Fort Dunree located along the shores of Lough Swilly was a coastal defence fortification located along the West side of Inishowen not to far from Buncrana. It was originally built by the British following the 1798 uprising of the United Irishmen who were supported by the French. The fear of a French invasion saw the built of the fort which takes up a spectacular position on an outcrop with demanding views all across Lough Swilly. The fort houses a great military museum , the grounds contain a lot of WWI and WWII military remains which can be explored. The huge Naval artillary which were added during the 19th century are still on display. The grounds also contain a coffee shop and a gift shop. The Saldanha suite houses a huge collection of military memorabilia and it also houses the Wildlife Discovery room. At the entrance are the remaining bones of a sperm whale where inside, you find a blackboard with an inventory of all wildlife observed around the museum during the last few months. There are plenty of walks through the grounds, but just across from the coffee shop is a small path leading down to a rocky beach with the clearest water you can imagine. There is also a pier which opens up some amazing view towards the fort.
This tourist attractions is worthwhile a visit and will be a success especially with kids.
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Go to the beach: No shortage of amazing beaches along the Wild Atlantic Way. If you are lucky, you might even see a pod of Dolphins or the odd basking shark swimming nearby the shore. Some of our favourite beaches: 1. Five Finger Beach, Inishowen, co. Donegal 2. Dunmoran Strand, co.Sligo 3. Keem Strand, Achill Island, co.Mayo 4. Glassillaun Beach, co. Galway 5. Cliffoney Beach, co.Sligo 6. Barleycove, co.Cork Climb a mountain A lot of times, mountains are covered by a tick layer of clouds in Ireland, probably with some added dampness falling out of these clouds as well. So during an Irish heatwave, head for the mountains and enjoy the amazing views. Go to an offshore island There are plenty of offshore islands of the Wild Atlantic Way. Why not take a boat, a cablecar or even drive the car to these islands and discover the history of them. Drive to an Island you ask?, Yes, at low tide you can drive to Coney Island in co.Sligo or Claggan Island in co.Mayo. A cablecar? Yes, Dursey island in co.Kerry is reached by cablecar. Participate in an outdoor adventure From the many golf courses to the Atlantic and rivers, there is plenty of choice for an outdoor adventure. Not sure where to start, why not join one of the many outdoor adventure experts along the Wild Atlantic Way. Admire those amazing sunsets
The sunsets in Ireland are truly amazing. The colours vary from yellow to red to purple. Watching the sunset after a glorious day along the Wild Atlantic way is just brilliant. As it was a glorious evening in May, we decided to head to Strandhill. Strandhill is a small seaside town in Co.Sligo situated along the Wild Atlantic Way. Strandhill has seen a bit of a revival during the last few years, mainly driven by the collaboration of the local businesses, the great restaurants and pubs, the ice cream parlour and surfschools, the famous seaweed baths,... Strandhill has even it's own hugely popular market in an old hangar at Strandhill airport and Strandhill even has it's own dedicated website (http://gostrandhill.com/). Where Strandhill was mainly popular with the weekend tourist, nowadays it is popular at any time of the day. And it is not hard to see why. Firstly, the views are spectacular. After a short walk and some pictures, we decided it was time for an ice cream. So Mammy Johnston's it was, an award winning ice cream parlour. That being said, they have fabulous crepes in loads of different varieties, cakes and sweets as well. The ice creams just look amazing, and if we could have managed, we would have sampled every single one of them. And it must be said, they also taste amazing. Mammy Johnston's is busy, and at weekends it can be a task in itself to find a seat, but on this particular lovely Tuesday evening in May, we had a table at the back of the parlour. The interior is cosy and inviting.
