Headed up to Dublin tomorrow. Kay drove out there today to visit her daughter Leonora. The weather today was very fine, not the same winds as yesterday, it was also a bit warmer and the sun was shining.
I decided to take a drive through the country. Behind me here is Lough Corrib. I saw a lot of really pretty scenery today. I was driving in and around the Connemara region in western Galway. I also drove through parts of Mayo including the village of Cong.
The area around Cong is where John Ford filmed "The Quiet Man". Above is a statue of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in the town.
While they were filming the crew stayed here in nearby Ashford Castle, one of the fanciest hotels in Europe.
Driving East from Cong to Leenane, you pass through Connemara where there are some beautiful views of the Maumturk mountains.
This is Aasleagh (pronounced Ashley) falls at the head of Killary Harbor, one of three glacial fjords in Ireland.
A few sheep on the road. I saw lots of this today.
I drove up towards Westport and stopped at Croagh Patrick, one of the tallest mountains in Ireland. This is the trail leading up to it. It's extremely rocky. Catholics will make a pilgrimage in June up the mountain, in years past some of them would do it barefoot as a penance.
I walked up a little way, but not very far. It's supposed to take 3 1/2 hours to make the trip up and down.
Even though I"m still just at the foot of the mountain the views are very nice. The village of Murrisk is at the foot of the mountain behind me and beyond it, Clew Bay.
Here are the rules for earning plenary indulgences by climbing the mountain.
I only spent a few minutes in Westport, even though it is one of the most picturesque towns in Ireland. I drove down to the quay on Westport harbor. Behind me is the Asgard restaurant, now closed. Years ago the building was a residence for members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, my great-grandfather Thomas Dowling on my mother's side was a constable in the R.I.C. who lived here, and this is where my grandmother was born. Constable Tom Dowling was killed in an I.R.A. ambush, known as the Carrowkennedy Ambush, which took place on June 2nd, 1921. He actually died of his wounds two days later on my grandmother's ninth birthday. His name is inscribed in the Garda Memorial Garden in Dublin Castle.
Anyway, off to Dublin tomorrow, hope everyone is well,
Luke
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