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.

 

A wet day visiting County Galway

And boy, how it rained!

First stop Clifden...

...with evidence of fishing

After lunch in one of the bars we headed for Cleggan

Who knew there was a town named after my family?

To be honest there wasn't a lot to see...

...and the weather wasn't improving.

Our last stop of the day was Kylemore Abbey...

...on the banks of the Pollacapall Lough

Sadly we didn't get to visit the abbey...

...but the views were worth the stop.

Galway

Our final stay was just outside Galway, the Airbnb not being our best choice but we were impressed by Galway town.

The cathedral

Dedicated in 1965...

...it is the youngest of  Europe's stone cathedrals.

We had a spot of lunch in this bar...

...opposite The Quays...

...with its own Galway girls.

The River Corrib is only 6 km long but very fast flowing. No wonder when we saw the amount of rain that could fall!

The Spanish Arch, part of the original medieval town walls...

...constructed to protect the busy quays.

St Padrig's Church at Llanbadrig & Cemaes Port

Continuing our day we visited St Padrig's Church, on the site of the church that Saint Patrick founded after being shipwrecked on the island.

Its setting is beautiful, perched near the cliffs.

Inside was impressive too.

The Ichthus Stone, probably inscribed by Christians in the 10th century, discovered in 1884.

Another graveyard with a good view!

On to the port at Cemaes 

The tide was out on this visit...

...but no less interesting.

Lots of catching up to be done by these two!

Back chez Caroline & Martin... 

 

...Tine's having a go 'throwing' a pot...

 

...with video to show her efforts.

As a post script, months later we had a parcel delivered chez nous: Tine's pot, complete with Shreddies for me!