http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Mayo en-us Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:25:28 +0000 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:25:28 +0000 We finally found our first free WiFi.... not quite a coffee shop but a Cyber Pub Totally comfortable with driving for the most part. Last nights campground was more like a Gypsy encampment so we hit the road early and have been touring the countryside. We are next heading to Connamerra and camping near the town of Clifden. Probably moving south tomorrow and maybe out to the Arran Islands. We http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-438449.html A great big suprise in KnockWe all made our way to Stanstead early in the morning to suprise Kyle on his 30th Birthday. Once arriving at our desitination in Knock we were hit with a problem one of our friends Roland from Namibia was not allowed to enter Ireland on his visa. So we got told to sit our in the airport waiting room to find out if he was alowed to enter into Ireland. Two hours later w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-410705.html Or.... I guess its South West.Drove through the enchanting little town of Sligo about 1500 people visiting the sacred grave of Ireland's national Poet Nobel laureate WB Yeats who is buried in the graveyard of St. Columba's Church of Ireland church in Drumcliffe.Made a beach stop at surf hotspot Strandhill. One thing I have neglected to say so far is that the weather is absolutly fabulous. I m http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-409185.html Craggy rockstrewn cliffs rain and a good dose of Catholicism greeted Dad and I as we entered the Burren from the Ring of Kerry. We've continued our trek around the coast heading slowly upwards from Killarney stopping frequently to take panoramic photos and stain our teeth with endless pots of tea. Each day we've made ambitious plans to travel x hundred kilometers to the next big town but we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-399746.html Our trip to Ireland was timed for a wedding to two friends of Fran's however two days before the wedding date it was canceled. We took the nonbride to her home on Achill Island and took a day to explore this beautiful place. It rained the whole way there however we had good conversation as we made our way up the coast. Even though Fran's friend was devastated she was still wonderful to get http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Achill-Island/blog-386492.html Ally and I just spent the past two days in Westport Co. Mayo one of Irelandrsquos few planned towns in Ireland. We took the bus from Galway yesterday afternoon and arrived to a rainymisty night. After checking into The Old Mill Holiday Hostel where we shared a 7bed female dorm with a solo New Zealander guess itrsquos low season for Westport we hit the streets of the town centre whic http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-345130.html KONICHIWAAAAAAAThat's Pikachu a.k.a. The Cosmic Inferno screaming into a microphone. She's the guest singer of Acid Mothers Temple the reclusive Japanese psychedelic band that lives communally on the slopes of Mt Fuji. They look like monks and take their music and acid very seriously. Except Pikachu. She looks like Pris the berserk android from Blade Runner. The Pale refers to the tiny pa http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-310950.html July 14 2008 MondayCastlebar County Mayo Republic of Ireland to Sligo to Londonderry N. Ireland Sligo was our first stop this is the place W. B. Yeats Ireland's best know poet was born into a prominent local family. Strolling around the town we came across the metal sculpture of WM Yeats. The road today was very doable and a big improvement It was a long drive today from Cast http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-305194.html WhereFor those who donrsquot know Croagh Patrick is not Irelands highest mountain but definitely it's most famous. For 40 days and 40 nights St. Patrick fasted on top of the lsquoreekrsquo before he banished snakes from Ireland People climb the reek all year round but on the last Sunday in July over 25000 people congregate at the bottom of the reek to make the climb up the holy mountain http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-299791.html well pretty much as the title says and not lol Well myself and Mr M have decided after much discussion over the past seven years that we'll just go for it so the saving in earnest begins and we are now looking at the atlas picking out places we want to go to and watching every show on the travel channel to get ideas. I've always wanted to travel from as far back as I can remember. My parents http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-293721.html Drove back to Carrickfergus Castle and toured for an hour. We then started our long drive across Ireland. We are staying overnight in Castlebar and ate dinner at Coxrsquos Restaurant. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-278046.html Last weekend I joined my Irish friends to visit the western part of the Republic of Ireland. We stayed overnight in Ballymote and visited Ballina Inniscrone and the place called Knock. I dont have any idea about this small town in County Mayo. Even my Irish friends did not bother to tell me prior to the visit until we reached the place the Knock Shrine. As I stepped out from the car my frie http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-263245.html Wersquore now in County Mayo at Kinsallagh overlooking Clew Bay and Achill Island with the Atlantic pounding on the other side at a very cosy BB. Behind us is Croagh Padraig the hill on which St Patrick is said to have fasted forty days and nights and where he banished the snakes and toads of Ireland with the exception of one type. The weather is getting cooler and the long johns ha http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-258055.html hi guys.I am reading your bloggs and have to say they are amazing.I will try to write something about my second job as a babysiter abroad.It was in a year 2006 march. I was 19year girl looking for new adventures experiences something different and of course earnings.Just imagine most beautiful place that touches your soul and breaks your heart to leave behind. Where nature is at its best w http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/blog-256402.html Wow I can't remember how many times myfriend and I uttered this word in the 4 daysthat we traveled along the west coast of Ireland.Yep Ireland is beautifulOn Thursday we flew into Knock and in galeforce wind and very cold rain we located our rental and started of our 4 day journey to Shannon. Through mist rain and occasional clear skies we drove on the narrow roads which is marked 100kmh http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-219488.html Driving around Ireland certainly isnrsquot as bad as driving in Australia there is a lot more to see for starters But today we had a bit of a boring drive through Sligo and onto Westport. We didnrsquot stop much along the way and after a quick visit to the Tourist Info Centre to book our accommodation we split up and went our separate ways.Ryan and KB wanted to check out the coastal si http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-194491.html Wellhellip last time I talked to ya I was in Galway still. I kinda went to sleep for 2 days in attempt to cure whatever was going on with my stomach and rest up. I was surely tired from the week on the island. By Tuesday my clothes were clean and I was up and running. Tuesday night Denise and I had a bit of fun. Met some really nice people from Cliften and hung out with them toohellip Wednes http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-177941.html Croagh Patrick mountainWaking up nice and early I had breakfast packed a few snacks and made sure my bike was working alright then headed off to the mountain. After a short bike ride to pilgrims route up the mountain during the summer there are 1000 of pilgrims that climb up the mountain to pray both Christian and pagan. They even have a huge festival type thing in the top near the summer solstic http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-116409.html Waking up at 5am we packed a bit more had quick showers and were off The fog was intense barley able to see more than a car or 2 in front of us but all in all much better than being at work We filled up at the exorbitant Christmas diesel rate of 1.02 a literusually 0.92 and drove through the classic British Christmas scene white frost covered grounds and trees looking a lot like snow it was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-114184.html The rolling green hills First real day in Ireland as slept in Dublin for 17 hours after disembarking. Hired a car this morning and took off westwards. The roads A motorway quickly turned into a single lane in each direction with stone fences lining them. THe 200km took more than 6 hours to navigate due to the shocking traffic through each town. Once we arrived in town we found our BB actu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Mayo/Westport/blog-101832.html