Up and at ’em early this morning! Left Clifden just before 9am and drove south toward Inverin, to the Connemara regional airport. The trip was actually way shorter than I anticipated, so being as anal as I am, I arrived at the ‘massive’airport at 10am, in time for my 11.30am departure. Joke was on me….check in started at 11.15am and we took off at 11.30 sharp. So I had to kick my heels in the little airport, always good to have kindle and facebook handy when you are killing time.

I was not delighted to see that the vomit comet….er plane….was an 8 seater, I am not a happy flyer in a small plane. Mercifully the flight is only 10 minutes, so just as the queasiness as setting in we landed. If I thought Inverin airport was small, this little airport takes the cake. But once again, warm hospitality from the locals. A small panel van took us all into town, I was dropped of for about 30 minutes and then collected again and brought to the bed and breakfast, Kilmurvey House, where I am staying. Initally, I was a bit disappointed, as I thought I had made a mistake and booked too far out of town. Understand….there are no taxis here! Its foot, cycle or horse and trap!

BUT….no mistake…the main attraction Dun Aengus, is the property adjacent. So actually, with more arse than class, I am in the prime location. What an afternoon I have had on the island too. Came to my room which is spotless, spacious and very comfortable. Unpacked, got cameras sorted, and I could hear a cow lowing….like it was in distress. Looked out the window…but couldn’t see anything. Anyway, I wondered downstairs and the bnb owner called me to look at their new born calf….about 7 minutes old by the time I saw him! His mom was not so interested in him, as she had ‘adopted’ another calf a few days ago. I watched the farmer milk her and then feed the baby….quite special.

I was advised by my wonderful host not to go up Dun Aengus until after 4pm, because of the crowds. So I wondered around the local area and 2 little shops and then had a tomato soup with fresh bread for lunch. The amount of day tourists to the island is amazing. People come in by ferry and by plane. Gazzillion of French and American kids. To think that we got to go to Waterfall Boven or Glenmore as our travel excursions…..humph!

Finally, I went up to the Dun (Fort) just after 4pm, and there were only a handful of people around. From my pics, you will see that I managed to get some awesome shots with no people. I also saw at least eight black fins in the waters below, in various areas. Turns put they were Baskin sharks…the second largest fish in the world. I took some great video…but I am posting a downloaded pic from google for you to see. When I asked the people down at the travel centre what it was that I saw, there was much excitement and phoning to the nature lookout stations. This was one of the first sightings this spring. So glad I had it on video to show them.

The view of the cliffs and surrounds was something special. I was so desperate to see over the side, but was too chicken to go close to the edge. It is a sheer drop, with no railings or anything, because it is a 3000 year old monument. Then I noticed that it was quite rocky and not dirty…so I thought to hell with it and I got onto my tummy and slithered forward. There were two guys up there at the time, and the one dude was super impressed, so he offered to take a pic of me. Only problem was, he was as nervous as I was….but he did a great job!

Dún Aengus is the most famous of several prehistoric forts on the Aran Islands. It is at the edge of a 100-metre high cliff.It was built during the Bronze Age and dates from 1,000 B.C. or before. It is called “the most magnificent barbaric monument in Europe.” The name “Dún Aengus” meaning “Fort of Aengus” apparently a pre-Christian god  in Irish mythology.

Home for a shower and then the owners drove us into town for dinner. I ate at The Pier reataurant….overlooking….the pier. Had a great meal, seafood spaghetti. No desert tonight. We were collected again at 9.15pm and on the drive back to the bnb, saw the most spectacular sunset. So beautiful that the owner stopped the van, so that she could look at it. She then told us that it was the most beatiful that she has seen this year so far. Some locals who walked by the car made the same remarks. So I guess we were really lucky! I hope my pics do it justice.

Having walked about 7.5 miles today, I am suitably footsore and weary. But a very contented traveller…..looking forward to more adventure tomorrow!

For Brett, Game of Thrones filmed in northern  areas of Ireland….near Giants causeway. Father Ted was filmed down this end.

Leprechauns = 0

School kids =0

Father Ted =0

spectacular sunset = 1

Peering over the past ndge

Cliffs from the fort

Sunset on Inishmor

Happy to see over the edge

Sunset special

Church at dusk

Peering over

Inside the fort

Side view

It was a red fir ball

Google pic of Baskin shark

The Pier restaurant

More Irish lessons

Google pic to show aerial view of fort

Other side of cliffs

Cliffs with a filter

Side view of Downtown n Aengus

Sefood pasta

Kilvurney House

Celtic cross

Irish lesson for Tyla

Irish lesson 2 for Tyla