The Ham Nomads

09 Jun 2014. <IE> Galway, & Killarone, & Letterfrack, Co. Galway —

Not a particularly encouraging day. Started at the Westside shopping centre in Galway. Went into Dunnes to do a little shopping (Susie got a cardigan). Then went into a hair salon about four doors down, and Susie was able to get her hair done. Caught up with blog, mail home — that kind of day. Then set off for points further northwest.

Our first port of call was at Killarone, where we dropped in to look over Aughnanure Castle. This is not what we'd been seeing up to now, as it was a 16th century tower house (not 13th or 14th), built by the O'Flahertys, one of Connacht's most notable lordly families. Aughnanure comes from the Gaelic 'Achadh na nlubhar' - the field of the yews. There is still one specimen standing in the grounds, but not as old as some we've seen! The main difference between this tower house and others we've seen is that the apertures we see are not arrow loops, but embrasures for muskets — but even this advance didn't save the place when artillery was brought to bear on it!

The O'Flahertys were a very warlike clan, and they retained control of the Castle (more or less — at times it passed into other hands, but they always regained it) until they passed it over to the state as late as 1952. This castle has been substantially renovated, and is now used for educational and cultural functions on a fairly regular basis. It's a tall tower — six storeys — and in its earlier life had a large banqueting hall to the south of the tower.

We wandered this castle, but finally the rains came and we decided to move on. We drove northwest, and stopped in the next town of Oughterard (Uachter Ard) where we parked off and had lunch in the van as we watched the black rainclouds catching up to us (and the schoolchildren getting drenched on their way home). We then drove onwards towards the Connemara National Park. On the way, Warren insisted on stopping off in spite of the rain to photograph an interesting group of trees in a lake by the road — we found out later that this was in Derryclare Loch, and this is not the first time these trees have been photographed! Spectacular.

Derryclare Loch

We got to the Connemarra National Park, seeing spectacular scenery on the way, and we found that we would be able to park overnight in the parking area there, and checked out some walks for tomorrow. Susie did the shortest Nature walk while Warren bludged in the van with a Guinness! Everything's positive, except for one thing — midges! The bane of the bushwalker! Luckily we came prepared for these pests, and had a very effective insect repellent in our armoury!

Distance driven — today, 67 miles ( 108 km ); to date, 2,239 miles ( 3,604 km )