J&J Circle the British Isles
Places we visited in Ireland
Dublin / Kilkenny, the Rock of Cashel, and Kenmare / The Ring of Kerry and Tralee / Bunratty and Craggaunowen / Kenistimmon, Kilfenora, and the Burren / Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Dysert Archaeology Centre, and Innishere / Kylemore Abbey and Donegal / Giant’s Causeway and Ballygally
Our Visit to Scotland / Our Visit to England
County Clare
Technically, we had been in County Clare a while before we got to this point, because Bunratty is within the Eastern part of the country. But there is a big difference in the feel of Bunratty, so close to Limerick, and the rest of the county. And that’s not just the scenery, though that certainly is important.
Tuesday, July 4
After another breakfast-with-conversation with the couple from Pennsylvania, all four of us left for other parts of Ireland. They headed south, we went the other way.,
Drove to Ennis and parked near the Tourist Information, but didn’t find a lot of help there. We did tour the on-site museum, and parts of the exhibit were good. This one at least did avoid the “diorama” approach. We headed out to the Friary (13th century), walked around, and then, while Judy was in a “space age public toilet,” I realized I had never “paid and displayed.” So we hiked back to the Parking, paid up, discovered the highly advertised music center was only a theatre/venue, and left town.
We made a false start–headed out the wrong road–with a lot of confidence, realized our mistake, went back, and finally took the correct road toward the Burren information center at Kilfenora.
Dysert Castle
But first we stopped at the Dysert Archeological centre. A misnomer, if you ask me. Another restored tower castle, this time without any extras on the grounds. I spied a few other items on the grounds, so we ended up both walking through a pasture (complete with cows) to see a standing cross and a church in ruins. “Cross with Cows”–not a traditional genre, but an apt appellation. [I have to point out that if you look closely at this photograph, you’ll see me waving from the top of the castle to Judy, who’s below taking the photo. Go ahead–click the thumgnail and see the larger image.]
Kilfenora. Too many dioramas. The video was good. The people at the shop were nice. There was a pub nearby, where Judy had an Irish coffee and I had an orange soda. We looked at the local crosses, debated what to do next, decided the maps we already had were good enough, and headed back the way we came to pick up the R480 and the road through the real Burren.
7-04-06
We were up early this orning to check out and head for “The Burren.” This is an area unlike any other in the world. The rock here is limestone, so during the ice age, glaciation carved the mountains down. Then the area, these mountains, was under the sea and further carved and etched.
The surrounding farmland looks like and is fields of grey rock which the cattle clib over and around. The flat to p of the mountain is a field of stepping stones, large and somewhat flat on top. In the crevasses many different species of wildflowers grow: alpine and tropical side by side.
I took so many pictures which I hope to frame in a grouping. The drive, on a two-lane road, was somewhat tense, but so worth it to see the natural wonder.
Tonight we are in a luxury hotel, The Falls Hotel, in Ennistymon. Absolutely gorgeous setting and grounds that include a waterfall and wide steps in the river.
Supper was in the Dylan Thomas bar, here in the hotel, very reasonable, good salad–cajun chicken caesar–and fine Irish coffee.
Tonight we are watching the soccer semi-finals (Italy/Germany), having seen parts of all the World Cup during our time here. We have a large comfortable room with two beds, chest with coffee maker in it, a table and two chairs and a desk and chair. Quite different from the B&Bs and a nice change for these three nights.
(Jim-the-Wordy continues … )
My, oh my.
Words can’t do the Burren justice. Just look at the pictures. We pulled off at a ring fort center, decided the weather was too iffy, and drove on to the Poulnabrone dolmen site.
My, oh my. Just look at the pictures.
We continued up the road to Ballyvaughan–on Galway bay at the northern edge of County Clare. From there back downward toward Ennistimon the road is called “the corkscrew”–appropriately!
We found the Falls Hotel without any trouble, checked in, and headed out into the town.Very disappointing in the late afternoon. Bought booze and walked back to the hotel. Dinner was good bar food at very reasonable prices. Surprisingly so. Back in the room, watching the World Cup semi-final–Italy and Germany.
