2 days home, and now I miss Ireland!

Tauri · Member

2 days home, and now I miss Ireland!

Melissa5 · Guru

Tauri, welcome to the place we come when we're missing Ireland!

Did you get to see Westport too? I love Westport! An attractive town, just the right size...with VERY attractive shopping and of course Matt Malloys Pub. We got to see Achill Island but didn't get to Clare island. I would love to hear more about your adventures on Clare Island.

What did you love about Clifden? I don't think we saw Clifden either... I'm already planning trip number 2 and trip number 3 to Ireland, although we just got back from trip number one!

Tauri · Member

Hi Melissa! Thanks for the welcome.
We actually did go to Westport. I was really excited to go there based on the reports that I had read. (yours included) While we were there, it was overrun for a street festival. I saw Matt Molloys, but we didn't go there. Instead we went to a local pub, just across from the town sqaure. I forget the name, but it was a cute little place.
Our time on Clare Island was a bit breif, but wonderful. The weather was gorgeous!! I was very interested in The Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley, and Clare Island had been her home. When we stepped off the ferry there, we walked by her "castle", and then found our way into the town. Most of our fellow travelers from the ferry were renting bikes, but we are a bit less physical than that. (ok, we're lazy) so my husband and I took the mini-bus tour. It was actually a mini-van, and we were the only passengers. The lady who drove had been living on the island for 19 years, and her husband had been born and raised there. She drove us to the abbey to look around. Grace's remains are buried in there. It was a gorgeous place. Then she drove us to the light house, where we were able to walk the cliffs. Even though they are far less grand than the cliffs of Moher, they were far more moving for me. We had them to ourselves, and off on the horizon was Achill Island. There were sheep all around us. It is one of my favorite memories of Ireland. Our tour lasted around 45 minutes, and we loved every second of it.
As to Clifden.......It just really touched me. It was everything I had imagined Ireland to be. Charming town square, great shops, even greater pubs!!! I highly recommend a stay there. We didn't stay at B&B's while in Ireland, instead, we stayed at some really charming hotel/manor houses. While in Clifden, we stayed at the Rock Glen house hotel. It is not walking distance to the town, but it is less than 5 minutes by car. The thing that struck me the most about that hotel, is that absolute silence on the grounds. At one point, my husband and I followed a path on the property and had a nice little relax. He napped in the grass, while I read my book......so calming and peaceful. Like you, we had gorgeous weather during our stay. It only rained on our last day, and by that point, we were really happy about that, as Ireland to me, is supposed to have rain. Oh, another selling point on Clifden is the Sky road drive......just beautiful!!! I have to say that I fell in love with the Connemara area.
Tauri

Sean · Member

Tauri,

We ended up spending three days in Clifden (completely by accident) and found it to be ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! I HIGHLY recommend a visit to Clifden if at all possible! I would also recommend "Burkes B&B" (3-5 minute walk to town) if anyone is looking for a place to stay. If nothing else people should make it a day drive just for the scenery - the Connemara area is breathtaking in its beauty!

I went to Ireland with a friend of mine and we were trying to determine which is better, Dingle and the Dingle Penninsula or Clifden and Connemara. Ultimately we were able to wise up and understand that you cannot compare. All of Ireland is special for it's uniqueness!

Sean

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tauri,

Welcome back and to the forum! Sorry about the glitch that kept you from posting before your trip. You should have emailed me and I would have straightened it out for you. But I'm glad you are now posting.

It sounds like a wonderful trip with some delightful off-the-beaten-path places that you explored. Did you know that there is going to be a Brodway show about Grace O'Malley called The Pirate Queen? It's first run will be in Chicago starting in October: www.broadwayinchicago.com

Michele

Tauri · Member

Hi Michele!

Wow, I didn't know about the play. That would be interesting. I'm a bit away from Chicago, but maybe it will travel~

Thanks for the welcome.
Tauri

Michele Erdvig · Host

Tauri,

I just found the other website: http://www.thepiratequeen.com/ If it is a hit I'm sure it will travel around the country.

Michele

Tauri · Member

Great site! Thanks Michele.

Melissa5 · Guru

Tauri, thanks for sharing the details. It sounds like you enjoyed some peaceful times in beautiful places...Clifden, Connemara, and Clare Island sound great. I can see how Westport could be a bit overhwelming if it's overrun with people during a festival, as it's not that big of a town. For us, there were just the right amount of people so it was perfect, very relaxing.

It sounds like you enjoy some of the same types of moments that I do...those laid-back moments when you can just absorb the atmosphere of a beautiful place, and nobody is bothering you, and you can read or write in your journal (in my case), no hurry... It's good for the soul!

We had only a glimpse of Connemara on the long drive between b&bs, and my husband said he wants to come back and stay there someday. (I showed him photos of Connemara at home, but he wasn't interested then. But naturally photos just can't convey the atmosphere of some of those wide-open wild spaces in Ireland...)

I'd like to stay in Connemara someday and write poetry about it.