Ireland: chapter III

A good sleep and again on the road after two (uoo) days in the same place. First stop of the day was in Adare, famous fot the cottages but also for the Augustinian friary. The Earl of Kildare founded it, we're talking of County Limerick in 1315. It was known as the Black Abbey due to the colour of the friars’ habit. Religious activities continued for about 200 years, until the community was suppressed in the mid-16th century. Today, visitors can view the well-preserved cloisters as well as the church, in use by the Church of Ireland since 1807. Also not to be missed are the Quin and Dunraven families’ mausoleums.

  

Then the road brought us to the cliffs of Moher. Well if you ask me a little too crowded but definitively worth the ride! What a place, even with my mum screamin "off the edgeeee!"

An Angelito (see photo below) with chocolate stick going a little back to Lahinch where my sis, bro and I dived into the ocean (God, it was cold!!) playing with the waves.

The Angelito

Then we headed to Doolin where we where to stay for the night. What a place this little place of Clare! :)

Dinner at McDermott's Pub and "tourist" session by local musicians. Met again an italian guy we first met in Kilkenny, on a trip with his motorcycle!

 Day 7, august 14th
Aran islands day! i have to say it was like a dream come true for me. It's a few years I'm saying -I want to go there sooo badly- And it couldn't be possibly better. We left under a raimbow and clouds and landed on the main island (Inishmore) with a bright and warm sun!
Hired a bike (it's the best way to visit the island, you can cycle it all and reach places on foot) and then to Dún Aonghasa (Dún Aengus),  the most famous of several prehistoric forts on the Aran Islands of County Galway, Ireland. At the edge of an 100 metre high cliff.
A popular tourist attraction, Dún Aonghasa is an important archaeological site that also offers a spectacular view. It is not known when Dún Aonghasa was built, though it is now thought to date from the Iron Age. It was surmised that it was built in the 2nd century BC by the Builg following the Laginian conquest of Connacht.
Dún Aonghasa has been called "the most magnificent barbaric monument in Europe." Its name, meaning "Fort of Aonghas", refers to the pre-Christian god of the same name described in Irish mythology, or the mythical king, Aonghus mac Úmhór.
It was just the perfect day, pics says it better ;)
Ferry back and trought the Burren to arrive on Galway, in the best apartment we got during the holiday! Pasta with smoked salmon at "home" :)

Day 8, August 15th

Medioeval Galway

Galway visit with the walking tour guide. This is a nice thing to do all over Europe in the most important city. There are these groups gathering and starting the tour at a certain time, you go around the city to see the musts and you also get to know other travellers. Then you pay your guide in a "tip" form of payment, for what you think it was worth! We did it in Galway and also in Dublin, two different companies.

Under an occasionally (intense!) shower we visited the city and then ate at the Mc Donagh's Fish & Chips (so good!) and then we had a walk by ourselves and went to Mass for the The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Ice cream (italian!) and then at the King's Head, famous pub in the centre, for some good music and dancing!

port with Spanish Arch on the left