Connemara Ireland

St PAtricks Cathedral Dublin

Dublin Castle 

Ballynahinch Castle Connemara

Castle from the Grounds

Grounds of Ballynahinch Castle

As we didn’t have to book out of the hotel until noon we decided to use the time to have a look around Dublin. We did quite a circuit which took in St Patrick’s Cathedral (built 1192), Christchurch Cathedral (1030), Dublin Castle (1715), City Hall (1775), Temple Bar (not quite as buzzing at 10am as it’s a nightclub area), Trinity College (1592), past the statue of Molly Malone and then St Stephen’s Green (1663). As you can see Dublin is a very historical place. A shame we didn’t have longer to see more.

Off then to Galway for 2 nights (or so I thought). The road to Galway is a Motorway with countryside not unlike Australia (apart from the sheep with black faces and the farmhouses). We were in Galway in no time (under 2 hours) and then lost the good time we had made up in a traffic jam caused by road works.  Have found Irish signage a little obscure at times and in one case one sign said to go straight and the next sign contradicted it and said to go right. Anyway we ended up on the correct road although as I previously mentioned we have no GPS and our maps are not the best.

We kept going through Galway and crossed onto Connemara and kept going and going – didn’t know Connemara was so big. When we got to our destination about 10 minutes east of Clifden it was a castle, Ballynahinch Castle. Our accommodation had been kept as a surprise for my birthday. We have a lovely room (actually it’s a suite as we got upgraded) that overlooks the river. Had a lovely meal last night in the Pub section of the castle and coffee (the coffee is delivered to your room free) and single malt back in our suite.  We are having my birthday dinner in the restaurant tonight. Know you are all thinking how good of Phil to do all this (castle, birthday dinner etc) well, I really have Jill to thank for the arrangements (with Phil’s approval of course) to make my birthday special.

Have had a lovely breakfast , I even ate the black pudding and Phil tried kippers (they were ok but don’t think they will be his favourite food) and Phil and Dave have gone out for a walk in the massive grounds of the castle. We are going into Clifden for lunch and are hoping to find a Laundromat (getting your washing done is such a pain on holidays).

We have a big day tomorrow as we have to go back via Galway and we want to take photos of Galway Bay. Don’t know whether we are staying in Cork or Waterford.