Clifden is in Connemara County, and Connemara means inlets from the sea….of which there are many. It is a really picturesque area, with stunning scenery. As predicted this trip is all about nature and ruins.

My first stop today was at Dan O’Hara’s Homestead. A restored original farmers cottage, belonging to Mr O’hara, who was forced to emigrate to the USA after the potato famine in 1845, with his wife and 7 kids. Sadly the wife and three kids died on the sea voyage. He died two years later, penniless on the streets of New York…the grass is not always greener.

Also on this farm were recreations of  round wood and straw structures from ancient times. I finally got up close and personal with bog peat. I saw how it gets dug up, dried out and actually smelled the fires, burning with peat. Long been a fascination from many books I have read. The owner of this farm  Martin – was the first serious eye candy I have seen in Ireland….he must have been a hunk in his day, cos he is still pretty hot!

Interestingly, I have been told about 4 times today, that yesterday was a scorcher. People were red faced from the heat. Suffice it to say that I had a vest on under my long sleeve shirt. Granted I only put a jacket on when it drizzled a little bit.

Anyhoo, I then headed off to the Kylemore Castle and Abbey….where I ended up spending the bulk of my day. Built by Mitchell Henry as a gift for his wife (my kind of husband), she sadly died in Egypt 4 years after its completion. So he came home and built a gothic church and mausoleum for her. It changed hands through various land barons and aristocrats, finally ending up as a Benedictine Abbey.

It also has some fascinating walled gardens, lakes and oak and ash forests. Quiet a place to see and explore. Would love to put an offer to purchase in on a property like that!!

This was followed by a short walk through the Connemara national park, where I crossed paths for about the 4th time in two days with a group of 4 Parisian tourists. As I was driving out the carpark, they were hiking along the road back to Clifden. So I picked them all up and gave them a lift. On our way we decided to drive the Loop Road and explored the coastline. Its hard with not much English spoken…but you will hear lots of French on my video in the car.

Dinner tonight was at O’Malleys pub, and finally an Irish stew, which was excellent. I then ‘pub crawled’…..guffaw….to 2 pubs to listen to the music. After 3 sparkling waters (with lemon), I finally stumbled home at 9.30pm. Its bizarre, because it is still light. Shower done and pj’s on the sun is still up…WTF???

Leprechauns = 0

Fairies = 0

Parisians = 4

Heatwave  = 0

Bog peat dug up in logs

Dan O’hara was a shorty, this is his house

Seen better days

Kylemore Castle

In front of the castle

The gothic church

The mausoleum

Side door to the gardens

On the loop road with ocean behind

Irish stew

Tonights musicians

Gardens at Kylemore

More gardens

Yep…some more gardens