Clifden, Ireland May 2023

 Clifden, Ireland May 2023

May 8 & 9th, leaving Westport behind next we headed toward Clifden. We had many scenic stops along the way. We spent two nights at the Dun Ri Guest House, just a short walk away from the shops, restaurants and pubs and a pretty cascade. 

May 8, a walk close to the hotel, we saw the cascades , the river and the wildflowers. There was a sheep farm and more flowers. 

May 9th, we visited the Connemara National Park. Below are park images of the pond, the visitor center, a walk on the Ellis Wood Nature trail, a pretty waterfall and a White or Pied Wagtail. 

May 9th, the Kylemore Abbey is the oldest Irish Benedictine Monastery founded in 1920. The Kylemore Abbey is held under the Kylemore trust and continues it mission as a Benedictine Monastery holding Kylemore and it's spiritual mission in trust for the Irish nation. The Benedictine Nuns are still running education and retreat activities on the estate. 

The Benedictine community has restored the Victorian Walled gardens. The gardens include a kitchen garden and a flower garden. It is open to the public for tours and nature walks. 

The actual Kylemore Castle was built as a private home in 1868 for Mitchel Henry. Below are some of the 70 rooms in the castle. In 1920 the Benedictine Nuns purchased the castle and property. 

On the Kylemore Abbey estate and grounds is also a Gothic Church

Pretty stained glass windows in the church.

A trail along side the lake, we saw this little waterfall.  The birds were singing but were hiding in the tree tops. 

The nature trail is a nice scenic walk from the castle down to the Gothic Church. 

This was a busy day on our tour, we left Clifden on the next morning which was May 10th. We headed to our next place to stay in Doolin. We stopped at Galway, I will be posting it about soon.  Thanks for visiting.  

Westport Ireland May 2023

 Westport,  Ireland May 2023

Our 9 night 10 day tour started on May 7th. We left Dublin and our driver/guide drove us to Westport Ireland. Westport is a town located on Ireland's west coast and the shores of Clew Bay and Carrowbeg River. The town is well known for the holy mountain Croagh Patrick, the heritage home Westport House, just 10 miles away is the Famine Memorial and Coffin Ship, Murrisk Millennium Peace Park and the ruins of the Murrisk Abbey. 

May 7th, the Wyatt Hotel in Westport was our home for the night, they had a nice restaurant and pub attached. 

May 7th, was our evening cruise of Clew Bay and the 365 islands, we saw the seal colony, some sea birds and the Inishgort Lighthouse. 

May 8th, we toured the Westport House and some of the 400 acre grounds which includes a lake.

May 8th, we left Westport stopping at various spots along the way to our next town of Clifden. 

Just 10 miles away from Westport we stopped at the holy mountain Croagh Mountain overlook and trail. We walked a short distance to see the Saint Patrick statue.

The Famine Memorial, the sculpture Coffin Ship. The Memorial Park overlooks the Clew Bay.  Many people who fled the great famine in Ireland did not survive.  It is said the ship crews were brutal, the captains were heartless and the weather was ferocious. 

The Murrisk Abbey , founded in 1456 and land donated by Hugh O'Malley. There are ruins of the church and a wing of the Friary Building, gravestones of notable families.

Killary Fjord is surrounded by mountains and borders County Mayo and County Galway, bottom right is a mussel farm. 

Erriff River and Aasleagh Falls near the village of Leenaun, where we had  a nice lunch of Seafood Chowder at the Bia Blas Cafe.

Clifden main square with statue of famous aviators Alcock and Brown. They made the first nonstop transatlantic flight in June 1919 from St. John's Newfoundland to Clifden Ireland.

More Ireland coming soon, thanks for visiting.  Take care, enjoy your day! 

I am also linking up to Heidrun's Mosaic Monday  I hope you can stop by and visit Heidrun and check out the Mosaic Monday post. 

Dublin Ireland May 2023

 Ireland  May 5th-May 17th

After a direct flight on Aer Lingus out of Dulles (IAD) on May 5th we arrived early morning in Dublin on May 6th.  We spend one night in Dublin before our Wild Irish Experience tour started on May 7th. Our Dublin hotel was the Hotel Riu Gresham on O'Connell St. It was nice to check in early, so we relaxed some in our room and then we walked around the city of Dublin.  

I am sharing some photos of our walk around Dublin, below is the River Liffey.  

Various buildings around Dublin. 

We enjoyed a walk around the St. Stephen's Green Park. 

Images of the park and birds seen at the park, the Wren, Hooded Crow, European Goldfinch, Tufted Ducks, Mute Swan, Mallards and Gulls.

One of many of the sculptures seen in the park. This one is called The Great Famine by Edward Delaney. 

Some views of the Dublin Castle and the nearby gardens. 

The Coach House built in 1833 overlooks the Dubh Linn Gardens. 

This sculpture is called Special Olympics, Dublin Castle Gardens

The shopping mall, I liked the plants hanging on the building's exterior.

The Hairy Lemon, one of Dublin's many famous pubs.

This sculpture is called the Millennium Child seen near the Christchurch Place. 

Tree of Life sculpture, Peace Park Dublin.

Just around the corner we found a cafe with yummy brownies and cookies. 

I have lots more Ireland photos to share, more post to come soon.