Galway, County Clare, and the Cliffs of Moher

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I went on a weekend trip to Galway with six friends. We had such a great time! We went on a bus tour to the Cliffs of Moher - one of Ireland's most famous attractions - and also explored the Neolithic tomb called the Poulnabrone, or "Hole of Sorrows," and the Aillwee Cave underneath the Burren. (All the pictures with this post are from the Galway getaway)

One of my nights in Galway was dedicated to following the advice of my dear cousin Kevin McCutcheon and I spent a few hours in the Crane Bar. There were two amazing trad (traditional music) sessions going on, one upstairs and one down. My friends and I watched the session upstairs and all of the sudden one patron started tap dancing by the band! Soon after, a cake was brought out to celebrate one of the musicians birthday. Then the owner/manager of the bar got up and announced that his good friend from Holland was leaving Galway to go on tour. The man's name was Christof and he started playing his original guitar songs and totally blew my mind with his talent! If you want to hear his music, his website is here

I'm so glad I was present for all of that! Great call Kev, thanks for the tip...

Thanks to everyone for all the b-day salutations! How could I possibly be 22?

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Photos

Cathedral in the Mist
Galway Cathedral, completed in 1965 through mist blowing off the Atlantic

Flower Window
The stained glass in the Cathedral picked up what little light there was that day. This is the window's reflection off the marble floor

The Organ
Blurry, but I like it that way!

Cathedral Ceiling
Beautiful detail

Sea Town
It looks like good weather in this picture, but it was actually freezing!

The Barren Burren
The landscape of western Ireland

The Burren 2
The soil here is poor, but the scenery is beautiful

Cliffs of Moher
God's country

Sea Grass
A lot of access to the Cliffs is actually on private property, so the photos I could get were limited...beautiful nonetheless!

O'Brien's Tower
This tower was built in 1835 by a local landlord to give tourists a different view of the Cliffs. It costs 2 euro to go all the way to the top, but It was totally worth it!

Sorry...
If I look like a boy in this picture!

Tower in the Distance
This was taken from the farthest point opposite the Tower on the path at the Cliffs (some people do trespass and jump the fence, but I'm too afraid of authority)

The Badlands
So, not really badlands but the land is too rocky for farming here which made this area of Ireland greatly affected when the famine hit

The Poulnabrone
A Neolithic burial site in the middle of the Burren

The Poulnabrone
Excavations of this tomb found the bodies of between 16 - 22 adults and 6 children

Comments

[Alli Hunthausen]

WOW!
You look like you are having an AMAZING time! It's absolutely gorgeous over there!!! miss you! xoxo

[anonymous]

Kaelyn: Once again, phab photos! I can't wait to see some of these sights for myself. What a wonderful area. Miss you and love you. Dad

[Kim Egeland]

lovely memories
Hi Kaelyn! Hope you had a great birthday! These pictures brought back lovely memories for me. We visited the Cliffs of Moher on our first trip in 2000. What a spectacular place! You have to take your Dad there! This last November Dean and I went to Galway for the first time. It snowed while we were there and was very misty and COLD! I loved the city and want to go back to spend more time someday. We didn't have time to go exploring in the surrounding area so I really enjoyed all of your photos! Glad you're doing so much traveling and seeing so much of the country. What a great tour guide you will be for your Dad's visit! Love you! Aunt Kim

[Edna Cahill]

Found you!
Hi Kaelyn! loved your photos, wish we could come visit. Aunt Joan gave me your blog info. Paul just set up our Skype camera/account, we just need some Skype friends to see if it works. Maybe we could get Grandma over here to chat with you sometime. We're excited to see how it works with Mark, Tracy, and Julianna in Memphis. Love you lots, have fun! Aunt Edna and Uncle Pat, and Paul

[kris]

very nice
Hope you celebrated your birthday in true Irish style!( Your card didn't make it the first time around but you should be getting it soon!) Sounds like another great outing to Galway and Moher. Am always eagerly awaiting the next installment of Kaelyns' excellent adventure! Miss you! Aunt Kris

[Dick & Kathy Walsh]

Jealous in Polson - Miss you
Great pics and looks like your having a great time in Ireland. You look like you belong. Kaelyn Walsh Kelly – Sounds Irish to me. Love you

[Megan Walsh]

These pics are amazing KK! Sorry I forgot your birthday, happy 22! I know that some of the family wishes they were getting your blog too. I mentioned it up at the cabin and pretty much everyone wishes they were reading it, including Paul. I hope you keep having an amazing time! Love, Megan

[Bonna!]

You are a photographer.
Your pictures are absolutely beautiful! It looks like you're having SO much fun and getting to see a lot of the surrounding area! Looking forward to skyping with you soon, miss you tons! Ps- can I please visit you at your house and ride on your boat with you?

[Mom]

Nice!
Nice pics kid! I worry about all the time you are spending in bars though. Is this the new you? :-) Just kidding...I know you are making good decisions. Love you and miss you! Mom

[Katie Egeland]

Spectacular!
Hi Kaelyn, I am really enjoying your photos! I loved the Cliffs of Moher when I visited. I'm glad you are having such a good time, and I look forward to seeing more! Your cousin, Katie

[Erin Schermele]

I miss you!
Kaelyn! Cody asked if you were dead today...apparently he was unaware you are traveling the world. I think he was living under a rock last semester!How is life!? I love your blog...we just picked a topic for the doc. Its "social networking in Montana." should be pretty darn interesting. Anyway we should skype soon or something! I miss you!

[Shae]

KK, Can I live in your "Future house" with you?? :) Miss YOUUU

[Tom Walsh]

Beautiful girl
You don't look like a boy in that picture - you look like a beautiful Irish Girl! Hope you are having the time of your life - enjoy every minute of it. Love, Uncle Tom, the Godfather.

[Tom Walsh]

Your boat
KK, I love your new boat and your castle. It doesn't surprise me that you have been so successful so quickly on the emerald isle - let's us know when we can stay at the castle - it looks mighty grand, lassy. Hope you are having a ton of fun. We miss you on Pickering Street. Top of the morning (or afternoon) to you, Love, Uncle Tom the godfather.