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A Week In Central West Ireland (6/7)

 

These pictures come from our visit to the Irish Midlands and County Clare coast in April 2011.

  

 

 

 

 

In the grounds of Aillwee cave, we found this carved pole. Mouse over to see my impersonation. That evening we drove north, around Galway city, then up the west bank of Lough Corrib. We stayed overnight at Oughterard at the very comfortable Carrrown Tober B&B and dined well at Breathnachs restaurant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After dinner, we took a twilight stroll the mile from the village to the Lough and heard nightjars chirruping in the fields along the way. On Friday morning, we drove clockwise around Lough Corrib, enjoying this spot where we must have counted 30 islands. Mouse over for a closer look.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in Oughterard, we visited Aughnanure Castle. Here we are at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aughnanure Castle was built in the 16th century and came complete with its own little harbour, since silted up. We liked this pepper pot watchtower in the castle grounds, next to the castle keep.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking upwards at the keep, you can see the slits whence boiling oil was poured on unwanted visitors. There are also narrow windows from which you can fire arrows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aughnanure Castle's banqueting hall is in ruins, but this window arch is intact, and you can see grapes represented in the stonework. Mouse over to see the grapevines in detail. The resident O'Flahertys, one of western Ireland's most landed families, clearly liked a tipple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This looks like a priest's hole but was actually a punishment cell. Prisoners could smell the feasting, hear the minstrels, but were kept cold and underfed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Aughnanure Castle, we drove two hours south again back into County Clare, to Drumquin organic farm - aka Father Ted's. We pre-booked a 4pm teatime slot with the owner, whom I remembered not to call Mrs Doyle.

 

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