Category: Doolin

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From Galway to Kilkee

the roads from Galway to Kilkee are narrow so you have to be careful but they are very beautiful areas to visit so I highly recommend driving these roads. The people are extremely friendly, expecting a lot of tourists from the US, some which they understand are looking for their ancestors. Go into the pubs and talk to people. They are very interested in striking up a conversation and they have a lot of interesting things to say. Galway is very close to Connemara were the people still speak Irish (Irish Gaelic) and the song that came to mind was one of the Clancy Brothers about the hills of Conmemara where people made moonshine and had to keep away from the taxman.

Doolin to Kilkee

Doonagore Castle Galway to Kilkee
Doonagore Castle
Doonagore Castle Galway to Kilkee
Doonagore Castle. Don’t expect to be visiting this castle. Signs say it’s private property so I’m not sure if it’s available to visit
Liscannor Galway to Kilkee
Looking down on Liscannor from Moher cafe
Bill Smale Spanish point
Spanish point
Bill Smale Doolin cave
This cave was more than €17 (senior price) and it is something to do but I have been to many caves that are 10 times more interesting since this is just one stalactite as the main attraction.
Bill Smale doolin cave
We go down this man-made shaft which took two years to build. One of the kids got an adult size heart hat which kept falling off.
Low pathway
Hard hats were necessary since some of the pathway was very low
500,000 year growth stalactite
This is it. I think it’s worth five euro but not more than that. The estimate is this has been growing for about 500,000 years
Two stalactites
You can see the two different colors on the stalactite. The dark part on the left is not growing anymore possibly because the water started dripping off to the right and starting a new stalactite. There is a stalagmite below but underneath is slippery clay so it keeps breaking off and falling to the side and so probably will never join the stalactite
Artificial light in the cave
It’s about 6 km to the ocean from here. The light is artificial.
Straw like stalactites
Small straw like stalactites forming but they keep falling off
Ancient coral petrified
Here you can see some ancient coral petrified on the side of the cave. This is millions of years old
Kids having fun
The kids were having fun and asking very good questions

Galway to Doolin

Kinvara

in this little town I stopped for coffee at the wild beans coffee shop

Kinvara port
This is a cute little town to visit for a cup of coffee and to look at the port and relax
Kinvara history
Explanation of the town and some of the history
Connolly spelling version
Look how the name Connelly it’s spelled. There are many Connellys in this area and many of them have different spellings for the name. On the photo below you can see another version of the name spelling even on the same building.
Saint Joseph’s Church kinvara Bill Smale
The local church (Saint Joseph’s) was closed so I did not go in
Ancient Abbey
I stopped to see this ancient Abbey which is in complete ruins
Balyvaughan St. John’s Baptist Church
Heart symbol
You will notice that this heart symbol is the same as the one in the statue above. I’m not sure what the significance or deep meaning is but it obviously has some story to tell.
John Betjeman poem
John Betjeman poem
This is what the hills look like around here. It is many miles of layered limestone Hills at limestone rubble everywhere. Burren
You might think I got a little carried away with the photos of this amazing geologic site but I study geology and I find it fascinating. There is almost an endless supply here of limestone rock for fences around Ireland. And as you travel around Ireland you will see most of the fences are made of stone.
Limestone Hills of Burren
The drive was not exactly like a corkscrew but it was a very twisty road up the hill
You can probably get more information from this QR code
Looking down along the corkscrew road
McGann’s pub in Doolin
McGann’s pub in Doolin
Traditional musicians
Local musicians in the pub playing traditional music

Galway

The harp
This harp is from the 15th century and it’s called the Brian Boru harp but he was in the 12th century so obviously had nothing to do with him. But it is the symbol of Ireland and also of Guinness
The rulers of the area
The explanation of the people who controlled this area before the Normans invaded
Irish language writer
The effort to increase the Irish language
Galway museum
A view from the museum in Galway
Burger shop
Of course everybody has a story including hamburgers but if you look carefully at the sign it includes birds and snakes which I did not know were customers of this burger shop

A Discussion in a Pub (click here)

Galway Cathedral
Galway Cathedral
Gelato
I needed to stop for some gelato, cherry chocolate with mango sherbet on top
Green spot whiskey
My two favorite whiskeys were a specific bourbon and then also Jamison Irish whiskey. But the fellow eye was talking to at the pub recommended this one and it is extremely smooth and a little sweet, definitely my new favorite.
Redbreast whiskey
This was recommended to taste which I did not and it is said to be fairly expensive. I will try it at some time