On the road again….

This morning we left Kilronan Castle at Boyle after another huge Irish breakfast. We motored south through more gentle hills and along really skinny roads surrounded by sheep, sheep and cows. The thing I noticed about the livestock here is that they like to sit down. At home I rarely see them doing anything but standing up and grazing.

Driving through rain we stopped briefly to snap a couple shots of the decrepit ruins of the Boyle Abbey. 


Back into the bus. Next stop was a pit stop/relief station where Cohen acquired a gift from grandma:


Now doesn’t he look just like a true Irish lad?

Next stop was Galway where we got a walking tour with Allen. A couple of things he asked us to remember were:

1) apparently when asked to donate to the new church steeple clocks, the local Catholic community refused. Hence the saying: : “they wouldn’t give us the time of day.”
2) Friday the 13th was the day that the Pope in collusion with the French, rounded up the Knights Templar. That’s how it gained its notoriety as a bad luck day.
3) to be Lynched originated when Mr Lynch was obligated to hang his own son because he had committed murder.

Here is the window Lynch’s son hung from:


 After our tour, we walked a bit along the river.



Checked out the Spanish Gate



Then found us a place for lunch and a brew:


On our way again and off to our next port of call The Lodge at Ashford in Cong (which, by the way, is where “The Quiet Man” was filmed and they are proud of it!

Beautiful grounds including a golf course and a five star Castle Hotel.




Dinner at the lodge was an epicurean delight:



Only one night here, tomorrow we head to Killarney in County Kerry. Catch you up there!

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