Ireland – Day 6

We were in Connemara, in County Galway, today.  Lovely landscapes and hills (living against the Rocky Mountains, I can’t call them mountains).

Kylemore Abbey

Not really and abbey, but purpose built by a rich Englishman (A hooray Henry, according to Olcan), Kylemore Abbey was a girl’s school until last year, when it was sold.  It appears to be on its way to becoming just a major tourist spot.  It is, however, a beautiful place.

I just knew it…

We stopped in Leenaun for lunch at Gaynor’s Pub.  Hillary, the gentleman who owns the pub, is a really nice guy and we enjoyed the warmth of his establishment.  Of course, the sign outside is quite correct according to every Irishman we spoke to.

A true Irish landscape

Coming up on Lake Nafooey, we came upon what has to be the quintessential western Irish landscape.  The lighting was flat, but it can’t hide the beauty of the countryside.

Marker in Children’s Cemetery

During the famine, children who died before being baptized were buried in unconsecrated ground.  Rocks were piled over the graves and they have remained that way since.  The Catholic Church has, in past years, changed their mind and the gravesites have since been consecrated.  They are usually seen as mounds in the distance.  We saw one off a side road before Lake Nafooey.  It is a disquieting sight.

Finally, I was always told that a full Irish breakfast consisted of many, not very appetizing foods, such as black sausage and pudding.  I have discovered that this is a gross slander (probably started by the French) and now have a picture to prove it…

A Full Irish Breakfast

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