Day 1 (23rd June) Leaving Dublin for Galway felt a bit like home with rural scenes that would not be out of place on the Southern motorway to Hamilton. Very green and pastoral. Then some very narrow country lanes – vegetation 1-2m high right alongside the road- wild roses, ivy and other stuff, to find Clonmacnoise – relics of monastery founded in 6th century by St. Ciaran on the banks of the Shannon River. Beautiful yet stark ruins which tell the story of a successful community plundered many times by invaders over the centuries. Fine stone High Crosses still survive. It was absolutely freezing cold here with biting wind blowing up from the river. A very yummy lunch in Ballinasloe before heading to Galway. The rural villages are characterised by narrowish streets with 2 story buildings either side of the road – each often painted a variety of bold and/or pastel colours and with bright window boxes – pink petunais are a favourite! Galway, originally a walled medieval city, was bustling and showing signs of lots of development and growth. Picturesque drive along the seafront and round Galway Bay. Lots of ruins along the way everywhere – old castles, monuments and stone buildings and pretty little fishing villages like Kinvarra. Weather had improved greatly by now as we headed over the Burren – stunning and expansive rock and hill country – to Doolin and a B&B for the night.
Ireland back and beyond…….
We’ve been a bit quiet on the internet over the last few days as Matt & Kat and Gill and I have hired a car and headed out for a quick explore of the West and South of Ireland. The first day took us to Galway and overnight in Doolin, then to the cliffs of Moher and on via Dingle Peninsula, through Killarney to overnight in Ken Mare. Today we have driven around the Ring of Kerry and now down to Kinsale, on the coast a bit south of Cork. Have seen every sort of weather rain, sun, hail, howling gales and a lot reasonable in between, some great scenery, and roads varying from great motorways to little rutted lanes. Getting this uploaded from a pub in Kinsale before we have dinner. More details and photos in due course.
It’s a little wet!
Right now it is pouring with rain but we are safely back at Matt and Kat’s and about to cook dinner with the help of Mark’s and Spencer’s fancy pre-prepared meals – very impressive and easy. Matt and Kat are out partying tonight – a Google function.
Kat’s learning-through-experience and sage advice “always take an umbrella” proved wise and timely for us today as we wandered about and managed to keep dry!
Dublin
We made it even if our bags were 9 1/2 hours behind!
It’s great to catch up with Matt and Kat and to be staying at their new place right in the heart of Dublin’s financial district. Kat showed me round some of the important area (shopping precinct) yesterday afternoon and then we all had a lovely dinner out at a nearby restaurant
Today we enjoyed a Hop on – Hop off tour of Dublin and sheltered from the rain at the Guinness Storehouse! Interesting tour of the old St James Brewery, an internal steel structure, which has now become a museum as technology has marched on and the old building was no longer suitable or able to keep up with production required – 400 million litres per day – half of which is drunk here! The top of the building provides a great 360 degree view of the city – noticeably no skyscapers! Also provided is a pint of the best! We enjoyed lunch here also and some very nice dark Guinness bread.