth the view from langstons hill was wher we were monarchs of all we surveyed...our right none to dispute........here we often took in the setting sun...as it seemed to drop into a pocket behind the reek......the big green dome of st marys....could be seen......ah.....the joys of whitsun.....like a budding flower ...it brought us to life ....once upon a late may sun......those pleasures are gone ....but the visions stay bright and alive.....they may be forever far away....but are but a beat away from heart and eye......today in canada...they celebrate.....victoria day....with parties ...festivals....and fireworks.....but in castlebar in the time of my youth....sallen lake....and whitsunday....were a blazing eternal flame that still burns.......
....tog go bog e......