July 11th - Ireland Part 2 - Connemara

Note: some photos are not yet available since they need to be pulled off a camera's SD card, which will happen once we get back to Oxford.

Hey, welcome back!

Today was a super busy day!

It started off simply enough: I woke up, grabbed breakfast, and then hopped onto a bus. We were heading west, toward the magnificent region of Connemara.

Our first stop was Glengowla Mines, a historic mine shaft located beneath a farm. We geared up with mining helmets and descended underground to learn about its fascinating past.

The miners were mostly looking for lead ores.

Ahh, a skull!

Miners only had a candle to guide their way through the mines

We're pretty deep

After exploring the mine, we got a lesson in sheep herding and how it’s done. I even got to hold a lamb named Buttercup (born just 16 days ago).

Keith (the farmer) holding Buttercup

Keith and his herd (and his sheepdog Pip)

Then it was off to the bog, where we learned about turf cutting and admired the area’s beautiful wildflowers.

This moss gets layered in the turf. Since there are no bacteria, it doesn't decompose

The bog

Here's where the turf is cut

A took a piece and split it in half. Everything is well-preserved

Once our trip to the farm concluded, we drove down the road to a spot that many John Wayne fans might recognize: Quiet Man Bridge, famous for being featured in The Quiet Man. We took off our shoes and waded around in the cool, flowing water beneath the bridge. It felt amazing.

Our next stop was a statue in Recess County called the Connemara Giant. According to the plaque, it was sculpted for no reason, but it was still cool to look at!

Then we headed to Lough Inagh View Point, which was absolutely picturesque and breathtaking.

For lunch, we stopped at Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. I ordered the lamb stew (which felt a bit ironic after just holding a lamb), served with creamy mashed potatoes, plus the legendary Kylemore apple pie smothered in custard cream. Two words: holy cow. Or maybe holy sheep, given how many were around. The lamb was incredibly fresh and tender, the potatoes were perfectly smooth and satisfying, and the apple pie was easily some of the best I’ve ever had. I enjoyed my meal outside with stunning views of the mountains. What more can I ask for?

Kylemore Abbey

Naturally, after that heavy meal, the next item on the agenda was a two-hour hike up a mountain. We went to Connemara National Park and tackled Diamond Hill, which stands at 442 meters (1,450 feet). We took the 7-kilometer round-trip trail that loops up and back down, giving us views of the mountain and its surroundings from every angle. Along the way, we passed plenty of sheep and even some Connemara ponies. The higher we climbed, the rougher the path got; in many places it was basically just a trail of rocks leading upward. But we pushed through and made it all the way to the top. The views were absolutely worth it.

The mountain I will climb

Me posing with the mountain (and pony)

I made it!

On my way back down, I decided to stop to pet and feed one of the ponies.

The next stop was Sky Road View Point, which gave us sweeping views of the ocean (and more ponies). 

Our final stop before heading back was the city of Clifden, where we ate dinner at a place called Off The Square Restaurant. After thoroughly washing my hands (they were partially in a pony's mouth, after all), I joined my friends at the table and we ordered. The appetizer was fresh DK Connemara oysters. These were the freshest oysters I've ever eaten, hands down. They were salty, briny, and so refreshing. Our group also shared a huge platter of locally harvested mussels in a garlic parmesan sauce; they were unbelievably sweet and tender. I tried some Murphy’s Irish Stout too, which tasted smoother and even more coffee-like than Guinness.

For my main course, I decided on salmon. Normally, I don’t order fish, but since we literally passed a salmon farm on our way to the restaurant, it felt like the right choice. It did not disappoint: sweet, buttery, and rich. It was everything I could’ve hoped for. Dessert was chocolate profiteroles, light and delicate, the perfect way to close out the meal.

After that, we simply hopped back on the bus and drove back to Galway.

I hope you enjoyed this post!