Ireland

In November 2001, I attended an  International Telephony Union meeting in Malahide, Ireland (10 mi outside Dublin).  One the Sunday before the meeting I visited the Wicklow Mtns south of Dublin with some other delegates from the meeting and after the meeting I visited Galway and the Connemara Penisula on the west coast of Ireland with my daughter and a friend (who are attending University of Glasgow this fall on a one term exchange program from Dartmouth College).

I arrive in Malahide early Sunday morning from an overnight flight.  Malahide is on an inlet of the Irish Sea and I walk around the marina and beaches as the sun rises.


Malahide Marina


Sunrise over the Irish Sea


A rider enjoying the dawn


A street of small shops near the marina in Malahide

After breakfast in the hotel, I join a couple of other delegates with a car for a drive through the Wicklow Mtns south of Dublin (while I try to stay awake).  We learn why Ireland is the "Emerald Isle".  Even on the last weekend of October everything is green.  Tree leaves are only starting to turn colors.


Moss in the Wicklow Mtns


At the top of a waterfall in Wicklow Mtns


Monastic ruins at Glendalough


upper lake at Glendalough


lower lake at Glendalough


Abbey over stream at Glendalough

After the meetings I find time to visit Malahide Castle, about a mile from our hotel, before driving to the west coast of Ireland with my daughter and her friend, Bill.


Malahide Castle

It takes awhile to for driving on the left to feel natural, but its not too bad.  I've done it before in Scotland and Australia.  We spend the first night in Galway in a Radisson Hotel.  The room in the Jurys Inn was flooded from a previous occupant who overflowed the bathtub and so they transferred us to the Radisson (we spent the second night in a very nice room at Jurys Inn, which is inexpensive and the best location in town - highly recommended).  The next morning we drive out the Connemara Peninsula.


Katherine and Bill on a beach on the Connemara Peninsula

The Connemara Peninsula is a stark but beautifull setting with many little villages (but few trees) with each plot edged by a fence made from the plentiful stones.  It recalls the scenes from movies like "The Field" (filmed here) and "Ryan's Daughter" (was it filmed on Connemara?).


Houses with stone fences


An inlet in Galway Bay near Clifden


West end of Connemara near Aughrus More (Omey Island to left?)

We find a place to hike along the side of Killary Harbor on the north side of Connemara (Rinvyle Peninsula between Selruck and Leenane (where The Field was filmed).  The path was once the only route from Rinvyle Peninsula to Leenane but looks much to narrow in places for a car, now only used by hikers and the sheep in the pasture it passes through).


Katherine and Bill hiking along Killary Harbour on the Rinvyle Peninsula (Connemara)


A couple of the sheep who share the trail along the inlet

Killary Harbour (inlet) also contains a fish farm


Fish Farming in Killary Harbour


Bill and Katherine

After the hike we return to Galway driving through the middle of the peninsula (Connemara National Park).  The mountains on the peninsula are higher than I expected.


Mountains in Connemara National Park

Jurys Inn has a room for us on the second night.  It has the best location in Galway, right at the end of the pedestrian street containing restaurants, shops and pubs and just over the bridge from the other district with traditional Irish music pubs and more resturaunts.  Our room had a lovely view of the river.  While not as plush as the Radisson, the room was much larger and location much better (and half the price).


View from our room in Jurys Inn