The little falls that could have
Quand on grandit avec les Chutes Montmorency, on est dur à impressionner.
The last time I was in Dublin was before the pandemic and I did roam a lot before and after the karate world championships in which I was competing in forms and fighting.
I wrote a short story about going to the Cliffs of Moher and getting lost on the only road between those magnificent rocks and Galway. You should read it. It’s real funny. But what it doesn’t mention is the side trip I squeezed in there, between the weigh-in and the second night at the pub, to go see what people swore on their pinkies and crossed hearts were spectacular water falls.
Hmpf.
Powerscourt is home of the tallest waterfalls in Ireland, at 121 metres (397 feet). By comparison, Niagara Falls are 57 metres high, or 188 feet. The Montmorency Falls near where I grew up are 83 metres high, or 272 feet.
Yes, the falls at Powerscourt are tall. But they’re tiny! Narrow and cute. Not, you know, roaring.
I’ll tell you what was spectacular though. The road between Dublin and the falls. It’s not so much a road as a track, by North American standards. It twists and turns and it skirts ravines and there’s not a god damn railing to stop you from plunging to your death if that’s you want — or if you get distracted.
Better not get distracted, I guess.
After about a half-hour of trying not to think about my mortality, including while I was passing cyclists who have much more courage than I’ll ever muster, I got to the place.
I was decidedly underwhelmed by the trickle of water but I loved the park immensely. It’s almost French it’s so pretty, and since it’s in the middle of nowhere it is immensely quiet. I found it pleasant and soul-pleasing to walk around and breathe deeply.
You don’t always have to be big to be beautiful.
Ayant grandi à Québec, j’ai toujours pensé que les chutes étaient spectaculaires partout, comme celles de Montmorency, en face de l’Île d’Orléans.
En Irlande en 2018, j’ai fait un petit détour vers Powerscourt, à environ une demi-heure de Dublin, à la recommandation de plusieurs amis qui s’étaient déclarés ébaubis par ces chutes.
Elles sont cute, pas de doute. Mais pas vraiment spectaculaires. Le parc autour, par contre, était d’une telle beauté et d’une telle tranquillité que le trajet et les frais d’accès en valaient la peine.
