And they're racing at Galway!

The Galway races are one of the premier annual events in Ireland, and it's fortunate my visit coincides with the week long festival taking place in this wonderful city, situated on the west coast of Ireland. The fillies are out in force for a canter on the streets, and many are being dutifully escorted by dapper gents. Everyone in town looks a million bucks, er ... except me that is, but nevertheless I'm happy to be joining in the fun. The actual racing is solely comprised of hurdling and Irish stayers are world renowned jumpers. I was fortunate to be in the pub on thursday to watch the biggest race of the week over a pint of guinness.

The last journal left off at the conclusion of our weekend away in Belgium. My friend and I returned to Paris, and next morning I bid farewell and boarded a flight to the Irish capital Dublin. A travel friend from Ireland walked down to welcome me at Trinity College, and we walked back to his house in the centre of Dublin. The lads put me up on the couch during my three day stay in Dublin, and it was great to see them again after our adventures in Latin America, and again sharing a drink and a laugh when they visited Australia. The lads have settled into their careers now as professionals, and I was well impressed with their flash pad in the heart of this buzzing city. The first night we went out to a few gorgeous Dublin traditional pubs for a pint of guinness. You need to have a few cause after all, guinness is good for you!

The Irish people are renowned for their breezy manner, love of a yarn and general fondness for the craic. It pays not to take yourself too seriously when travelling in Ireland, as one country bar owner cut me down to size good style when I was daft enough to ask him for a beer at the bar, when it should have been a lager. Your man was relentless in having a lend of me and the local customers loved it. One local tried to cheer me up by saying not to worry, that it would only get worse. Finally I settled down at a table with my beer at what I thought to be the end of the barrage, when he calls out to me and says don't hesitate to ask for a refill, while waving a baby bottle around. Your man really was quite the character!

Anyway, back to Dublin and the lads. They took off to work in the mornings, while I took off to explore. There's plenty to see in the heart of Dublin, and it was great to walk around the legendary Trinity College which is the home of the Book of Kells, and also to explore the tourist strip Temple Bar and the gorgeous St Stephen's Green park. But the two highlights of my visit to Dublin were the superb tour of the Guinness storehouse, which winds up the floors and culminates on the seventh floor with 360 degree views of the city, and of course the best pint of guinness you're likely to enjoy. It was an immensely enjoyable and educational tour. Secondly, I visited Kilmainham gaol and took the guided tour in another unforgettable experience. This 200 year old prison has been at the heart of Irish struggles for independence, and the guided tour is definately not to be missed. All the Irish resistance leaders on the long march to independence were imprisoned here, and many of the leaders from the 1916 Easter rising were executed by firing squad at the gaol, which swung the people behind the independence movement in substantial numbers perhaps for the first time.

I bid farewell to the lads over dinner, and jumped on the bus heading to Galway county and the capital city of the same name the next morning. The west of Ireland is renowned for beautiful scenery and it has been a mind blowing experience visiting this magnificent part of the world. I caught a ferry to Inishmor on the Aran Islands for a night and a day, the these wonderful islands feature spectacular scenery, a myriad of stone walls, as well as being a part of traditional Ireland where the Irish language is commonly spoken. You can hire a bike if you wish, but I decided to go on some beautiful walks in idyllic scenery, and the trails are absolutely gorgeous! But surely it can't get better, dear reader? Believe it or not the answer is yes, as I headed up to Connemara and the Killary fjord, which is the only fjord in Ireland.

The bus ride up there wound through spectacular scenery, and the hostel was situated right on the banks of the fjord. I am in a good mood tonight, as I have just arrived back in Galway and will soon meet one of the Dublin lads for a pint, who is popping over on the bus for the craic of the Galway races, and today I completed one of the most magnificent walks I've experienced along the fjord. The scenery was absolutely phenomenal, and I hope some of the photos I have captured give an impression of a part of the world that is very special. I will not forget my visit to the Killary fjord and the superb walk along the cliff tops overlooking the fjord.

So this completes the first week of my travels in Ireland, and I'm settling in very well to the pace of life here in the country of my heritage. It's great to enjoy shop signs advertising Rooney this or Rooney that, that brings it all home that Ireland is where it all began for my family in previous generations. I suggest a visit to Ireland to experience the craic where,.............. basically all of you should be here now!

"Our only weapon is our refusal." Michael Collins

Top 3 Hotels/ Restaurants
Sleepzone backpackers - Connemara, Ireland
Nimmos hostel - Galway, Ireland
The Long Haul pub - Dublin, Ireland

Top 3 Sights/Activities
Killary fjord walks - Connemara, Ireland
Walking trails in The Aran Islands, Ireland
The craic - Dublin, Ireland

As I continue my travels, until next time it's signing off for now

Tom

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