En route through Castlebar, Ballina and a peek at the beach at Inniscrone.
Genuine sheep-on-the-road (just like home):
Stopped in Sligo (Irish "Sligeach" meaning shelly place, from the estaury's shellfish). In the medieval period, Sligo was an important crossroads strategically and commercially. Sligo Abbey, the Dominican Friary, is the only medieval building left standing in the town. Uniquely, much of the structure, including the choir, carved altar and cloisters remain.
During the Great Famine, over 30,000 people emigrated through the port of Sligo. On the Quays, overlooking the Garavogue River, is a memorial sculpture with plaque telling one family's sad story:
I am now, I may say, alone in the world. All my brothers and sisters are dead and children but yourself... My only hope now rests with you, as I am without one shilling and I must either beg or go to the poorhouse... I remain your affectionate father, Owen Larkin.
The poet William Butler Yeats is associated with Sligo. Much of his writing is descriptive of the area around Sligo town. In particular "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a reference to a small, uninhabited island on Lough Gill, which is a lake adjacent to the town.
Although Yeats died in France in 1939, his remains were brought home to Ireland by the Irish Navy and re-interred at nearby Drumcliffe in 1948.
Church and interior:
The little church also has a famous Irish High Cross dating to the 11th century:
Further up the Atlantic Coast through Ballyshannon to Donegal, visiting the imposing Franciscan friary in Rossnowlagh...
...and Donegal Castle.
The lovely view from our B&B:
The world's greatest rainbow (leprechauns and pots of gold not included):
Laugh Eskie:
The ruined friary at Donegal (supposedly connected to Donegal Castle by a secret tunnel). A very beautiful spot by the estuary...
After some okay fish and chips, we caught a couple of World Cup games at a small pub. The chef came out to loudly cheer on the South Africans as they demolished the English, the barman plied me with good whiskies, and I made friends with a local from nearby Montcharles. We found each others' accents mutually difficult, but we managed an hour or so of conversation.
Genuine sheep-on-the-road (just like home):
Stopped in Sligo (Irish "Sligeach" meaning shelly place, from the estaury's shellfish). In the medieval period, Sligo was an important crossroads strategically and commercially. Sligo Abbey, the Dominican Friary, is the only medieval building left standing in the town. Uniquely, much of the structure, including the choir, carved altar and cloisters remain.
During the Great Famine, over 30,000 people emigrated through the port of Sligo. On the Quays, overlooking the Garavogue River, is a memorial sculpture with plaque telling one family's sad story:
The poet William Butler Yeats is associated with Sligo. Much of his writing is descriptive of the area around Sligo town. In particular "The Lake Isle of Innisfree" is a reference to a small, uninhabited island on Lough Gill, which is a lake adjacent to the town.
Although Yeats died in France in 1939, his remains were brought home to Ireland by the Irish Navy and re-interred at nearby Drumcliffe in 1948.
Church and interior:
The little church also has a famous Irish High Cross dating to the 11th century:
Further up the Atlantic Coast through Ballyshannon to Donegal, visiting the imposing Franciscan friary in Rossnowlagh...
...and Donegal Castle.
The lovely view from our B&B:
The world's greatest rainbow (leprechauns and pots of gold not included):
Laugh Eskie:
The ruined friary at Donegal (supposedly connected to Donegal Castle by a secret tunnel). A very beautiful spot by the estuary...
After some okay fish and chips, we caught a couple of World Cup games at a small pub. The chef came out to loudly cheer on the South Africans as they demolished the English, the barman plied me with good whiskies, and I made friends with a local from nearby Montcharles. We found each others' accents mutually difficult, but we managed an hour or so of conversation.
No comments:
Post a Comment