I had a really good sleep last night, I was exhausted last night. Woke up and it was overcast today but it has cleared up throughout the day. After a banting breakfast, I was ready to move, at 9ish. Unfortunately the castle in Athlone only opens at 12pm on a Sunday, so I had to miss out on that.

I headed off to Clonmacnoise, about 18km south of Athlone. Clonmacnoise is on the banks of the River Shannon and is an ancient monastic city. Basically it is a walled area which encloses tall crosses, graves and some small churches. The monestary was founded by St Ciaran in 548AD and was an important link between the east and west in Ireland. Apparently so many monks came to study and stay here, that this is where the name of ‘land of saints and scholars’ was derived from.

The area surrounding the monastery is called the Shannon Callows…mostly marshy areas with lots of flora and birds.

From there, I set Daniel to hed to Sligo, and to avoid hiways and toll roads, so it was the country roads  for me. I stopped at a fantastic little spot in the town of Tulsk and had lunch at a restaurant called The Friary, I had a lasagne and salad….and of course everything comes with big fat chips! I was very good and refrained. As a lone traveller, and a South African…I was a source of great interest to the owner and staff.

I hit the road again, and had a brief stop in Boyle, to see the abbey there. An hour later I got to my hotel, The Glasshouse in Sligo. A quick unpack and I hit the town for a walkabout. Not much to see as it is Sunday afternoon and most places are closed. Naturally its only the pubs that are open. I popped in to a few and was lucky enough to see some impromptu music sessions. I had a walk around the Sligo Abbey as well.

Its crazy to eat dinner with the sun shining high in the sky. Its now 9pm, I have just got back to my room, and the sun is still up!

If I get it right again, as you click on the pictures I post, a tag should come up to tell you what it is.

Happy mothers day to all the Mom’s reading my blog and especially to my precious Mom! Sorry I wasn’t there, but you were in my thoughts all day!

Still not a leprechaun to be seen….

At Clonmacnoise monastery

Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise

River Shannon in the background

Boyle Abbey

View from my hotel room in Sligo

Love this name for a pub

River Garavogue in Sligo

Sligo Abbey

Music seeSsion in Sligo pub

Mussels in white whicne

French apple tart

9pm on Saturday night