Get up early and go to meet the tour group with Galway city tours not too far from where I am staying and get on the bus to head to Cong. Tour guide/driver is pretty knowledgeable. We get in and park and get an hour or 2 to explore the area which apparently was put on the map because of the Quiet man back in the 50s. Walk around for a little bit before finding my way onto the property of the Ashford Castle which was pretty impressive, they even have a helipad. Beautiful land/building with guards and what not but they didnt bother you if you werent trying to get into the castle.
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| Old cemetery in Cong |
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| Crinkly exploring a random forest path we found |
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| Inside of an old lil church we found on the path |
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| Met the pastor who was closing up shop as I got there so we chatted for a little bit |
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| So this is the place random forest paths lead to... yeah thats a helicopter |
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| Crinkly is impressed at the size of this place |
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| Found the entrance... crinkly wants to try and over take the guard... had to convince him thats a bad idea |
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| So much land surrounding this castle/hotel |
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| Crinkly enjoying castle views |
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| Full bridge view |
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| Crinkly appreciating the view from the other side of the bridge |
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| Walking back into town, stopped to appreciate the river views |
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| Going on another walk |
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| Nice reflection views from this walk |
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| Does this land look familiar? Westport is down the road there to the right (where I did the pilgrimmage) |
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| Such beautiful scenery |
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| Tried to catch some pics from inside the bus as we were entering Cannomerra as its just stunning |
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| Got to a place we could pull over and take pics so we did just that :) |
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| Crinkly enjoying the views and stretching his non legs |
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| If I remember right, this is Irelands like biggest or only fjord or something like that. Could be making that up hahah |
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| Crinkly was checking out the oyster farms in the water |
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| Crinkly enjoying the view back across the road |
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| Close up of the farm in the water |
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| Enjoying the light work going on with the clouds on the land |
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| This is the second impressive building Crinkly has discovered today |
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| Kylemore Abbey in all its glory |
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| The scenery around the abbey aint bad |
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| Pig sty? how could one not? |
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| Just kidding we went to check out the garden |
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| Was pretty but was def out of season |
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| Crinkly found the flower path |
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| These tiny white flowers on this lil shrubbery were beautiful says Crinkly |
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| Another lovely view of the garden |
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| Walked around the garden perimeter a little, such amazing views inside and out. |
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| Crinkly made some pferde pfriends |
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| Made it inside the Abbey, look at this wallpaper |
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| They got books about musicals in here |
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| Comfy looking couch |
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| No Crinkly, you dont belong on that table, you too fancy |
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| Looking out from the front of the Abbey |
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| The frontal view is appealing to Crinkly |
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| The dorms that are still in use for school groups I believe |
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| Itty bitty waterfally |
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| Church on the premise |
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| Not too big inside but nice |
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| Who doesnt like some gorgeous stained glass and marble pillars? |
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| Stone work is impressive |
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| Wandered down a little bit to get a more secluded pic |
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| Ciao Abbey |
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| Some more faulty pics from the bus... I tried |
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| Got to get out and walk around on the bogland... Crinkly was trying not to get stuck |
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| Those fishermen must be loving life |
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| peat in the bog |
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| They just cruising |
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| Alright now we gotta navigate bach through this to get back to the bus |
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| First beer back in town in this cool homey pub |
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| Do you see the clutter hahaha |
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| tap selection at the rock bar, Sally Longs |
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| Harley to ride off into the sunset... this was in the pub |
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| Last guinness of the night. |
After Cong, we head to Cannomerra which is incredibly beautiful with rolling hills and sheep everywhere. Wishing we had time to get out and walk around that area a bit or it was a multiday camping trip or something like that but it wasnt so we didnt. Eventually we wind up at Kylemore Abbey for an extended stop/lunch. Pretty place but would be better in the spring as the garden was mostly dead but was still kinda nice considering time of year. The house was nice and fancy but nothing too special compared to other massive estates I have seen. The lil church on the grounds was tiny and quaint and had a subtle/gentle beauty to it. The crappy thing is the tour plans a 2.25hr stop in this place where all you can do is sit around the cafe if you dont want to spend the 10Euro entrance fee for the Abbey grounds. Not even little trails or something you can hike instead which was kinda shitty and was hoping they wouldnt trap their tourists like that but alas. After our time, we get back on the bus and drive back to Galway. Go to banging noodle which had some pretty decent food (was thinking about going back at some point but with so many places to check out, hard to repeat). Then do a little pub crawl to check out some of the local establishments. First go to Tigh Neachtain which had a really nice interior decor with art and other items all over the wall; felt like a hoarders livingroom. After there, head over to Sally Longs which was a rock bar with some cool murals inside and out and a motorcycle propped up inside. After that, stopped at Blakes bar which was a bar that was attached to a fancy restaurant (might have just been the restaurants bar). After finishing the crawl, went to shower and head to bed.
