The Long Evening of SummerNotebook No 85December 2025
Donegal in June, the lake taking the light.
Collected by Deborah. Read her editorial perspective
June evenings over Lough Eske extend, the light holding until close to eleven. The lake never truly gives way to darkness but deepens in color after the sun dips below the horizon. We often find ourselves lingering, experiencing the end of the day without the suddenness of a true night.
Slea Head in June
After dinner, we suggest a drink on the terrace, followed by a short walk to the water’s edge. There is no need for a watch; the sustained twilight will direct your unhurried pace. This rhythm is particularly fitting for these long Donegal summer nights.
This part of Ireland is often overlooked by our American readers.
The Ireland Edit Way
Cut the itinerary in half, then cut it again. The letter we send before every first visit.
Every hotel change costs you half a day. Luxury, in Ireland, is staying put.
Six questions we apply before booking any room in Ireland. The November test, the dinner-twice test, the landscape-over-room test.
To understand Ireland, stop looking at the castles and start looking at the kitchen table.
From the notebook
Collected notes. A few times each season.