Westport

This is the view out the front of our B&B in Murrisk, which is just about 5 km outside of  Westport.

After checking in with Linda at the Croagh Patrick Lodge B&B, we drove back to Westport to walk around the town and eat.  We  first ate at a pub right on the bay.  There we were able to eat outside - I couldn't  believe how nice the  weather was for us!  It was grand!

Took a picture of the sign because of the Dan Kelly's Cider!  Made me laugh.  I did not have the Donegal Blonde, instead I tried the Independent red ale.  It was very good. Though I do like the Guinness, if you want to drink Irish owned beer, you have to try the various craft beers.  Guinness is still made in Ireland, but as of 1997, it is no longer an Irish-owned company.  There is a March 16, 2014 article in The Economist titled  "Why Guinness is less Irish than you think" and it gives an interesting history of the company.  None of the information is what you would hear at The Guinness Storehouse! 

Scenes from our walk around the town.

And finally, at the end of the day, a gorgeous sunset...

The Trip Westward and Turlough

So we drove to Westport - which route takes us on the N5 that we took three times a week getting Haley to Castlebar for soccer practice. 

Anyway, the road no longer goes through the town of Ballaghaderreen so it does go a bit quicker than before.  No, that is NOT a miss-spelling - that is, in fact, the town name.  I have heard people pronounce it "Balla-ha-dreen" but so, there it is. 

Bear in mind there is a town near me and the sign says it's "Cloondara" but in the papers they spell it "Clondra" and that is how it is also pronounced.  Take place names and such with a grain of salt in Ireland, just sayin....

So, on the N5 I decided to stop, shortly before Castlebar, at a ruin we could see from the road.  Two things you will notice from these first shots: 1. We had a gorgeous, warm, sunny day, and 2. I apparently had a drop of water on my camera lens at some point...

 Kirstin playing god!

The ruin is known as Turlough.  In Irish it is Turlach.

 Now this was interesting - you don't usually see an altar, so I was pretty amazed that this one still stands.  It was worth the stop just for that!

April Visitors!

So on April I picked up these three at the airport!  It was quite early, and I whisked them off to Longford and my humble abode so they could relax and deal with the jet lag.  We spent two nights at my house, taking time to walk the dogs at the Mall and going into town for pints and dinner.  We left on Tuesday April 21st to start a week-long adventure of the West Coast of Ireland!

Dinner at Chez Grace in Coralville

So in April I took a trip back to the states to do some house-hunting.  We started our trip in Iowa City visiting the kids and seeing Jean, Hiram and Marcos on Saturday, and then seeing David on Sunday!  It was a really fun weekend and we also got to catch up with Cindy and Art Abrams and Janet Lyness. 

The dress I got at Clara Ellen when Amy and I were there!

And below is Haley's friend, Olivia, who joined us for dinner.  

Haley picked the restaurant.  It only seats 28 people and we were the only group there.  They actually opened early for us!  Chef David is from Jordan and has lived in Iowa City/Coralville for many years - I think he went to the UI and graduated in the 1970's if I recall correctly.  Anyway, as a chef he is self-taught and the dining experience was incredible!  It was a fabulous afternoon!

Saying Good-bye at the Dublin Airport

After  touring the castle, it was time to head back to Longford.  We went into town to visit our friends, Aisling and Noreen, at the Clara Ellen dress shop and that night we went to The Black Olive for dinner.  Amy graciously treated me and it was a lovely evening.  The next morning, all too soon, it was time to say good-bye.  (But, it's not for long since we will be moving back to the Chicago area in June!)  It was a brilliant week and I had a marvelous time!

Donegal Castle

After lunch we headed back over to tour the castle.  On the tour we learned that the name Donegal comes from the Irish Dun na nGall, meaning "fort of the foreigners".  Gall  was usually applied to Norse invaders who may have founded Donegal.  The Castle was the main residence of  the royal O'Donnell family who ruled the Kingdom of Tir Chonaill from 1200 until 1601.  It sits at a bend along the River Eske.

Below is the guardhouse - part of the wall surrounding the castle.  It is also where you enter the  grounds for the self-guided tour.

The Tower House is the tall part of the castle and was the first to be built.  It was Red Hugh O'Donnell who started building the castle around 1474.  The O'Donnell Kings trace lineage  back to Niall of the Nine Hostages (379-405) and one-time High King of Ireland.  The succession of O'Donnell chieftains and Kings of the area known as Tirconnell was unbroken until the Nine Years War with England. The war began in 1595 and was fought by the Gaelic lords of Ulster - the O'Neills of Tyrone, the O'Donnells of Tirconnell, and the Maguires of Fermanagh.   Hugh O'Donnell (Not Red Hugh...) was forced to abandon Donegal in 1600.  He eventually fled to Spain and died there in 1602

In 1610 the castle was given to Captain Basil Brooke, an English soldier who had fought for the English Crown in the Nine Years War.  The Brooke family added the turrets and enlarged the windows in the early 17th Century.

The attached Manor House was added in 1623.

Below is the Gardrobe or Toilet...

These pictures of the ceiling are Amy's.  Apparently it is put together completely with wooden dowels - no nails!

This dining hall was absolutely glorious!

It was fun to look at the lovely furniture, the beautiful tapestries and the  other interesting things in the dining hall!

Then to the stairs and up to the third floor.

This floor had the exhibit cases and all the info about the history of the O'Donnells and such.

This was The Cathach of St Colm Cille.  This manuscript is a version of the Old Testament Psalms, and is known as the greatest relic of the O'Donnells of Donegal.

It is believed it was written by St. Colm Cille who died in 597, making it Ireland's oldest ecclesiastical manuscript.  Apparently the O'Donnells of Donegal were related to Colm Cille and claimed his protection by bringing the book into battle with them to ensure victory.  The term Cathach means "battler."
 

Clearly, any shots with me standing in them are also courtesy of Amy P!