Connemara: A little slice of heaven

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When last we left you, we'd been exploring the Connemara area. On our last day in Connemara, we saw some really spectacular sights.

On Monday, we drove from Clifden out to Cong, in Co. Mayo. Cong is famous for being the place where much of "The Quiet Man" was filmed (and boy is the town milking it-- there's "Quiet Man" everything for sale there) and the area is very scenic. We walked around the old Cong Abbey and gardens, which were truly lovely. We had lunch in town and walked around the quaint streets. Then, we drove out to Ashford Castle. The castle is a five star hotel (famous for being the place Pierce Brosnan got married) and it is so incredible. As commoners and not posh hotel guests, we were not actually allowed inside the hotel. However, we did get to wander around the grounds. There are all sorts of gardens, meadows, woods and a beautiful waterfront. Most exciting to Kevin-- a falconry. Yes, they train falcons there, and we got to see someone walking along in the woods, having a falcon land on her gloved wrist every few yards. Kevin

is in love with this concept and plans to get a pet falcon as soon as we return home. Feel free to insert SNL jokes here.

After leaving Cong, we drove back into Co. Galway and up towards Kylemore Abbey again. We passed through the little town of Leenane, set on the edge of Ireland's only Fjord. We stopped to look at a waterfall there and ended up befriending a horse that was drinking out of a nearby stream. Again, Kevin was so enchanted he hopes to also get a horse when we return home. We'll just keep it in the dining room.

Connemara is truly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been and we were just blown away by the scenery here. If you're coming to Ireland, I can't recommend this area enough. We stayed at Buttermilk Lodge in Clifden, a really great B&B (which we already miss) and would recommend it. That's it for now!

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Photos

Clifden
View of Clifden from the D'Arcy Monument, above town.

Lambs
There are tons of lambs around this time of year.

County Mayo
Entering the lovely Co. Mayo

Erin at Cong Abbey
The grounds behind Cong Abbey are gorgeous!

Cong Abbey
Pretty old abbey in the middle of Cong.

Quiet Man Stuff
Yeah, Cong isn't milking the Quiet Man connection or anything...

Ashford Castle
So gorgeous!!

Aasleagh Falls
Pretty falls. Sweet horse.

A last look at Clifden
We loved Clifden! If you come here, make sure you go to E.J. King's pub. Fantastic music (and Guinness, of course).