A Wandering Celt

A Meandering Celt

An older man stands next to a green Kawasaki motorcycle in a dusty area. He is wearing a light jacket and has a backpack slung over one shoulder.
A cyclist riding on a red dirt track surrounded by trees and mountains under a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds.

Donal Conlon

Born in the West of Ireland and educated at University College Dublin, Donal taught for three years in Ireland before setting off with a rucksack on his back to travel a little. However, things turned out vey differently and he never returned to live in Ireland. Somewhat addicted to the travelling mode of life, he has lived and worked across Europe, the USA, Asia, and Africa in various jobs, but mainly in Education. More sedentary now and when not on the road, he writes about his travels from his home in Paris where he went to live without a job or a word of French. Cupid fired its arrow and somewhere or other, he fell in love with a French girl.

A Meandering Celt

The author grew up on the banks of this tributary river of the Shannon in the west of Ireland. Fishing his young summers away and as a teenager working each summer the locks alongside the weir. 100% manual work – raising and lowering sluices, pushing heavy beams to open and close gates. The work is now completely electrified.

A small waterfall cascading over a stone weir in a river, surrounded by trees and shimmering water.
A small white boat docked beside a stone lock on a calm river, surrounded by lush green trees and reeds.

The inevitable aging process: the author through the years – graduation from UCD, Dublin, working in New York on the Circle Line, taking part in a school play (Ramayana) in Thailand, working as a fisherman on Paros island Greece, family life in France, with teaching colleagues in Mozambique, motorbiking in Madagascar, relaxing in the country that shaped his life – Greece.

University College, Dublin, Ireland 1969
Manhattan, New York 1970
Korat and Bangsaen, Thailand 1973-1977
Paros, Greece 1978
France and Ireland 1980 -2002
Mozambique 2003 – 2015
A green off-road motorbike parked in a grassy area with a backpack attached to the rear, set against a backdrop of rolling hills and blue sky.
An elderly man with sunglasses, seated at a table outdoors, enjoying a meal that includes fish and chips, surrounded by a few drinks and a tree in the background.
Greece 2025 Wonderful Greece that shaped my life

This Site: come in and browse around

A patchwork of vignettes: from the beaches of Africa, to fishing villages in Greece, the highlands of Ethiopia, the vultures of Bombay, the witchdoctors of Mozambique, the roads of Madagascar, Norwegian fjords and more. Most are scribbled here and there during his meanders. All photos on both the blog and website are his unless otherwise stated.

The articles can be listened to or read in many different languages, if English is not your thing. Comments are welcome.