Amlwch Port & a gentle stroll

Next day Martin took us down to Amlwch port, still used by pleasure craft but once important for ship-building.

The view as you first arrive...

...and the Watch House at the harbour entrance, now used by Martin and his GeoMôn colleagues as an information centre. 

The once busy port was used by ships exporting copper ore mined in the nearby Parys Mountain

An illustration from one of the books on display.

Evidence of fishing activity.

There's an influence from Cornwall too, the harbour walls having vertical stones

In the afternoon Caroline took us to nearby Cefni Reservoir

It's a beautiful open space...

...complete with lone fisherman.

The disused railway track has become a useful footpath.

Porth Padrig

We spent a couple of nights with old Bingley friends, Caroline & Martin who now leave in Amlwch, not far from Holyhead.

Caroline took us (and the dog) out for a walk nearby...

...with beautiful views over Cemaes Bay.

We scrambled down to Porth Padrig...

...some more agile than others!

We saw some beautiful rock formations...

...and a mysterious cave.

Tine as intrepid as ever...

...leaving me at the entrance.

I love a good pebble photo!

Dublin Ferry Port

All things come to end and it was time for us to catch the ferry. Not to France though, to Holyhead on Anglesey in North Wales.

Safely on board after our cross-country drive, a final Guinness.

Trust there to be blue skies for our departure!

 

Goodbye, Ireland, it's been fun! Slán, as they say.

The Great Famine

Also known at the Potato Famine when successive crops failed and about one million Irish died, many others emigrating.

The Murrisk Millennium Peace Park... 

...where this very moving sculpture named the Coffin Ship is displayed.

It was unveiled in 1997 to mark the 150th anniversary of the Irish Famine.

We saw another monument at Salthill...

...with views that emigrants might have seen as they left their homes for a new life.

Murrisk

Back in the car to Murrisk...

...with its views back over Clew Bay towards Westport.

Don't forget the backdrop of Croagh Patrick, considered a holy mountain in Ireland. People used to climb it at the beginning of harvest, although these days it's a very popular climb any time of year.

Murrisk Abbey

Can you spot the Star Wars figure?

Another beautiful setting

Westport

Next day we woke up to sunshine, so off we traipsed towards Westport.

Once we'd figured out the one-way system we parked up beside the Carrowbeg River...

...complete with a beautiful old bridge.

Tine went into the local tourist office (seeing one of the Chieftans there!) whilst I wandered around the lovely square.

Of course we soon found a pub for a spot of lunch...

...and the obligatory Guinness and rosé.

It doesn't take much to amuse me.

We drove along to Westport Quay...

...with a wonderful view of Croagh Patrick over the bay.