Saturday, June 13, 2015

Galway, Aran Islands & visiting Family

After some nature in Dingle, we visited the city of Galway. It's home to a university, several large US tech companies and many, many street musicians. It location along a river and adjacent bay, makes for a pretty and vibrant city.

Skiffs moored along the river

Some of the oldest buildings in the city, originally against the city's protective wall 

Typical street scene

















We heard a new to us instrument called a Hang. It looks like a cousin to the steel drum but is played without mallets. For a sample of how it sounds click here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYbFa-6OYOE





We left for the Aran Islands, off the coast of Galway. The seas were a bit rough heading out and it's fortunate it was a 45 minute trip and not a 48 minute trip.
No joke, the crew handed out plastic bags

Once we arrived, the island was lovely with lots of rock walls,  rocky shores, sheep and old forts.

 A commemorative cross near the center of town
The Black Fort,  is a double walled fort, with almost completely intact walls, it's located on the highest point on Inishmore, giving a clear view the island. It is believed to have been built sometime between 550 and 800 BC and was probably home to an extended family and their animals. 

The nearby cliffs steal the show. They fall a few hundred feet to the sea and are home to nesting birds. 
Another photo to sooth her parents...

If you look carefully you can see two people on the opposite side.
The island has an unusual rock formation called the "Worm Hole" its an all natural perfect pool formed by broken slate. Water surges up through the bottom making small waves. Red Bull staged a cliff diving championship here a few years ago. For scale, Melanie is standing on a lower ledge near the back.


The worm hole from above

Back on the main land (the return ferry ride was muuch smoother!) we took a day trip to Kylemore Abby. Once a house of an Irish aristocrat, it became a convent for Benedictine nuns and a private girls school. The nuns still reside here but the school is closed and they are redeveloping it as a retreat and music learning center. The house reminded us of the Newport summer cottages. 


This is the Killary Fjord. A fjord is an ocean inlet that reaches deep into the land between mountains, It was striking to be so far inland and smell the sea. Mussels are farmed in the fjord and we could see boats harvesting as we walked along the banks. 


View of the burren which bears a resemblance to Maine's central and northers coasts. 

The next town we visited was Kinsale, one of the oldest towns in Ireland and it reminded Justin of Marblehead with its narrow twisting streets, houses cheek by jowl and active waterfront.







We had the good fortune to be in Ireland while Chris and Angie were touring with their group of students. We met them in Ennis and invited ourselves along for a dance hall session, tour of the historical site of Cragganouwen, and a few music sessions.
Atop a castle tower with Angie.

Dr. Smith cleverly inserts a history lesson into the tour.
We learned more in this tour than all the forts combined!
We returned to Dublin area to await Westy's ship to England, This gave us a few days to explore and Melanie go to meet this little cutie....
Disappointing, he wasn't looking for a date, just fundraising "Swimmers for something."
It was worth a few euros to see him jump into the Liffey river. 
Westy arrived in England on June 2nd and we camped outside London for a few days.  The next update will be from the UK.