Where Finn ordered the chocolicious crepe which is a lovely crepe with Nutella and a tub of ice cream, i went for the cone with the Hazelnut icecream. And as it was just the evening for it, I decided to order another ice cream (Blue surf) for the road. So after an enjoyable break, we decided to leave this beautiful seaside town alone and head back home. Normally, I am not to interested in Bird of Prey shows, but last weekend, we decided to bring the kids along to Eagles Flying in Co.Sligo. Eagles Flying ( http://www.eaglesflying.com) is located close to Ballymote in Co.Sligo. Having arrived around 2.30pm, we parked up the car and walked along the lane leading to Eagles flying. We were greeted by goats and donkeys who happily grazed in the fresh meadows surrounding the lane. After having paid the entrance at the gate, we were welcomed by some eagles who were patiently watching the world go by. Eagles Flying is different than any other Bird of Prey shows we visited. First of all, Eagles Flying ,which is an Irish raptor research centre, is a scientifically managed sanctuary for birds of prey and owls. The main purpose of the sanctuary is one to educate people in regard to birds of prey. this is done through the interactive bird of prey shows. But the sanctuary is more than just that, it is also a hospital and rehabilitation centre, one where people bring any kind of wildlife in the hope that Lothar get's them back to health. So remember at the start where I mentioned i am not really a fan of bird of prey shows, it was Lothar who made this one different from the ones I have seen before. The show is all about education, but it is also very entertaining and interactive. The kids were very excited to wear a bird of prey handle glove and see a falcon landing on it. Scary, maybe for some people, but the boys loved it. During the bird of prey show, we got to see falcons, eagles, owls and plenty of other animals. During the show, it was interesting to learn that birds of prey don't like hunting down prey as it is an energy wastage. A bird of prey would much quicker eat an already dead animal as it conserves their energy. Unfortunately in Ireland, whenever birds of prey are reintroduced in the wild, many are being poisoned or shot by farmers as they believe they kill their livestock. After the show, we walked towards the indoor area where we got introduced to pigs, a racoon who loved taking food out of pockets, a fox, rabbits,...
Lothar told us that it takes approx. 16 hours a day to look after all the animals. So we said farewell and headed back home. All we can say is that this is a must visit location with or without kids, one where you will be educated, entertained and just look in awe at these amazing creatures. Coney island is an Island located between Rosses point and Strandhill in Co.Sligo, Ireland. The island can be reached by boat from Rosses point or by walking or driving at low tide across Cummeen Strand. The causeway used for the crossing is marked by 14 pillars which will guide you towards the Island over a distance of 2.5km. In the summer, the islands becomes busy enough with seasonal residents, but in winter time it turns very quiet. There are no shops on the Island, but there is a small pub called Michael j Ward. There is a great loop around part of the island which is worth walking. Turn into the small road signposted for the beach. The road is surrounded by lovely pastures where cows quietly graze. The views towards Knocknarea are fantastic, especially on a sunny day. Ones you reach the beach, turn towards the fields on the right and follow the headland. Views towards the Ox Mountains and Carney open up once you turn around the headland. Even Blackrock lighthouse looks closer than ever before from this beautiful remote location. Turning around the headland, views towards Rosses point with dramatic Benbulben in the background were enjoyed during our improvised picnic.
Coney Island is a gem which can be easily reached, but still doesn't draw the huge amount of visitors like some other islands. Only thing to keep in mind is the tides - otherwise you might be spending a good few hours longer on the island. This wouldn't be a major disaster as you can always pop into Michael j Ward for a pint. Another possible option we strongly advise is to go out to the island on a summer's weekend and enjoy a bit of camping, walking or just relaxing. What do you do when you love coffee, food and the great outdoors? You stop at a roadside food truck and sample what is on offer. This is what happened to us when we travelled from Clifden to Leenaun in Connemara. Close by Jamie Young's Killary Adventure Company is a small road to the left where a signpost "food truck" awakened our curiosity. We have always loved this part of Ireland, and the area around Killary Harbour has always had a special place in our heart. Killary Harbour is Ireland's only fjord, and the views are just amazing. After having parked the car, we followed the sign pointing us in the direction of the food truck. Shortly afterwards, we reached the food truck named the Misunderstood Heron. The food truck is cladded in wood making it blend in with Connemara's amazing landscape. The menu on offer, although small enough, is just fantastic. On offer are the famous Killary mussels, smoked salmon served with brown bread , sweet potato and spinach quiche,...not the food you expect to find at a roadside truck We arrived here just after having eaten lunch somewhere else, so we opted for mocha's and carrot cake. And we must say, we can see why Reinaldo Seco and Kim young opened the Misunderstood heron.
