The World Through Our Lens
Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic to the west of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St Georges Channel, and after which it is the largest island of the British Isles archipelago.
The grandeur of Kylemore Abbey extends well beyond the opulence of the original Castle to the expansive Victorian Walled Garden that rises from the heretofore boggy moorland in County Galway, Ireland. It is a magnificent example of what can be achieved when creative engineering is combined with tenacity and inspiration. Read more
A slow tour of the Connemara region in County Galway was our aim after leaving County Mayo. Its mix of blanket bogs, lakes, mountains and moorlands is reputed to be awe-inspiring and unspoilt, a perfect example of natural beauty. Bob and I were off the sheets early to an already wet morning, and rain was expected to settle in for the day. Our route to Ros an Mhil (Rossaveal) was undecided, but we intended to catch a ferryboat at noon, that is until we rounded a corner and were brought up short by the jaw-dropping beauty of Kylemore Abbey. Read more
It was a glorious sunny afternoon when Bob and I set off to discover Cong Abbey Ruins, which lies close to the main street of Cong in County Mayo. The impressive ruins of the Augustinian Abbey stood proud against a bright blue sky while Bob and I immersed ourselves in the intriguing past of this important historic site. Read more
The estate property of Ashford Castle boasts a dense, healthy forest thanks to the efforts of previous owners Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness and his eldest son, Lord Ardilaun. Sir Benjamin had thousands of trees planted during his occupancy of the castle after acquiring it in 1852, and in later years, when the estate passed to Arthur, he expanded the plantings to create extensive woodlands. Read more
It had been a long day prior to our arrival at Ashford Castle, having left Killarney that morning, explored the Cliffs of Moher, and subsequently hiked about The Burren and discovered the history of Poulnabrone Dolmen. Ashford Castle is located in the picturesque village of Cong on the shores of Lough Corrib in County Mayo, and when we first spotted the magnificent sprawling edifice, we were in disbelief. It would be our “hotel” for the next couple of days, and it was strikingly impressive. Read more
It was very late in the afternoon when Bob and I came by the famous landmark that is Dunguaire Castle, and the place was pretty much deserted. It was en route to Ashford Castle, our accommodation for the night, that we happened upon this ancient castle near Kinvara. Dunguaire Castle sits on a rocky outcrop on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay in County Clare. Its simple yet magnificent architecture features a 75-foot tower, and both the tower and the defensive wall have been meticulously restored to their original condition.
After our initial exploration of The Burren, Bob and I continued to the peak of the limestone plateau in order to locate Poulnabrone Dolmen. There, 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of Ballyvaughan in County Clare, it rises majestically and sits conspicuously in the middle of a field. Poulnabrone Dolmen, and many others, still stand today as stone sentinels at the gates of our civilization’s history, history that is laid bare on The Burren. Read more
After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, Bob and I still had quite a distance to cover since we would be hanging our hats that night at Ashford Castle in the village of Cong. One area we wanted to investigate on the way was The Burren, a uniquely fascinating bit of landscape near the village of Ballyvaughan. The stark, mournful terrain of that region is the result of little soil cover and sweeping expanses of exposed Limestone Pavement. Read more
A short distance from Ennistymon brought us to the famed Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, one of the most dramatic stretches of Ireland’s west coast. When first we arrived, a light drizzle dampened our clothing, and a brisk wind swept in off the ocean lending a distinct chill to the air. With our rain ponchos in place, we were ready for anything. Read more
After taking our leave of Killarney, Bob and I wasted no time driving towards our next destination, the Cliffs of Moher. A freeway made it possible to put the miles behind us quickly, and then we exited onto secondary roads near Ennis. Next thing you know, we were driving down the quiet streets of the country market town known as Ennistymon in County Clare. A short walking tour of the Main Street turned up a very unexpected reminder of our Canadian home, a Tim Hortons coffee cup. Read more
