Room with a View: Galway and Connamara

"Grey Skies Over Connamara"

 

The real deal

 

 

"Room with a View: The Greyhound Stadium"

 

 

"...and watch the sun go down o'er Galway Bay"

 

 

A bus and trains took us to Galway where were the lovely Irish tune about Galway Bay ran through my head as we walked along the port and Bay. We took a one-day mini-van tour of Connamara, the wild and rugged mountains where many Catholics were forced into exile when Cromwell took his vengeance on Ireland. Today, most people have moved to the cities, leaving the spectacular scenery to a few farmers and some nuns who run the Kylemore Abby. Read the history of this intriguing structure. One of the more  famous graduates during the days as a boarding school is Angelica Houston, whom I cannot imagine living in such isolation.

 

Our Galway room was on College Road in the Ardawn B&B amidst an entire row of large homes turned into B&Bs. Great location for walking to transportation, the pedestrian area, and the port. The wonderful owners sent our laundry out and gave us beautiful breakfasts. Their tea service at breakfast instituted a new tradition for us -- brewed with loose tea and poured into the cup through a beautiful strainer. Mike is a Antartic explorer, having gone on an Irish re-creation of Shackleton's expedition with greater success, and a terrific cook as well.

 

We were right next to the greyhound stadium and that was our view from our room. The stadium is a very big deal in Ireland. My photo of my painting is a tad crooked and I will attempt to replace it soon.