Monday, June 23rd – Athlone toward Westport; Connemara, Doolagh Valley, Killary Fjord; Galway City & Cathedral; National Famine Memorial Ship; Cliffs of Moher from the Sea;
We stopped at Port Finn, where this quite very large Failté (means Welcome) was spelled out on the grass across the Killary Fjord – the only fjord in Ireland.
Galway City is one of my fav towns, vibrant, full of live music and great food, and easy to get around. We prayed in the breath taking Galway Cathedral first, partied in locations well-known and not, as we carefully did our duty to research in person a pub or three, for you, and, of course, do a bit of shopping.
Croagh Patrick’s (Croagh means Mountain – Patrick’s Mountain) – Ireland’s most famous annual pilgrimage site, many climb the mountain on their knees as a sacrifice to God. We did not get that close to the ground. The fog did tho.
At the foot of Croagh Patrick is the National Famine Memorial (along the Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail in Murisk, Co. Mayo (about six miles west of Westport). The bronze memorial sculpture depicting a famine ship (more accurately called “Coffin Ships”) by Dublin artist John Behan is a surprise in size and location; details are well worth taking the time to study. The sculpture was unveiled by Irish President Mary McAleese in 1997 (the image is recognized around the Irish world. It is only the monument, not a museum).
Next: To Be Continued, at The Burren and The Cliffs of Moher
