Cliffs and castles
The weather today was gloriously warm and I abandoned my thermal underwear for the first time. A man selling pottery said this week was the first time they had seen the sun for 10 months.
We drove from Galway to Killarney, and this time we decided to visit only two places and not rush. Our first stop was The Cliffs of Moher, which are a very popular tourist attraction judging by the number of coaches and cars. We walked along the cliff top path, tut tutting at the foolhardy tourists who climbed over the fence to get selfies on the edge of a very steep drop. June made me climb up very steep narrow staircases to the top of the watch tower. There was an excellent exhibition that included a 4D experience (with wind and water) that allowed us to get a closer look at the many species of birds nesting in the Cliffs- including Puffins. I succumbed to the lure of a penny whistle in the music shop.
Then we realised the fuel tank was nearly empty, so our next stop was a petrol station.
We went on to Bunratty Castle and Folk Museum. The castle is 15th century and was in ruins when it was bought by Viscount Gort in 1953 for £1000 and restored. I found the folk village even more interesting as it had recreations of various houses from a labourer's cottage to an elegant Georgian house and walled garden. These lambs were very cute.
June has conquered Irish roundabouts but ee were seriously challenged coming into Killarney because there are horse and buggy rides operating from the centre of the roundabout, which slowed traffic considerably.
We had dinner at the Lake Hotel which overlooks Lough Learne, and then explored the nearby ruins of Muckross Abbey which are in Killarney National Park. It's a beautiful calm spot or would be if a group of teenagers hadn't been partying in the Abbey.