Last night I had a bit of an early night. The ten of us (me, Claire, Brendon, Ellen, Steph, Kat, the Toms, Jess and Jason) went out to a pub and had delicious beef stew. Then I headed back and got some things done.
This morning I got up a bit early and went walking around Galway. Just enjoyed some me time and saw the Spanish Arch, the river (the fastest flowing one in Europe!) and the main streets. There was an art festival on last night so lots of banners and balloons everywhere.
Came back to the hostel and skyped my cousin Michelle, her husband Mike and their two little girls Sophie and Ella. It was Sophie's 3rd birthday today so it was lovely being able to have a quick chat and wish her a happy birthday! I also had a chance to catch up on one episode of my favourite Aussie show 'Winners and Losers'.
We got on the bus at 12 and our day began. The divide between the groups is still evident which is a bit of a shame but never mind. Our new guide Connell (AKA Irish Jesus) has nicknamed us the backseat bandits because we take up the back of the bus haha. I love our group. Today I laughed so hard my tummy hurt, only downside was it hurt for the rest of the day after that!!
We had a couple of stops. The first was Dún Guaire, a castle. It was very picturesque. We then stopped at a leprechaun wishing well. I was going to wish for Collingwood to win the premiership this year but I think I've left my run a bit late. Never mind! Then we stopped in the Burren, a limestone landscape.
Our main stop for the day was the famous Cliffs of Moher. If you've seen a photograph of cliffs in Ireland it's probably these ones. For those who grew up obsessed with Harry Potter like me, they're the cliffs that feature at the end of HP 6 when Dumbledore and Harry go to retrieve Marvolo's ring in the cave. I didn't spot Dumbledore, Harry or any inferi but we did see the stunning cliffs! They were one of those things that actually take your breath away. And though it pelted down when we first arrived, we were lucky enough that it stopped and the clouds cleared up a little bit. It was even sunny after a while!
The cliffs are 200m high (didn't jump off these ones today!!) and if you travel 3000km from them you reach the USA. They get their name from an Iron Age fort that was built in the area, 'mothar' in Gaelic means ruined fort. I walked the cliffs with Brendon, we walked in both directions and took in the gorgeous views. Then we went to the visitor centre as well.
Back on the bus and we drove towards our stop for the night - Ennis in county Clare. The tummy ache got pretty bad at this point and I fell asleep for most of this journey. When I woke up Brendon told me I had missed lots of information so he recounted it best he could for me....apparently yesterday the vote was passed so that they will change the name of Londonderry back to Derry!! And then he also told me about Daniel O'Connell, who the Main Street in Dublin is named after. Apparently he was mayor of Ennis twice. In 1798 the penal laws I mentioned the other day were still in place, and Daniel O'Connell became a lawyer and started a union. He went around Ireland collecting money which he then gave to politicians that he had on side and got them into government. He then ran for government himself and was voted in, how ever the penal laws were still in place and stated that as he was catholic he couldn't be an MP. The law was changed but he had to run for government again. The Protestant government members tried to bribe people with food and Guinness as times were tough on the condition they didn't vote for O'Connell. But it didn't work and he was voted in in a landslide. He then abolished the penal laws and organised a rally, but due to fear of it turning into a riot cancelled it. The Protestants saw this as an excuse to send out a warrant for his arrest, but the prison warden liked him so much he let him serve his sentence in his house, and eventually Daniel moved to Sardinia in Italy where he saw out the remainder of his days. He's well respected in Ireland due to his feat of getting rid of the penal laws.
We arrived in Ennis and the six of us (me Claire Brendon Steph Ellen and Kat) are sharing a dorm again which is good fun. We had dinner at the place next door and then a drink at the pub. Now I'm back in the room by myself because my tummy is being annoying and I want to be better for tmro.
Love to all
Claire
Xoxox
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