Years ago, here, the ould fellas in this Canarian valley used to wear soft hats — like Irish farmers’ Sunday hat, but grey — and carry large knives at their belts, and have bloodstains on their shirts, or so they seemed.

The roads that snakes down to the sea from the escarpment 3,000ft above the Valle Gran Rey in La Gomera, Canary Islands, is already dramatic, with curves, hairpin bends and breathtaking drops all the way.

ONE unseasonably grey afternoon during this year’s unusually bright summer, the kilometre-long beach near our West Cork home was deserted but for a single figure in the distance, walking along the top level of the tideline.

CANARIES & MADEIRA – 7 nights €639pp

THE rain lies like a soft gauze curtain across the view of the terraced mountains and the white houses of the island of La Palma, westernmost of the Canary Islands.

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I WAS not surprised to read a genetic study of the present day inhabitants of the Canary Islands, revealed that the natives of La Gomera — our second home for over 30 years — retain more of the aboriginal DNA that the inhabitants of the other islands.

Five people have been killed and three were injured after a lifeboat fell into the sea off a cruise ship that was tied up at the port of Santa Cruz in the Canary Islands.

A massive manhunt continued in the California mountains for a fired policeman accused of three murders who declared war on law enforcement officers and their families in a rambling internet manifesto.

SPAIN: WALKING IN LA GOMERA, CANARY ISLANDS

THE Canary Islands are universally associated with sun, sea and sand but they have many other attractions and the sheer diversity of the islands is striking.

Raging forest fires have led to the evacuation of 2,000 people from a town in the centre of Spain’s popular tourist island of Tenerife.

Two forest fires are raging out of control on the islands of Tenerife and La Palma in Spain’s Canary Islands archipelago near the western coast of Africa.

SATURDAY

The Iceland volcanic ash cloud closed seven Spanish airports today.

Strong winds fanned forest fires on the Canary Island of La Palma, and firefighters were forced to retreat as flames raged out of control near two towns.

STRONG winds were fanning fierce forest fires for a second day on the Canary Island of La Palma while a fresh outbreak has been detected on nearby La Gomera island, the Spanish government said.

Strong winds were fanning fierce forest fires for a second day on the Canary Island of La Palma while a fresh outbreak has been detected on nearby La Gomera island, the Spanish government said today.

A fierce forest fire fanned by high winds has forced the evacuation of around 4,000 residents on the south-eastern tip of the Canary Island of La Palma.

LATE April in Ireland and the woods are carpeted in bluebells, a sight to behold.

IT is wonderful how nature adapts and turns opportunity to advantage.

IT IS to be hoped the threatened Canarian giant lizards will not fall victim to the likes of Jereme James, charged with smuggling three endangered iguana into the USA using his false leg.

The Spanish prime minister is making an emergency visit to the Canary Islands today to assess raging wildfires that have forced the evacuation of 14,000 people.

WITH Christmas looming (so the shops tell us anyway), many will be contemplating whether to spend the festive season in warmer climes; however, travel availability can be difficult around New Year, particularly to destinations such as the Canary Islands and Portugal.

The Spanish government today approved an aid package for the Canary Islands, where thousands of houses were damaged earlier this week by Tropical Storm Delta.

Tropical Storm Delta unleashed torrential rain and strong winds on the Canary Islands today, knocking out power, disrupting phone communications and stranding hundreds of people at the islands’ main airports.

The arrest of reputed drug cartel leader Osiel Cardenas – nearly a year after the death of another of Mexico’s notorious drug lords and the arrest of his brother – may mark the end of an era for the drug kingpins who have dominated the country for two decades.

Two German tourists were killed this morning when a flash flood hit the Canary Islands.

The Irish Travel Agents Association has announced that it remains hopeful