Day 11 - Galway

After breakfast we head off by 10.00am to drive to Kylemore Abbey.  The journey takes us through Connemara, which is a National Park with rolling hills divided by stone walls.  There seems to be a lot of rock throughout the countryside so this area must have been a very active volcanic site once upon a time.  For much of the drive we are following the coastline beside the Atlantic then turn inland north to Kylemore Abbey.  These are only fairly narrow roads and although they suggest a maximum of 100kph....I'm not convinced :(  Admission to the Abbey is 16 euros each and you can take a shuttle to the Victorian walled gardens which, along with the castle, was built in the 1860s by Mitchell Henry.  We then head to the Gothic Church which was built by Henry as a monument to his wife who died after a brief illness at the age 45 and whom he deeply loved.  The castle had a chequered history of ownership but finally was bought by the Benedictine nuns in 1920 and turned into an Abbey and a school.

We head to Clifden for a break and then back to Galway.  It's been a bit drizzly but clears as we head home so don't know if being close to the Atlantic influences the weather.  Left at 10am back by 4pm.  It was quite a drive but now it's time a bit of R&R before heading out for NYE!

Dinner at Loam!  Delightful :)

On the road heading west rom Galway

Kylemore Abbey

A little friend

The original gardener's cottage
- a whole lot more luxurious than his helpers!

One of the many babbling brooks

Part of the walled garden

In the Gothic church

Day 10 - off to Galway

A lovely gentleman from Hertz delivered our hire care this morning to the hotel, so with the car packed and supplies from our friendly little corner store, we set off for Galway.  After skirting the city, we make our way onto the open road and it’s plain sailing from there!  Good roads, speed limit of 120 (though I’m sure most are doing anywhere between 130 – 150kph), clearly signed, two tolls to go through (Euros 2.90 and 1.90) and two and a quarter hours later we arrive in Galway.  We are staying at the Park House Hotel.

Our room isn’t quite ready so we set off for a walk around Galway.  This is quite a small city so an hour or so later you’ve just about seen it all!  A shopping mall runs through the centre of town.  Galway seems to need a good overhaul but there is still plenty of coffee shops, restaurants and pubs, though the ‘fashion’ stores are a little behind the times.  There are also many buskers on the street, ranging from the young man playing guitar and singing Irish ballads, to the gypsy with his ‘push box’ and a veritable menagerie of friends around him.  We check out the church of St Nicholas and then head down Kirwan’s Lane where we find a cute bar to stop for refreshments.    

Dinner in the hotel restaurant – very hearty!

 

Shopping mall in Galway

St Nicholas

Galway centre

Kirwan's Lane

Park House Hotel

Another view of the room

.... and another

Donkey and friend on his back :)

Dublin - Day 9

Day 9

We walk down the corner to ‘Lollys and Cooks” for our early morning coffee and pastries while we wait for the “Hop On Hop Off” bus to take us to Kilmainham Jail.  We have to wait for nearly an hour for the tour but fill that time in looking through the museum.  This is the largest unoccupied jail in Europe and has a very interesting history from its opening in 1796 to 1924, so for 4 euros it’s a worthwhile tour.  They used to have public hangings but eventually stopped that practice and moved it ‘indoors’ as most of the public enjoyed the activity far too much! 

After a little shopping we head to O’Reilly’s (opp Trinity) for lunch.  These Irish pubs certainly have a distinct ‘feel’ about them

We then move onto Trinity College built in 1592.   Such a beautiful institution we secretly find ourselves wishing we were 40 years younger and able to study there ourselves!

Merrion St is just around the corner and after a quick promenade through the park we head back to the hotel.

Dinner downstairs at the Basement Bar.... a really nice atmosphere, good food and of course, very handy.

This is a selection of photos from yesterday including the jail, Trinity College, some of the beautiful doors - they are all painted in different colours, the gardens etc

 

Kilmainham  Jail

Dinner in the Cellar

Some of our famous neighbours

Trinity College

Trinity

Front entrance of jail - that middle balcony is where
the public hangings took place

Mary Malone - "In Dublin's fair city - selling muscles and cockles"

Great little food shop just on the corner

One of the many beautiful doors
distinguishing the Georgian homes in the area

Oscar's home

The playground in the park on the corner -
it was awash with a light frost

Born in Merrion House where we are staying

More doors .....

War memorial in the local park

Oscar, looking across at his home

Day 8 - Dublin

Coffee and scones at the hotel then we set out on the new “Green” Hop On Hop Off bus.  16 euros for three days – bargain!  We went through the whole circuit and then ‘hopped off’ at the Guiness Storeroom for the tour.  Very interesting and well done and it included a pint of Guiness at the end!  I had a few sips of mine but not really a beer/ale/stout drinker.   We are back on the bus to visit the local jail but can’t get in till a late tour so back on board we decide to do the Jameson’s Whiskey tour instead.  Again, the tour runs too late, so opt for an Irish whiskey instead J  After all, we decide if you’ve done one ‘whiskey’ tour, you’ve done them all.  

Dublin is steeped in a violent history - from the invasion of the Vikings right through to the 1916 uprising between the colonies and, of course, the discord that existed up until 1998 .... not to mention having to deal with typhus and leprosy.  Many literary giants called Dublin home ... Oscar Wilde was born in the house on the corner of our street, Joyce, George Bernard Shaw, Bram Stoker .... the list goes on.  Many majestic churches, the oldest university, Trinity College established in 1592... there is an overload of history.

Back home we head to O’Donoghue’s around the corner.  This is where the “Dubliners” were first discovered.  Apparently bands come to play at this pub and in return are paid in half price drinks.  We are told, on good authority, that Bruce Springsteen stays at the Merrion when visiting Dublin and has actually played at O’Donoghue’s!  We leave our mark on the currency board … the first Australian note there!

Dinner at Hugo’s, which is just around the corner.  This was recommended (and it is very close) but while some meals looked quite nice, I was underwhelmed with mine L

Gordy warming his toes

One of the beautiful drawing rooms

...and another

The Merrion Christmas tree - and it's real!

Home of the 'head honcho'

The "cube in tube"

A recent bridge - in the shape of a harp

The Guinness storeroom

Sampling the goods

Live music at Guinness

The Jameson showroom

The currency wall over a photo of the "Dubliners"
Can you pick our $5 note?
First Aussie note on the board :)