JUNE 2014 : IRELAND : Aran Islands : Inis Mor

                           

       

        We are spending two more days on Inis Mor

       

        Sunrise

  

     Our B&B - The Man of Aran, named after a famous 1934 movie, set in the cottage.

                                  

                             International Cliff Diving competition held on the limestone cliffs.

                                   

          

                                     The platform is set 27m above the natural pool

Inis Mór | Red Bull Cliff Diving

www.redbullcliffdiving.com/en_INT/event/inis-mor

Red Bull Cliff Diving returns to the Serpent's Lair on Inis Mór for the third competition of the year – and the first in Europe. 

   A robin in the garden

Horse and traps used on the island

 

    Ruins of 7 churches in the cemetery

We walked to the west of the island along the coastal path - two and a half hours.

A small lighthouse at the tip of the island.Limestone plateaux all over the island.

                    Dun Aonghasa - a large fort - a big tourist attraction in Kilmurvey

   

The sun is out, people swimming at the end of the beach and the lifeguard is at his station with board at the ready on the beach, notice tiny dot.

         Next step is filling the kettle for a cup of tea - and back safely in the lookout point.

     

         

     Maura, the hostess and administrator -extraordinaire, with pot of tea at the ready at all times.

                                   

                     

  Joe, the other half of the duo, collecting herbs and vegetables for dinner from his garden and greenhouse.

  

The end of a very relaxing day.

M&M 

30/6/2014

                                      

JUNE 2014 : IRELAND : Aran Islands : Inis Mor

     

         A final morning in Inis Meain and a ferry ride to the largest Aran Island of Inis Mor

   Angela,our hostess with a fund of information about the practicalities of living in such a barren place. A painting of her mother-in-law with traditional coloured crocheted shawl.

A full Irish breakfast with black and white pudding.

Birds in the garden

Looking from our B&B up the hill

The local cemetery. Celtic crosses abound.

                                  

A traditional island boat, a currach. Wooden skeleton, with canvas -covering and then tarred.

Local fisherman out in a currach checking lobster pots.

Inis Meain considered the centre for full usage of Gaelic language.

Irish playwright, Synge, wrote plays such as Playboy of the Western World, in this cottage from 1898 to   

1902. Notice the wooden hooks to secure the netting for the thatched covering.

It's only lunch time, but it is Ireland and so I had an Irish coffee to get me through the afternoon. John is trying to persuade me to drink Guinness and thinks he'll have me joining them for a regular pint before I leave Ireland.

A 20 minute ferry ride to Inis Mor. It is 14kms long and has a population of 900. Like the name?

We arrived at the busy port of Kilronan. Tourists and sports enthusiasts thronging the area.

The annual currach races.

      

                                  We are staying in the centre of the island in Kilmurvey.

          

The Man of Aran B&B 

         

A pot of tea and tea cake on our arrival

       

Birds aplenty in this garden too.

         

And insects...

           

      

           We are off a little bay with rocky shore, sandy beach and a magnificent view to the mainland

                                         

                                      

           Mark is preparing himself for an interesting time with the vertically-challenged doorways

         

             

              I think we're really going to like it here!

       

           

                                        Delicious evening meal - all fresh from the garden 

M&M 

29/6/2014

JUNE 2014 : IRELAND : Aran Islands - Inis Meain

     

          We are having 4 days on the Aran Islands - on Inis Meain and Inis Mor

  

Leaving the port at Galway, we took a bus north for 45 mins to Rossaveal.

 

        A 45 minute ferry ride to the medium-sized island of Inis Meain. 8 kms long, 250 residents and all 

        Gaelic speakers. English only spoken to tourists.

   Our B&B run by Angela Flaherty. Three other couples staying tonight.

                                            

                                                A little gem on her mantlepiece.

        

           

The Islands are off the coast of The Burren and continue the limestone plateau. It is difficult to grow crops with such little soil, there are no free standing trees, and everything is constructed of limestone. To supplement what little soil there is farmers mix sand and seaweed to grow essential Irish crops like potatoes. Fishing and farming, albeit on a small scale are the main occupations. With no natural water supply, the town has big tanks to store water and there are permanent water restrictions - for us showers only between 10am and 6pm.

        

  

  We did a self-guided walk on a beautifully sunny day, even warmer with the reflected heat of the rock. This church is a typical 8 - 9th century building, which had a wood-framed roof.

         

            

            This is a large fort and thought to date back to the first century AD.

         

            

             There are a few cattle, sheep and the odd donkey. Lots of sea views to enjoy.

                            

                                        

                                                                        Wildflowers

        

  Inis Meain has a pub, a shop and a knitwear factory. Aran Islands in Scotland and the islands here in Ireland both produce jumpers with their own distinctive patterns.

        

    

   There are a few new buildings. This is a boutique hotel, cleverly disguised with local stone, but offers all the facilities of a modern hotel. www.inismeain.com

           

        

   

  

View to the mainland where you can see, bordering The Burren, the spectacular Cliffs of Mor, which tower 210m  above the sea.

         

            To the west you can see Inis Mor, the largest island, where we go tomorrow.

M&M

29/6/2014