On A Clear Day

He has returned…

eckon it’s fair to say that Shay Clear is a man you don’t meet every day…

Unless, of course, you happen to be passing through Delgany.

Then, well, you’re bound to meet the wandering, wondering sage, as he ventures out on another intergalactic mission full of daring, discovery and danger.

Heading to the Planet Aldi. For some rashers, milk and chocolate.

Dancing to the beat of his own drum, Shay has his own particular take on the world. That he’s blessed with a memory that stretches back well beyond his own time makes Shay’s particular take endlessly fascinating, and surprising.

Something we found out for ourselves when we were lucky enough to take a few ramble chats with Shay through Delgany’s rich history.

And over 15 such ramble chats, we covered a heck of a lot of ground, from Delgany’s famous faces and film shoots, those pearly gates once leading to the Bellevue Estate (and now, Delgany Golf Club), the winsomeness that is the Willow Grove, the bookending viewing rocks of Kindlestown Wood and The Octagon, the lamented and soon to be late Gorteen House, the village’s many hotels, drinking holes and, eh, knocking shops, the shimmering shortcut that is The Glebe, the landmark buildings that make up the main street, and the house of God that turned into a house of gold. There’s also Shay’s oddball history of Delgany Golf Club, the Tolstoy connection, one last mooch around Style Bawn House, how Delgany produced two neighbouring golf giants, and where much of all the above began, as we sat down for the very first time back in October 21st, 2016.

You can also go explore the great man’s rather fine painting skills right about here.

Yep, Shay Clear is a man you don’t meet every day. Unless you’re very, very unlucky…