Still unfinished and starting a new adventure!

So now it has been several years and I still haven't finished posting my Ireland trips! Not sure I will have access to all the photos as we are now living in Germany. My plan is to complete the Irish adventure and to start the posts from Germany at the same time. We will see how well this goes!

Traveling to Doolin: Ashford Castle

Ashford Castle is the billed as the oldest castle in Ireland dating back to 1228. It was once owned by the Guinness family and opened as a hotel in 1939. It sits on Lough Corrib and is absolutely gorgeous.

As you can see, it is truly magnificent.

So, when we first pulled up, I drove across the bridge below. There was a  security guard who was extremely pleasant but he told us we couldn't park in the hotel lot unless we had a reservation for a room. There fore, it was necessary for us to go back out and park over by the shop. Well that was fine but I was supposed to back up along the little bridge to get turned around. Now, you can see the  super thick  stone walls, and, I am not the most confident backer upper!

I think I must have looked fairly panicked and he was like, "Ah you'll be fine! We'll get ya sorted!" I was skeptical, but I decided it was time to believe in myself, so I went for it, AND I successfully navigated backwards and across the bridge. Now, I also recall that when I tried to find a place to park by the shop, I had to maneuver a bit to back in, and the look of amusement on the guards face was priceless...Wish I had taken his picture, but apparently I didn't.

I took this picture of the gateway as we walked back over to stroll the castle grounds. Off to the left, around the wall, is the path to take for foot traffic.

What IS it with Ashford Castle and narrow stone gates?! Sheesh!

Awww - why are they chained?!

Morna also  loved the Irish wolfhounds standing guard!

Traveling to Doolin: First stop - Cong

Again, I am hoping I have recalled this correctly. The next part of our trip was driving to Doolin. We got up early and had our Irish Breakfast and hit the road.  First we stopped along the way because we saw this:

Standing next to this

And there was no information about it, but there it was, right along the roadway heading into a town. As you can see, it was another glorious day and we happily drove on to see more of the sights as we headed south to Doolin.

We had decided to go through Cong so we could see where they filmed The Quiet Man. We got there and parked in a fairly open lot, then found out that there was a funeral for a young person, and the lot started filling up fast, and if we didn't get back to move our car, we were going to be trapped for the rest of the day and possibly into the night, SO we had to leave. We only got a few pictures there, and that was actually fine. It is a fairly small, quiet town. Also, let's face it, the movie does have some objectionable scenes and lines....

We skedaddled out of there and headed to Ashford Castle.

Last night in Murrisk

I found a few more pictures in another spot on my computer - Yay Me Again!

Shots we took after getting back down the rocky part.

The aforementioned fabulous scallops!

After dinner we strolled around to see what we could find. The ship sculpture was built as part of the 2010 National Famine Commemoration in Murrisk..

It's quite a statement, and it makes for a rather solemn stroll through the park. The pieces stretching across and around the boat are skeletons. It really makes a person feel the pain and the hopelessness that had to have permeated the country at that time. So tragic, and more so, criminal, when you consider what caused it and how it was allowed to continue.

After some more strolling, it was time to head back to our B&B and prepare for our travel in the morning. Got some more lovely shots of Croagh Patrick as night descended on Murrisk.

At the top of Croagh Patrick

Well, this is the path leading up to the top. It is all rocks. It is steep, It is slippy because the rocks are various sizes and loose. So, after having walked up an incline for about 1-1/2 hours, this is what you are met with - but you can't stop now, you're too close! So, this is where the walking sticks are a key piece of equipment. As we started up, we did pass one woman who had decided there was no way she was going up this last part, so she sat on the side and enjoyed the gorgeous views instead. WE forged ahead. there were people coming back down letting us know it was only about 20 more minutes to the top. Gaaaa!

WE MADE IT!

