Day 15
Aran Islands
A tour of the B-grade sites of Clare, followed by a nice night doing something touristy.
Breakfast of the usual, with some of the last smoked salmon and out around 11-ish. It was a bit of a late morning being as we were out late last night
Breakfast of the usual, with some of the last smoked salmon and out around 11-ish. It was a bit of a late morning being as we were out late last night
Our ultimate destination was to be in Kinvarra for our dinner at Dunguaire Castle at 5:30. We rounded up some of the lesser sites of Clare and went to them earlier in the day.
First we stopped at McDermott's in Doolin to pick up a t-shirt for Dave with a Guinness / McDermott theme. Friendly barkeep. then it was up along the Galway coast with great views over the sparkling blue water of Galway Bay. Nice view and nice drive, but of course few pullovers and no picnic tables for the lunch we picked up in Fenore.
First we stopped at McDermott's in Doolin to pick up a t-shirt for Dave with a Guinness / McDermott theme. Friendly barkeep. then it was up along the Galway coast with great views over the sparkling blue water of Galway Bay. Nice view and nice drive, but of course few pullovers and no picnic tables for the lunch we picked up in Fenore.
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Finally saw a couple of picnic tables just outside of Ballyvaughan - after the best part of the drive - we had stopped in the same parking lot a couple of days ago. Had a cool and windy picnic and decamped just in time, as the rain began falling lightly.
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Not to worry it soon blew over. Next stop - Cordamroe Abbey - another ruined Abbey. It was a little more difficult finding Kilmacdough, but we eventfully did, despite poor signage along the way. Talked to a guy from Belfast who was down with his wife visiting family and tending the family plot at the 900-year-old abbey. He was really nice and we had a lengthy chat about US - Irish relations, jobs, the Troubles, English - Irish relations, Irish history, you name it. The man on the street here is quite educated on all that is going on, and knows his history. I told him I had been reading about Irish history lately and he said "you can't get history out of books." I guess you need to absorb it first or second hand. He reminded me of an older Ray Pettis. I think he was happy to speak with someone outside his wife's family for a change!
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Then on to W.B. Yeats' cottage / castle Thoor Ballylee. Not knowing anything about Yeats, it didn't do much for us other than it being a beautiful place for a cottage / summer home. Unfortunately they would not let Kristen climb the tower without Mom & Dad, so we all bagged it.
Jill identified a pair of Wagtails nesting under Yeats' bridge and hunting for insects in the water.
Jill identified a pair of Wagtails nesting under Yeats' bridge and hunting for insects in the water.
Jpo
After getting lost some more we ended up at Dunguaire around 5, and only had to wait 15 minutes for admission. It was a "Medieval Banquet" that we thought Kristen might like.
We were the first admitted of about 50 people. In the reception area we were served a strong honey mead, then were led up 2 flights of circular stairs to the Banquet Room. There we were served pitchers of wine, and a smoked salmon appetizer, followed by potato leek soup, chicken with mushrooms with plenty of carrots and string beans (!), bread and apple pie with real whipped cream. All while being entertained by our staff. 4 actors did all the serving, plus provided extensive quality entertainment along a literary / poetic theme revolving around the area. Lots of song, a little dance, poetry recitation, etc. All accompanied by a harpist. Quite good quality singing and playing altogether, and we all had a great time.
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Spoke for a while with an older couple from Miami. He's a psychiatrist and the came over via Chicago for 4 days. His girlfriend (?) thinks he's nuts, but they seemed to be having a good time.
The drive home took a little longer than hoped at just over an hour. More "middle of nowhere" driving through the Burren. Came home and reminisced about the trip as a family; the good and the bad. Last full day is tomorrow and we're going to try to get up to Connemara, even though it's a long way. Day 16 >>> |
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