This week I was
able to squeeze in two day trips around Ireland that I had been saving for a
not-so-rainy day. The first was to the beautiful Aran Islands, which are a few
miles off the coast of Galway. Two of my house mates and I took the shuttle
from the city that brings you to the ferry, and from there it was about a half
hour ride to the main, large island of Inis Mór. We decided to rent bikes to
travel around with (instead of going on a guided tour) because it was such a
pleasant day. Biking around the hilly island was quite a work out, but
completely worth it for the spectacular views. Along the way we spotted plenty
of traditional thatched roof cottages, blooming flowers, and even a few
donkeys!
The main
attraction on Inis Mór is Dún Aonghasa, an Iron Age stone fort perched at the
top of a cliff. Climbing the trail offered great views around the entire
island, and we had a hard time believing our eyes when we reached the top. The
scenery was absolutely gorgeous! There were no barriers on the edge of the
cliffs that would prevent you from plunging a few hundred feet into the water
below. Putting my fear of heights aside, I got much closer to the edge than I
thought I would have! There was even a cool ledge where you could take your picture
so that it looks like you’re hanging on to the edge for dear life. At this spot,
Amanda and Mary enacted the famous scene from The Lion King where Scar kills
Mufasa (they did a great job!).
Before heading
back to the ferry we did a little souvenir shopping. The Aran Islands are
famous for their hand-knit sweaters, so there were plenty of those to look at.
Who knows, one of you readers might be lucky enough to receive such a sweater (but
probably not, since I’m a broke college student and they all cost around $100,
sorry!). We honestly could not have asked for a better day on the island. Great
weather, wonderful people, good times! J
My second day
trip this week was to Tullamore! Located in the very center of Ireland (halfway
between Dublin and Galway), this town is Chandler’s only Sister City! Prior to
leaving the US, I became a student member of Chandler’s Sister Cities program. Therefore,
I was really excited to explore the town that we share this special connection
with! Amanda and I took the train from Galway (our first train ride in Ireland)
early this morning to check out the arts festival that was taking place in the
town. After grabbing a bite in a cute little café we set to exploring. We
stopped by the Tourist Information Center, where, ironically, the worker was a
student at our very own NUIG! She pointed us in the right direction and we
continued onwards. Next to the TIC is the famous Tullamore Dew Heritage Center.
Unfortunately, it’s closed for the next few months in order to undergo some
restorations. We then found the arts festival, which consisted of numerous
paintings and photographs on display, as well as a food and crafts market. Our
day in Tullamore concluded at a pub (of course), where we got some great grub
and the mandatory Tullamore Dew whiskey! All in all we had a very nice time
experiencing a smaller, quieter Irish town than what we’re used to in Galway!
I’m rapidly
approaching my final days as a student here in Galway. While I’m definitely
looking forward to returning home, I also wish I had just a few more days to
squeeze in some more trips around the Emerald Isle. I guess that just means I’ll
have to come back soon! J On Wednesday I’ll be heading off for a
week-long trip to Germany! I can’t wait, as this has been somewhere I’ve wanted
to visit for a very long time. The bad news is that I have an exam and paper to
complete before that day, so send some positive vibes my way that I buckle down
and actually get some school work done! Until next time…
Click here for
pictures from the Aran Islands
Click here for
pictures from Tullamore
