Tour Day 8 Itinerary:
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Leaving Dingle and heading to Galway was also marked with Sean's 37th Birthday. We took the ferry over the Shannon river and arrived at the Cliffs of Moher.
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The Cliffs Of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher consist of five miles of dramatic coastline with cliffs soaring up to 650 feet high. There is a nice visitor's center with a cafeteria, exhibits, and gift shop.
We started our visit with a little toast of Dingle Gold Whiskey before being allowed to wander the area. While we were there, there was a wedding taking place at O'Brien's Tower. |
And Now the Rest of the Cliffs of Moher Story
The Burren
The Burren is perhaps the most interesting and confusing geographical location that we visited during our trip. It is a 10-square-mile limestone plateau that is both barren and bursting with life. The Burren is such a unique ecosystem that it is home to flora from many different climates, including the Mediterranean and the Arctic. We were even able, with the help of our expert guide, Mary Howard, to see three flowers from three climates in the same place. The flowers grow very close to the ground, so you really have to look carefully for them.
The Burren is quite a large space. We were unable to really see much of it, as it would take a couple days. Definitely needs a return visit. There were some Burren cows hanging out. Can you believe that they live (and quite well) in this environment? |
And Now the Rest of The Burren Story
Galway
After checking into our three B&B's, the group had dinner at McSwiggan's. After Dinner, Declan took us on a walking tour of Galway. It is a very young and bustling area. After the tour, Sean and I stopped in Garvey's Inn for some birthday drinks.
The Aran Islands
There are three islands that make up the Aran Islands off the western coast of Ireland - Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer. We took the ferry to the largest of the three islands, Inishmore. The island measures 9 miles by 2 miles and is a geographical extension of The Burren. The people of the Aran Islands are of rough stock, living in such a desolate place. They survive mostly from tourism these days, but have small fields for cows and horses. The rocks have been mostly moved to form miles and miles of stone fences. It is a view of the days gone by. Although life here is tough, the Aran Islands are beautiful.
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Dun Aenghus
Our first stop once arriving on Inishmore,was Dun Aenghus. We headed directly there by minibus to try to beat the crowds. The views from the top were amazing.
While hiking, we were lucky enough to see Ireland's smallest butterfly. I even had one nice enough to pose for a picture! Dun Aenghus is a stone fortress build on the edge of a cliff some 200 feet above the ocean. Of course, with such a location, part of the fort has now become part of the ocean. It is estimated that Dun Aenghus was built about 2000 years ago and has 13 feet thick and 10 feet high walls. It is quite impressive and the views are amazing. Although probably not the safest place to sit, I did take a few moments to ponder life at the edge of the cliff. |
The Rest of the Dun Aenghus Story
After Dun Aenghus, we had a delicious lunch at a local diner. It was probably my favorite thing I ate while on the trip (see food page for more). We then hopped back on our minibus and toured the rest of the island. We stopped at the Seven Churches, got some pictures along the coast, and saw some seals basking in the sun.