Post-Ireland Adventure Post
Before I returned home from England I spent ten days travelling around Ireland. Click the link below for a bit of a summary and some pictures.
Day 1 - Galway, County Galway
I only stayed in Galway as a means of getting to Inishmor (see day 2). It is one of the most important and largest cities in Ireland, yet it seemed quite medium to me. This here is the River Corrib, and those dark figures are fishermen. This is around 10:30 PM on one of the longest nights of the year.
Day 2 - Kilronan, County Galway
Kilronan is on the largest of the three Aran Islands, off Ireland's west coast. It's covered in a net of ancient stone walls and dotted with even more ancient stone forts and comparatively new early Christian churches, huts and crosses. This is the view of the cliffs from the huge, mysterious clifftop fort called Dun Aengus. (Apologies for the poor quality of this and all subsequent vertically-oriented pictures.)
Days 3-4 - Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
This Northern Irish town is an island surrounded by rivers, hence Ennis-, which is derived from Inis, Gaelic for island. This was the only time I had the luxury of spending two nights in one place, but it was a very disappointing two nights. All the things I wanted to see were on small islands in Lower Lough Erne north of town, but ferries only ran on weekends, and I was there on a Thursday. This picture is of Castle Coole, just outside of town -- my consolation attraction. It's not really a castle, but an 18th century manor house set in a large, beautifully landscaped estate. And when is the house open? Every day but Thursday.
Day 5 - Dunfanaghy, County Donegal
Back in the Republic now, although this small seaside town is further north than most of Northern Ireland. I spent my birthday trying to get here by a few coaches, and celebrated my eventual arrival at the Cove Restaurant. Quite a swanky place. This picture was taken during a long walk on the next day, when I was a bit lost -- in a good way.
Day 6 - Derry/Londonderry, County Derry
If you're a unionist you say Londonderry, if you're a republican you say Derry, and if you're a tourist you're very careful. Even more than Belfast, London/Derry is full of reminders of the Troubles. Here's one. I had just one night here, no days, but enjoyed myself with good company in some of the pubs.
Day 7 - Belfast
There were two things I wanted to do in Northern Ireland's capital: go east, to see the house, church, etc. where C.S. Lewis spent his childhood, and go west, to see the political murals and the Peace Line in West Belfast. To do this without a car on a Sunday would be almost impossible and possibly dangerous. Fortunately, at Great Victoria Street Baptist Church I met a lovely couple who brought me to their house and fed me a delicious lunch, packed me sandwiches for dinner, and gave me a guided tour of everything I wanted to see. Hooray for them! This is Little Lea, home of C.S. Lewis until the age of nine. Thanks also to the lucky family who lives there now and who graciously allowed me to take this picture of their home.
Day 8 - Drogheda, County Louth
Back in the Republic of Ireland. Took a bus a few miles outside the city to the early Christian monastic site of Monasterboice, which includes a round tower (to watch out for Vikings), a few high crosses, and two ancient church ruins, some of which is pictured here. Afterwards I hitched a ride to Old Mellifont Abbey, Ireland's first Cistercian monastery.
Day 9 - Dublin
Oh, Dublin. It has a great Natural History Museum, but that's pretty much all I can say for it. Maybe I needed to give it more time. Here's the Ha'Penny Bridge, over the Liffey.
Day 10 - Ennis, County Clare
I just had one night here, before catching my flight back to London the next morning. Here are the ruins of an old Abbey. Easily my favorite part of Ennis was the 24-hour supermarket.
Day 1 - Galway, County Galway
I only stayed in Galway as a means of getting to Inishmor (see day 2). It is one of the most important and largest cities in Ireland, yet it seemed quite medium to me. This here is the River Corrib, and those dark figures are fishermen. This is around 10:30 PM on one of the longest nights of the year.
Day 2 - Kilronan, County Galway
Kilronan is on the largest of the three Aran Islands, off Ireland's west coast. It's covered in a net of ancient stone walls and dotted with even more ancient stone forts and comparatively new early Christian churches, huts and crosses. This is the view of the cliffs from the huge, mysterious clifftop fort called Dun Aengus. (Apologies for the poor quality of this and all subsequent vertically-oriented pictures.)
Days 3-4 - Enniskillen, County Fermanagh
This Northern Irish town is an island surrounded by rivers, hence Ennis-, which is derived from Inis, Gaelic for island. This was the only time I had the luxury of spending two nights in one place, but it was a very disappointing two nights. All the things I wanted to see were on small islands in Lower Lough Erne north of town, but ferries only ran on weekends, and I was there on a Thursday. This picture is of Castle Coole, just outside of town -- my consolation attraction. It's not really a castle, but an 18th century manor house set in a large, beautifully landscaped estate. And when is the house open? Every day but Thursday.
Day 5 - Dunfanaghy, County Donegal
Back in the Republic now, although this small seaside town is further north than most of Northern Ireland. I spent my birthday trying to get here by a few coaches, and celebrated my eventual arrival at the Cove Restaurant. Quite a swanky place. This picture was taken during a long walk on the next day, when I was a bit lost -- in a good way.
Day 6 - Derry/Londonderry, County Derry
If you're a unionist you say Londonderry, if you're a republican you say Derry, and if you're a tourist you're very careful. Even more than Belfast, London/Derry is full of reminders of the Troubles. Here's one. I had just one night here, no days, but enjoyed myself with good company in some of the pubs.
Day 7 - Belfast
There were two things I wanted to do in Northern Ireland's capital: go east, to see the house, church, etc. where C.S. Lewis spent his childhood, and go west, to see the political murals and the Peace Line in West Belfast. To do this without a car on a Sunday would be almost impossible and possibly dangerous. Fortunately, at Great Victoria Street Baptist Church I met a lovely couple who brought me to their house and fed me a delicious lunch, packed me sandwiches for dinner, and gave me a guided tour of everything I wanted to see. Hooray for them! This is Little Lea, home of C.S. Lewis until the age of nine. Thanks also to the lucky family who lives there now and who graciously allowed me to take this picture of their home.
Day 8 - Drogheda, County Louth
Back in the Republic of Ireland. Took a bus a few miles outside the city to the early Christian monastic site of Monasterboice, which includes a round tower (to watch out for Vikings), a few high crosses, and two ancient church ruins, some of which is pictured here. Afterwards I hitched a ride to Old Mellifont Abbey, Ireland's first Cistercian monastery.
Day 9 - Dublin
Oh, Dublin. It has a great Natural History Museum, but that's pretty much all I can say for it. Maybe I needed to give it more time. Here's the Ha'Penny Bridge, over the Liffey.
Day 10 - Ennis, County Clare
I just had one night here, before catching my flight back to London the next morning. Here are the ruins of an old Abbey. Easily my favorite part of Ennis was the 24-hour supermarket.
posted by Matthew at 5:36 PM
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