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Wow, I can't believe I have come to the end of my marathon 31-day blogging effort! I have absolutely adored reliving my 2017 trip through this series of blog posts. I hope you have enjoyed coming along on the ride with me, and that you have learned all about Ireland through pictures! For my final... Continue Reading →
Day 30: The Plassey Shipwreck I visited the Plassey Shipwreck on my third and final full day on Inisheer. To get to the wreck I chose to hire a bike from the only bike hire shop on the island, run by a very friendly local. The cargo vessel Plassey was shipwrecked off Inis Oírr in the... Continue Reading →
Day 29: Grikes The terrain of the island of Inisheer is composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks known as "grikes", leaving isolated rocks called "clints". Quite unsteady under foot, so a good set of walking shoes is needed. Such a quiet, unspoilt spot, with occasional offshore seal spotting!
Day 28: The Lighthouse Inisheer Lighthouse was completed in 1857 after it was argued that the Inishmore lighthouse was too high and it did not cover the entrances to the North or South Sounds of the Islands. The lighthouse originally had a fixed optic lamp which was supplied by the Chance Brothers of Birmingham. In... Continue Reading →
Day 27: Stone Walls The stone walls really are of the most impressive and peculiar sights on Inis Óirr. The criss-cross walls define the farmers fields, and collectively add up to thousands of miles. I had walked up to O'Brien's Castle only to find the grounds closed off to visitors (being March it was still... Continue Reading →
Day 26: O'Brien's Castle The Castle oversees Inisheer from one of the highest points of the island, with views of the beach, pier, and ruins below. This castle is thought to have been built in 14th century making it one of the oldest ruins on the Aran Islands. It would pre-date the other ruins in... Continue Reading →
Day 25: Teampall Chaomhán St Cavan's Church (also "St Kevin's Church", Irish: Teampall Chaomhán) is a ruined church, built in the 10th century, at the location of the saint's grave. The entrance is now below ground level, as the church was nearly buried by drifting sands; it has now been excavated and is kept clear of sand by... Continue Reading →
Day 23: Dunguaire Castle Dunguaire Castle (Irish: Dún Guaire) is a 16th-century tower house on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay in County Galway, near Kinvara. The name derives from the Dun of King Guaire, the legendary king of Connacht. The castle's 75-foot (23 m) tower and its defensive wall have been restored, and the grounds are open to tourists during... Continue Reading →
The day I got lost on Gort Road I stumbled across the Burren Nature Sanctuary. I stopped in on the long walk home for something to eat, and decided to take the self-guided walk around the sanctuary while I was there. Along the walk I happened upon a traditional Irish Traveller wagon. The traditional horse-drawn... Continue Reading →
I spent six days in the small village of Kinvara doing research for my main characters childhood homes. Kinvara is small, but I managed to get lost more than once. My Airbnb host had suggested a nice walk to do which would take me from the main street of town in a loop down past... Continue Reading →
Kate Kelsen 