Just another Day "falconering" around!
Our group said farewell to Galway on an overcast day. The first stop on the agenda was the totally charming village of Cong which is the home of Ashford Castle. We had not researched it so were flabbergasted to discover that it is a magnificent estate that was once owned by the Guinness family for a holiday home. The castle houses a falconer school as well as a hotel. We had a tour of the beautiful birds, demonstrations by the handlers, and each of us taking turns to "glove up" and have the Peruvian hawk fly to us. Quite the experience! Cong is also the location of the Quiet Man film with John Wayne. Anglers come from near and far to fish for salmon.
Another testament to a Rick Steves tour at this juncture- left on our own devices we would not likely have gone to the falconering school. As it turned it, Rick knew better as it was one of our experiences most treasured and remembered!
*Beware- lots of pictures here because it was such an amazing feast for the eyes as well as a fantastic experience.
Another testament to a Rick Steves tour at this juncture- left on our own devices we would not likely have gone to the falconering school. As it turned it, Rick knew better as it was one of our experiences most treasured and remembered!
*Beware- lots of pictures here because it was such an amazing feast for the eyes as well as a fantastic experience.
Our RS "Team Ireland" at Ashford Castle! Alan, our canny and skilled coach driver is on the far right, first row #wearefamily!
The coach chauffeured us through the Connemara area and we saw the lovely loch. Both of which are breathtaking. Lunch was provided in Lehane, which is the location of the only fjord in Ireland. On the road to Westport on the shore of Clew Bay, our overnight stay, we passed through DooLough which is lovely, but has a very sad history in regard to the famine. We also got the story of the Irish travelers (gypsies). We will relate the story over wine. Anytime. In the DooLough countyside, we exited the coach to explore the bog turf and learned how to do the "bog hop" on the trampoline-like turf. Our evening included a group dinner with our rowdy trip cohorts and we turned in early as we had an 8:30 a.m. departure to Northern Ireland.
Had just one night in Westport at the Clewbay Hotel still in the Republic of Ireland. Westport is a planned town built in Georgian style in the late 1700's. As we loaded the coach to depart, it was chilly and raining. The rain traveled along with us as we meandered through the countryside, with Alan ably steering the coach.
Another interesting POI related by Pascal: any license plate that begins with 161 is a tourist rental! Fun to watch on a very narrow country road. #gladIamnotdriving
Trying not to count the days left, but something like 4 days "ish"..... * Paschal's POI- "ish" is how the Irish tell time. Never exact! #nodon'twanttogohome #fellinlovewithireland
Had just one night in Westport at the Clewbay Hotel still in the Republic of Ireland. Westport is a planned town built in Georgian style in the late 1700's. As we loaded the coach to depart, it was chilly and raining. The rain traveled along with us as we meandered through the countryside, with Alan ably steering the coach.
Another interesting POI related by Pascal: any license plate that begins with 161 is a tourist rental! Fun to watch on a very narrow country road. #gladIamnotdriving
Trying not to count the days left, but something like 4 days "ish"..... * Paschal's POI- "ish" is how the Irish tell time. Never exact! #nodon'twanttogohome #fellinlovewithireland
Doolough Valley |