There is something hypnotic about the way Ballyannan Woods reflects on the still water of the Owenacurra River. The lines of the trees, sculpted by the light of day, split on the surface of the river, creating an upside-down world, silent and almost mystical. It is said that these woods were sacred to the Druids, mystical figures of Celtic culture who found in places like this the contact with the afterlife and with nature. Imagining their ancient rites and the soft chants that once resonated among these trees adds depth to every step I take here.

This landscape speaks, if only you stop to listen. I wonder what is behind that door, I like to think of it as the boundary between the tangible and the spiritual world, perhaps finding in the shadows of the woods a peace that only sacred places can offer. It’s almost as if the forest itself invites you into another dimension, a place where nature, the past and the present coexist in perfect harmony.