Tag Archives: County Galway

IRISH ADVENTURE #15: GOING TO GALWAY

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On the way to Galway, we stopped for a guided tour of Aughnanure Castle, in County Galway.  Built by the O’Flaherty family in the late 15th century, this tower house was fully restored in the 1960’s. 

For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Onward ho to Galway we go!  Galway, in County Galway, is a vibrant city of about 85,000 people of which 36% are students.  There are two universities, so the city has a young, hip, artsy vibe.  It is known unofficially as the capital of west Ireland, so it draws plenty of tourists, especially on Quay Street, the pedestrian street where artists, street musicians, students, and tourists all mix.

We enjoyed exploring the walkable, compact city center that spans both sides of the River Corrib.  On this day, it appeared as if a rescue training exercise was taking place in the river:

County Clare was our final destination for the day, so we continued our drive along the Wild Atlantic Way, arriving in the late afternoon to the charming Temple Gate Hotel, in Ennis, County Clare.

Temple Gate Hotel bar

A few scenes from around town:

Next up:  IRISH ADVENTURE #16: THE AMAZING ARAN ISLANDS & A HOME HOSTED DINNER

IRISH ADVENTURE #13: FROM DONEGAL TO CONNEMARA: A DAY OF RAINBOWS

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The weather was so dynamic throughout our travels in Ireland, and this day was no different.  We had beautiful weather two days prior, and then the previous day was cloudy with some periods of light rain.  But on our day of travel from Donegal to Connemara, there were times when the skies were gorgeous!  We saw our first rainbow, and then they just kept coming.

Before departing from Donegal, I took in the views during this peaceful and calm morning near our hotel:

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

As we made our way west towards Connemara, I noticed this rainbow while enjoying the views from the bus window:

Then, during a rest stop, another rainbow greeted us:

And, another!

Along the way, we stopped to visit the National Museum of Ireland’s Country Life branch.  The museum’s fascinating National Folklife Collection exhibits tell the story of everyday life in rural Ireland, focusing specifically on the period between 1850 and 1950 when the Famine and Land War occurred. 

Between the rolling green hills and beautiful coastline, it was an enjoyable drive to sparsely populated Connemara, in western Ireland’s County Galway. 

The main town of Connemara, Clifden, is where we were headed to stay for two nights.  Although it is known as the “Capital of Connemara,” the town’s population is only 1,259 (as of 2022).  There is a lot of natural beauty to see in the area, though, so Clifden is a draw for tourists.

We arrived in the late afternoon but had plenty of time to explore the charming town center.  Bruce felt right at home as he stepped into Connemara Blue and struck up a conversation with glass artist, Tash Crow, the daughter of the art glass studio’s founder.

It was a lovely way to end a beautiful day!

Coming up next: IRISH ADVENTURE #14: A CONNEMARA SHEEP FARM & KYLEMORE ABBEY & CASTLE