Leaving Galway, we took another beautiful drive along the Connemara Peninsula. Traveling primarily through its interior, we experienced "a kaleidoscope of rusty bogs, lonely valleys, and shimmering black lakes". Below, peat is stacked to dry - after it is cut, it dries for 3-6 months before it is used as fuel.
Sheep range freely along the road.
We visited Kylemore Abbey, home to a community of Benedictine Nina who came here after their abbey in Belgium was destroyed in WWI. They purchased an estate that had been built in the 1860's, and fallen into disrepair in the early 1900's. They restored the estate including its grounds, and ran an international boarding school for girls until 2010 (Angelica Huston is an alum!). They have recently entered into an agreement with Notre Dame; ND is rehabbing a significant amount of space to use for its students studying in Ireland.
The Victorian walled garden has been restored, and we had a sunny afternoon to enjoy it!
The head gardener's house, above, was quite nice; in contrast to the workers' quarters, below.
From the Connemara Peninsula, we headed north for a visit with Eliza's grandmother. Ann has lived in Ireland in a traditional Irish house for over 17 years. We had a great time listening to her tales of life in Ireland, admiring her beautiful home in a truly magnificent setting on Achil Bay.
Above, is the view from the back of Ann's house; below, are some of her many four-legged neighbors.
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