Galway to Connemara to Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland

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July 13, 2008
Galway to Connemara to Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland

Oscar Wilde described Connemara as a "savage beauty", and its patchwork of lakes, rugged mountains and windswept bogs certainly give a sense of splendid isolation. Ireland, but especially NW Ireland is a fisherman's delight. This is for you Dave Geis, you would love the fishing... the lakes, the rivers and the ocean fishing is incredible...from trout to salmon and many others in between.
Irish is the everyday language in this area, folks send their children here to learn Irish (Gaelic) in the summer. Many signs are only in Irish.
This is July 13 and we are wearing fleece and raincoats as we approach the Connemara National Park, and we are chilly. Because of the rain and fog, the rangers asked that we not hike to the top of the mountain on the Diamond loop trail, which was our plan. So we hiked the lower part of the trail in the rain and wind for an hour or two. Getting back "home" for a hot cup of tea and dry clothing was welcoming.
Lough Lannagh Village, Castlebar was our stop for the evening. A very nice B&B and campground facility, complete with gym, steam room, etc

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