Michelle Boyle
Virginia , Ireland
Michelle Boyle’s work explores people and place from everyday life expressed in her distinctive spontaneous and fluid way. ‘
MessageI have been visiting Lake Derravaragh for nearly 17 years and now studying it for my avian surveys. The most known part is to the East, wedged in a valley surrounded by now rare Irish native woodlands, one can understand why it is called “ The Lake of the Oak Trees”. This shallow lake of 3,000 acres is home to many birds; water rails, coots, tufted ducks, kingfishers but also Mute and whooper swans. No wonder the latter arctic winter visitors inspired the legend of the children of Lir, born on the shores of this very lake. A story to inspire and to rediscover. The best way to enjoy the lake is by boat or even better, a kayak where one can borrow the river Inny that starts its course as a stream near Sliagh na Calliagh, near Oldcastle, Co. Meath, another land full of legends and history, feeding Lough Sheelin, Lough Kinale, Derravaragh of course to finish in Lough Ree, then the famous Shannon.
The water of Lough Derravaragh tells me to never grow old and that hope keeps us alive