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Published: July 24th 2022
Minard Castle
Or more accurately the minimal remains of Minard as it was attacked and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell during his savage Irish campaign of 1649 and 1650.Winding down to exiting temps in the 60's including a fair amount of rain for those in the 90's. Not sure which we prefer at this point. This post will contain pictures from Dingle, Inishmore in the Aran Islands and Portrush in Northern Ireland. Seems the star of this group is Inishmore courtesy of Dun Aengus and the accompanying cliffs with the Cliffs of Moher running a close second. Dun Aengus is a Bronze Age Fortress constructed for a reason we are unable to discern. As you will see the area around the Fortress is largely barren limestone offering little inducement for cultivation. Nonetheless, the fortress was built on the edge of seaside cliffs with stacked limestone.
Aside from the sights we engaged in another lengthy conversation, on this occasion, with a couple on holiday from Dublin along with their two quite pleasant children. She is a pharmacist, while her husband is a professor at Trinity College. Quite a sophisticated couple further dispelling the thoroughly discredited notion the Irish are afflicted with redneckitis. We have developed a healthy respect and attraction for the Irish. As departure nears we both are experiencing the usual sadness, perhaps this time exacerbated by the
Ancient Sheep
The hosts of our airbnb in Dingle kept a small farm with these sheep, which we were informed are a very old breed that have not been mated with different varieties. Took picture as we left with the cuddly sheep bidding us adieu. knowledge we are very unlikely ever to visit the island again. If sixty possible, at seventy-two not so much.
Fetched our last genuine English or Irish meal (really food the same in both countries and not terribly good) in Portrush prior to the trip back to Dublin. The seaside resort town is on a peninsula jutting into the Irish Sea or North Atlantic (your choice). We toured the Dunluce Castle, which our guide book rated one star-wrong. Yes, castle in ruins but overhanging the ocean makes a wonderful scene. Dunluce is the castle depicted in the Game of Thrones. Yes, we did it for you Doozer, but also we were aware the scene is super. Take a look. Sorry Doozer, we ventured to the beginning of the Giants Causeway but must board a van to be shuttled around from one point to the next and with weather threatening we returned home. Chatted fairly briefly with a couple at dinner in Portrush who expressed no concern about future difficulties between UK adherents here and the Irish. This is a bit different from the Trinity College professor, but both abhorred the violence of the last century.
For summation, we would
Cliffs of Moher
Drones completely disallowed, so this is the best we could manage with a camera on land. A couple of days on the return trip from Aran Islands we were treated to a boat ride along the cliffs, which follow. suggest the continent has, in general, more impressive sights than either Ireland or country UK. However, Ireland does have a dynamite few. Unlike the continent, rather few Europeans visit either Ireland or rural UK. We did chat with a group of Germans in Ireland, but that was an exception. A wonderful discovery was the Irish are a super and elegant people. Loved the visit, yet ready to return to the U.S. and the comfort of a home.
We now have a request of our long suffering blog followers. After our last post of the puffins we received a message from our wonderful Baby Bird. Of course she found the puffins extra cute but took exception that if she isn't eating or sleeping, words must be flowing from her mouth. Seems we ruffled her delicate feathers a bit. In an attempt to assuage her brutally wounded self-esteem, we would receive with gratitude if folks would tell BB she doesn't talk too much. Yes, we are aware this is a bit untrue (okay, okay it's a big fat lie) but do it anyway.
We certainly enjoyed telling you troops the story of this trip. Hope you enjoyed it half as
Cliffs of Moher
Toward the north end of the cliffs. much as we did in the telling. Soraidh (goodbye and see you later in Gaelic Irish).
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