Day 7: Connemara & Yeats' Country
 

Today we drove around the main sights of Galway before traveling though Connemara, a scenic region of misty hills, shimmering lakes and bogland.

Then went by way of  Maam Cross. There is real Connemara scenery here for the walker, cyclist or climber. At Maumeen is 'St. Patrick's Bed' and 'St. Patrick's Wall', which attracts a local pilgrimage on the last Sunday of July. The film 'The Quiet Man' (1952 , John Wayne, Victor McLaglen, Barry Fitzgerald, Maureen O'Hara ) was filmed nearby, We stopped at the pub where the film was made and the area has become something of a pilgrimage centre for film aficionados.

On many maps the Irish name for Maam Cross is 'Teach Dóite', meaning 'burned house', and originated when the only local pub burned down, thus depriving the inhabitants of access to (legal) alcohol; this catastrophic happening made such an impression that the place was named after the event.

We then took the route from Leenane to Westport, an attractive town with wide tree-lined streets and a central square.

 

I think this was Saturday we then drove on to the Foxford Woollen Mills to learn how this industry was founded by nuns to alleviate poverty during the 19th century. We saw original machinery as well as how wonderful tweeds are still produced today. I found some wonderful tweed jackets I wanted Al to get, but he didn't see a need. I had hoped they would have some women's jackets in the same patterns, but they did not or I would have purchased at least one. I bought a beautiful light blue and white blanket for my friend taking care of Fluffy.

 

Then we drove through the lovely scenery of Sligo, immortalized by W. B. Yeats' poetry. In the shadow of the distinctive Ben Bulben Mountain, we saw his grave at Drumcliffe Church where his grandfather was rector.  I thought this area reminded me the most of our own Shenandoah Valley here in Virginia

 

We then traveled around Donegal Bay to the seaside town of Bundoran for overnight at the Great Northern Hotel. It was very impressive sitting on top of the cliff overlooking the entire town. The town was pretty quiet as the real tourist seaside season hadn't begun yet. But you could tell it got very busy here and it had a more carnival resort atmosphere in the town.

 

The hotel public areas were nice and we were treated very well by the owner who came to our dinner table to talk with all of us. Unfortunately, the hotel rooms have seen better days and are in need of some refurbishment. But one night was not a problem and we slept very well. I tried to get a good sunset photo, but the clouds wouldn't cooperate.