"Is is a church day? Or a school day? And I hope it's a school day!" - Connor Dierks circa 1998. As I said before, my church attending days are OVER! However, it was interesting to see and amazing to think that they would build this Church up here - I can't even imagine the struggle it would have been. There is a rumor that when they hold Mass here the priest comes by helicopter. Hmmm.....

The Church was actually locked so we couldn't go in anyway. We sat for awhile - my dogs were tired!

 Speaking of dogs - Irish pups are amazing - they will go anywhere!

Her dogs were tired too!

So we could walk all around the top - there were some amazing views everywhere you looked. It was so beautiful and it did start getting pretty hazy, but still lovely.

Then it was time to head back down. Getting down the slippy rocks was faster, but it got your heart racing wondering if you were going to fall or if someone was going to slide into you from behind...We made it down safe and sound with no injuries! As we continued down the hill, we saw paramedics coming up the hill to get people who had twisted an ankle, heat stroke, who knows what else? A few paramedics went past us with a stretcher and we were all asking if they could come back for us? Hahahaha! They laughed but no, we didn't get a lift...

This is a view of the mountain on our way down.

Now, as I said earlier, I had rented a stick for the hike. They are wooden sticks, they were in a bin, and I went to the window, paid my 6 euro for the rental, and grabbed a stick. When you return it, you get 2 euro back (At least I think those are the amounts, it's hard to remember). So, I paid the man and went to the bin to grab a stick. When we were done with the hike I went to his window - it was the same man - and I said I was returning to settle up. Now mind you, I was smiling and laughing and offering the stick and he just looks at me and says "Where'd you get that stick?!" And he really seemed ticked off. So I told him I had paid HIM and taken it from the bin. WELL, I apparently took it from the wrong bin - this was a stick that was for SALE. Now, I told him fine, I will pay for the stick. It was 12 euro - so I gave him another 6 euro and said thanks. He grunted at me. Seriously, grunted. Now, in my defense, the walking sticks for rental were in a different bin but there were a bunch of kids crowded around it so I never saw them. The one I used was, in fact, much better since it had a metal tip. I would recommend buying this kind of stick or using a metal walking stick if you have one, as it is helpful to have a tapered metal end for the steep, rocky path near the top.

After we got back to the B&B, we showered and went for dinner. I had the Clew Bay Scallops and they were out of this world! they were fresh and firm but not grainy in the least, and they served up the whole thing - not just the round white part. I still dream about them now and again...

When all was said and done, we had a fantastic day! It was hard work, but the sun was shining and the temperature was pleasant and the scenery was incomparable. Just a beautiful hike in Ireland.

Heading up Croagh Patrick

Okay so we started out on our journey up the mountain. As you can see, we had an absolutely GORGEOUS day. This was in April of 2015. Clearest blue sky you could possibly imagine!

And of course, the venture starts out with a statue of St. Patrick. It is, of course, Ireland. According to the signs, St. Patrick is said to have spent 40 days and 40 nights at the summit praying, fasting, and doing penance during Lent of 441 AD. The mountain is also called "The Reek" and it rises 765 meters above sea level. The last Sunday in July is known as Reek Sunday and that is the main day of Christian pilgrimage. Apparently it used to take place at night but that stopped in 1973. There may be many locals who climb it every Sunday. There is a Church at the top. Of course, I blasphemed and said if I had to go to Church after 2 hours of hauling my arse all the way up there I would be plenty p***ed!

Ah, the  glorious view!

Below is my view of Murrisk and Clew Bay as we started upward. Side note, Clew Bay scallops are the world's best!

Is the top getting closer or farther away?!

Well, it IS Ireland - you are bound to find sheep!

We are getting higher. It is also starting to get hazy in the distance.

Closer?!

The path can be sort of rocky in spots, and sometimes it slopes a bit steep, but it is always lovely!

 The top is in sight and we are getting light-headed! First Morna gets nutty...

Then Kim...

Clearly Kirstin is not amused...

OKAY OKAY- no more shenanigans!

Next post - will see you at the top!!