At the end of our second week in Ireland we had a trip to the Aran Islands (Inis Mor) on our must see list. We woke up to wet weather, but as we drove to Rossaviel the rain became steadily worse. It was almost enough to make us think of turning back to Galway, but it was our only chance and we weren't about to let it slip by!
We parked and bought our tickets, then walked up to the pier. Realised we could have parked much closer. There were two ferries and both were full of people, so obviously the rain wasn't going to deter anybody.
The trip took about 40 minutes and it was a smooth crosssing.

When we disembarked at Kilronan we were pounced on by tour bus operators who were all lined up along the harbour's edge. The guide we chose was Bertie.
First stop was Dun Aonghasa. We were dropped off at Kilmurvey (I think, not sure) and while everyone else headed off to the fort, we decided to have lunch at a little thatched cottage called Nan Phaddy's. We have found from experience that doing the opposite of what other tourists do pays off! The tearooms were quiet with only a few other people in there. Consequently we didn't have to wait for a table or our food.

After our lunch, we set off up the hill for the fort. The rain held off, but the going was rocky, muddy and wet with big puddles in parts.  Sturdy walking shoes are a must.  I'm always surprised at the inappropriate footwear of some tourists, and this time was no exception.

The fort is absolutely magnificant, three rings, breathtaking views along the cliffs (as we later decided, better than the Cliffs of Moher) You can go right to the edge as there were no barriers, many people did, including my husband, but I stayed a safe comfortable distance from the edge. We stayed up there for ages, taking photos and just absorbing the wonder of it all.
By the time we walked back down, the rain was becoming heavier. Back at the drop-off point there was no shelter, so of course everyone was crowded into the shops, and Nan Phaddy's was packed. We walked up the road a little way and found an old shed with overhanging eaves which provided some shelter, so we stayed there until we saw Bertie in the bus and then we walked down.

The rest of the tour took us to the western most part of Inis Mor then back to Kilronan via the seal colony.
Stone walls criss-cross the whole island, marking out very small fields which are actually more like enclosures.
We had a hot drink at a cafe in Kilronan then looked through the shops and bought some gifts.
When we walked back to the dock for departure, the boat was there, but we were left standing around in the light rain for a while. No shelter at all. Is it to ensure tourists spend the maximum time in the shops, I wonder?!
The boat left about 5pm and this time we sat below deck where it was warm and much more comfortable than the upper deck.

Our drive back to Salthill was very slow. It took us 20 minutes to get through Bearna alone because of roadworks. Even an old man on a bicycle we had overtaken earlier on got through more quickly, and we passed him again the other side of Bearna. Wish we'd known his shortcut!

That evening we had dinner at Lohan's, very nice meal, we made it later than usual because we thought we may catch some music, but were back at the B&B by ten without having heard any. Very tired after our long day out sightseeing.
The rain had eased by this time and it was a pleasant evening, so we walked to Lohan's and back along the promenade.  Lohan's gets 4* from us.

Hopefully I'll get around to posting week 3 shortly.
All the best for Easter!
Meredith