Catching Up at Castles

 Yesterday we did so much that I need to write it down now before I forget! After a big Irish Breakfast we boarded our bus and journeyed towards the Atlantic Ocean and more precisely Donegal Bay. Our first stop was at a “Holywell.” Apparently there are many throughout Ireland where the Catholics were forced to pray and worship in hiding during the strife. If you are/were a Catholic you may recognize some of this:








If not, it was a beautiful spot nevertheless.


Here is our tour leader Joe! He has the gift of gab …..


Following our visit we got back on the bus and continued on, stopping for photo ops first at the Atlantic coast where we were able to see an original, non-hotelized castle in the distance






Then onto Mullaghmore where we were lucky to see and hear a 10 year old playing a bagpipe and his brother playing with a Hurley stick.  Here is a link to an explanation of this game:


                           Hurley game

The ocean here resembles the California Pacific Coast



Back in the bus and on we go to Sligo where we visited the remains of a 16th century abbey. The self guided tour there was well organized and free. I could have spent 2 hours but we needed lunch and to keep to schedule. Note the pilgrim shell at the top of the plaque.



Lunch and onward to O’Rourke’s castle.  The story is that O’Rourke built it and made the fatal mistake of coming to the aid of some shipwrecked Spaniards in the late 1500’s. The Queen of England was none to happy with his display of humanitarianism si she had him beheaded. The castle lay empty for 300 years until a man by the name of Park bought and renovated it. It is now, interestingly enough, an Iris Park! We were fortunate to have an excellent tour there.





On the property, near the garden, there was situated a “sweat tent” for those who were ill. The first picture is from the inside (compliments of my grandson), the second is from the outside. 



That’s about it for the day. We motored home to our castle, enjoyed another splendid dinner and off to bed.

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