Holidays can often conjure time to catch up on book reading. Relaxing in Costa del Sol sunshine recently I managed to take in Peter Powell's new book The Sound of Many Waters, an autobiography of the life and times of an angler for all seasons.
Peter sent me a copy last month and I must admit I held back a review fully aware of my forthcoming two-week break. Ironically, as I progressed through the book, I saw a reflection of myself mirrored almost on every page.
The Sound of Many Waters is about one man's journey through life and his underlying passion for angling. Fifty years of angling from the tender age of five is encompassed in this enthralling book.
In the early years, living in Blackrock, Co Dublin, allowed short bike rides to the stream at Loughlinstown for the occasional brook trout and eels using hand line and worms, to Dun Laoghaire Harbour for catching crab with a length of string, a stone and a limpet.
Then the progression to Lough Dan and the first real trout to the fly on a Greenwells Glory. School holidays in Dunmore East, Co Waterford, in the early 1960s for the vast shoals of mackerel almost on the beach. Spinning the simple old red and silver sprat could produce maybe 20 fish in one evening.
Angling took a back seat following graduation from school for a bank position in Cork. Eight years later restlessness set in and a return to university to achieve an honours degree in geology. Now married to Gillian, emigration to South Africa followed for a spell in a gold mine.
Back in Ireland, the family rented a timber bungalow on the shores of Youghal Bay with access to Lough Derg at the bottom of the garden. There are riveting tales of quality trout, some to 7lb, particularly at mayfly time.
Outings to Corrib, Mask, Sheelin, each with their own story to tell, are encapsulated in this book. Now recently retired and living in Athboy, Co Meath, Peter still looks forward to the mayfly season and to retrace those wonderful footsteps of yesteryear.
The Sound of Many Waters - A Fishing Life, by Peter Powell. Published by Fieldgate Press. Price £9.95.
If in Galway take time to check out the exhibition of new paintings by Jimmy Lawlor at the Kenny Gallery, Middle Street, Galway, which runs until April 25th.
From The Strike on Cong River to Limestone Streams to the Mayfly Catcher this exhibition has everything. Its theme relates to slow moving rivers, fast streams, big lakes and small ponds. In short, the exhibition is about the artist and his passion for the art of angling.
Gormanston & District Anglers has vacancies for new members. The club has angling rights on the River Delvin and Knock Lake, situated two miles south of Balbriggan, Co Dublin. For further details, contact Mick Woodlock at (01) 849 2260 (after 6 p.m.).
Correspondence and fishy photographs to The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. Fax: 679 1881. Email: angling@irishtimes.ie