Wrapping up Ireland

To finish reports of our trip to Ireland here are some images that capture what I remember of the time we spent there.

This is Dunguarie Castle, a 16^th century fortified house. It was restored in the 1950s by an English woman who lived there for 20 odd years.

Nearby is the small town of Kinvara which was the closest settlement with shops to where we were staying. I love the use of colour on the buildings that was common throughout this part of Ireland.

As I have mentioned, the karst formations dominate the landscape. Here is a coastal pavement on the west coast near Doolin (the Cliffs of Moher in the far distance).

The bare rock rises above the cultivated low lands near Ballyvaughan which was the nearest village to where we stayed in the opposite direction to Kinvara. 

This interesting view of the rock strata is near the highest point of the Burren.

Here are two views of the grikes (the cracks) and clints (the remaining rock islands)

 

There are several of these Martello Towers scattered around defending from some long forgotten foe (probably Napoleon). This was one of the larger ones we saw.

Ireland is nothing if not a country of gentle farmland and contented animals. Here are some equines we came across.

The donkeys were very friendly, even the emo one, and loved being fed a handful of thistles.

This is a classic scene of peaceful bucolic comfort.

 

And finally, a piece of cultural history – the house used in the tv sitcom Father Ted. We followed many a narrow lane to get to the place which is site of pilgrimage for similarly minded people.

 

Aran Islands and the Cliffs of Moher

Continuing our travels through old Eire – the far west of the area is dominated by the Atlantic coast. Where the limestone rocks of the Burren meet the sea there are some spectacular cliffs.

The Cliffs of Moher present a near vertical barrier up to 200 metres tall.

There is a track running along the top (and nothing to stop you falling over the precipice except warning signs).

It’s a good spot for selfies

and group portraits.

The nearby village of Doolin provides ferry services to the Aran Islands.

It was quite a miserable day but the trip across was not too bumpy. We went to Inisheer the smallest of the islands but closest to the mainland. The tiny settlement clusters around the small harbour.

We had plans to hire bikes and cycle round the island but the inclemency put paid to that. We had a short run around the immediate vicinity in a mini-bus. This is the Church of the patron saint of the island Caomhán.

The church was in danger of being buried by sand blown up from the beach but recent work has stabilised the situation. It reputedly dates from the 10^th century and the site is even older. It gets a good view back to the settlement and harbour.

After the ride we made a run for the pub

where Jenny and Kathy had sensibly remained with their coffee and tea.

Finally for tonight – we were lucky to see the resident dolphin on our return to Doolin. It spent about 15 minutes cruising back and forth

Ireland

We have safely returned from our travels and I am sorting through about 2000 photos. Things are a bit hectic and it has taken a while to settle back into life here (not helped by a significant swarm of earthquakes).

One of the highlights of the trip was the week we spent in Ireland. We rented a cottage in County Clare,

on the shores of Galway Bay.

It’s a land of open spaces and sky

with human habitation and it’s accoutrements lying low to get some protection from the elements.

The chief crop seems to be stones – the fields are cleared by painstakingly moving the rocks to the edges where they become walls.

Geologically the area consists of limestone karst.

Known as The Burren it has been inhabited for probably ten thousand years. Poulnabrone dolmen is thought to date from around 4000 BC.

We were joined by daughter Jenny, Noreen’s mum, and her brother and sister-in-law.

Of course we had to sample the Guinness

and the local beer and stout.