Ní uasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal agus thíos seal
In Ireland, we have a saying: Ní uasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal agus thíos seal.
It translates as: Neither noble nor lowly, but up for a while and down for a while.
It’s a reminder that life has rhythms — busy and quiet, high and low, sunshine and rain. And living here in the Mournes, we see that reflected every day.
Finding Balance in Hospitality
At this time of year, when the summer rush is over and children are back to school, things go quiet here at Rostrevor Holidays. In the past, I would have panicked, thinking I was doing something wrong if the houses weren’t booked every night.
But I’ve realised these quieter times are essential. They give me space to do the work that keeps the cottages in good shape, to improve things for the future, and to reset myself too. Even having time to write pieces like this or update the website feels like a gift.
Just like the shape of the Mourne Mountains rising and falling, or the tides coming in and out, there’s a natural rhythm in this work, busy and quiet, full and still.
My Own Ups and Downs
Running a business isn’t always smooth. It’s tempting to scroll social media and think everyone else has it figured out, while I’m stumbling along. That’s one of the reasons I stayed off it for so long. It was too easy to beat myself up by comparing.
Even asking for reviews has been a journey. Positive feedback felt like a pat on the back, but any small criticism I took deeply personally. With time, I’ve learned (and I’m still learning) that feedback is an opportunity, a way to see where we can grow and improve what we offer.
Life online, life in business, life in general, it’s all “thuas seal agus thíos seal.”
Guests Through All Seasons of Life
One of the privileges of this place is the variety of reasons people come to stay. Sometimes it’s the joyful moments; holidays, parties, celebrations, family gatherings. Other times, it’s harder, the people returning home for funerals, anniversaries, or to visit sick relatives.
We’ve also welcomed guests who had to leave their own homes for a while because of things like flood damage or leaks. It’s not a holiday for them, it’s a disruption. And yet, even in those difficult times, people often manage to find comfort, goodness, and connection here.
It’s a reminder that life will always bring both the highs and the lows, and what matters is how we hold space for both.
The Gift of Community
I’ve also realised how much this place depends on the support of the local community. It’s the locals who recommend us to friends and family, or who send groups, clubs, and societies our way.
That kind of word-of-mouth support keeps us going, another reminder that life’s ups and downs are shared, never carried alone.
The Rhythm of Holidays
Holidays themselves have their rhythms. One day guests are up in the mountains, pushing themselves to the top, and the next day they’re snoozing in the afternoon or relaxing by the fire.
Both are part of the experience, the adventure and the rest, the energy and the pause.
Weather as a Teacher
And then there’s the weather, Ireland’s best storyteller. Some guests don’t let the rain stop them; they adjust plans, put on a coat, and go anyway.
One regular guest always tells me he loves the rainy days because the rivers roar so loudly, and you can look across at the Cooley Mountains and see silver streams running down their sides.
There’s beauty in the storm as well as the sunshine.
Swings and Roundabouts
A friend of mine always says, “Life is like swings and roundabouts.” It balances out in the end.
And that’s really what this old Irish seanfhocal tells us too: Ní uasal ná íseal, ach thuas seal agus thíos seal. Not always high, not always low, but moving through both.
Here in the Mournes, we see it every day in the land, the weather, the people, and the community that surrounds us.
It’s something worth remembering, and celebrating.