The food is to die for. The carrot cake is by far the best we have ever eaten. It is moist, tasty and accompanied by the great mocha and the views, it is very difficult to leave this place behind. Unfortunately, as we had eaten prior to arriving at the Misunderstood Heron, we weren't able to sample the great food on offer. But as we visit Connemara quite regular, we will be back to sample all the other food on offer. There are plenty of picnic benches around, and on the rainy day we had selected for our Connemara trip, a canopy had been erected to protect customers from the weather. Even the birds are catered for, a bird feeding place provides nuts for the many birds around. The Misunderstood Heron is a hidden gem along Killary Harbour, one which provides the many travellers along the Wild Atlantic Way some great, decent food. On a rainy day in August, we arrived in the beautiful village of Roundstone which is situated in Connemara, Co.Galway. Roundstone is a small seaside village renowned with artists who flock here for the amazing scenery and surroundings. For example, seeing Dog's Bay Beach on a sunny day is just amazing, a white beach flanked by the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic. But we had just arrived in Roundstone and were hungry, and as Roundstone has a thriving harbour bordering the Atlantic, we decided that seafood would make a smart choice for lunch. So we decided that O'Dowd's Seafood bar & restaurant (http://www.odowdsseafoodbar.com/) was a great spot to have a great lunch. Walking into the bar, the first thing you notice is the old world charm of the interior of the pub. We decided to opt for the bar menu, and as it was only 12o'clock and to early for lunch we had the opportunity to study the mouthwatering menu in great detail. Our choice for the day was each of us starting of with the seafood chowder followed by the grilled stuffed Cashel Bay mussels for myself and the Seaweed hummus for Dolores. The seafood chowder was served with a brown homemade scone, the chowder was beautiful and contained the freshest salmon, prawns, white fish,.... The homemade hummus is made using locally supplied carrageen , 2 slices of Nori bread accompanied it beautifully. And normally, i wouldn't be a big fan of hummus, but this seaweed hummus was lovingly made using the best of ingredients. In O'Dowd's bar and restaurant, they have a vegetable plot as well which provides them with the freshest vegetables. And all the awards they have won over the years is a testament of the quality of the food served. The mussels were fresh and the garlic taste was just perfect, not to overpowering still providing the mussels with a lovely texture.
The bar has a great set-up, as the tables are close together, it is hard not to talk to the other customers. The people seated beside us were from Washington DC and were enjoying the beauty of Connemara from the bike. After the meal, we decided to hit the road again enjoying the scenery of Connemara. The meal came for the 2 of us to €29, great value for a very enjoyable seafood lunch. O'Dowd's bar & restaurant is a must visit when you find yourself in Connemara, a place where you can sample the freshest ingredients mixed with the old world charm of an Irish pub. It was one of those days where we deserved to be pampered, this as the weather had been pretty awful for the middle of August. Between torrential rain, wind and not to much sunshine, we needed something to perk us up, and the choice was easily made. Not to far from Sligo is the town of Ballina, Co.Mayo where you can find the 4 star Ice House Hotel. So myself, my sister and my sister in law who was visiting us from London had made the decision that we would get pampered for the day in the beautiful Spa of the Ice House Hotel. The Ice House hotel (http://www.icehousehotel.ie/) takes up a prominent location along the the River Moy, one of Ireland's finest salmon rivers.. So we arrived one overcast Thursday morning at the Ice House Hotel. After having parked up the car, we walked along the quays to the hotel where we were greeted by a fusion of modern and old interior. Outside the Ice House Hotel, we went down the stairs towards the Spa. The boutique spa named aptly "Chill Spa" welcomed us with it's contemporary, relaxing atmosphere. Candles and a beautiful scent made us immediatly "Chill" and we were looking forward to our pampering day. At reception, we were welcomed by the lovely Mary who welcomed us and gave us the Chill Spa consultation form. After having this filled in, we were handed our key to a locker and shown to our dressing room where a pair of slippers, a robe, towels, shower cap,... were waiting for us. After having changed, we went to a relaxing room which had an amazing corner window with views directly towards the river Moy. The room, which was neutral in colour, was a haven of tranquility. Water (lime or orange unfused) and fresh fruit, dried apricots,... was awaiting us, a tasty snack we gladly enjoyed while watching the river gently flow by the many boats awaiting their next catch. All three of us had selected different treatments which were as follows: Dolores: Hot Oil back, neck & shoulder massage and a taster voya facial Angela: Massage Kerry: Voya Ocean Fresh Facial So after having enjoyed the views, we were accompanied by our therapists towards our beautiful therapy rooms which were neutral in colour, accentuated by the dimmed lighting. The room, which was at a perfect temperature, was a pleasant haven over the course of the treatment. The Hot Oil back, neck & shoulder massage was very relaxing and my therapist even went that extra mile to relief some tension in my shoulder. The revitilising creams and products used during the rejuvenating treatments are from Voya. The Voya product are Organic Seaweed based products which are the brainchild of the Walton family from Sligo. After the relaxing massages, we all went back to the relaxing room where we enjoyed a complimentary herbal tea.
At the spa, there are ample treatments available. Additionally, there is a barrel sauna and hottubs available outside on the patio alongside the river for anybody brave enough to enjoy the Irish weather. After the spa treatment, we discovered the Ice House Hotel itself. Wandering around the Ice House Hotel, we enjoyed the modern interior which is nicely blended with some historical features. We are looking forward returning to the Ice House Hotel, next time to try the food on offer or maybe even stay overnight with the hubby for a bit more pampering. And just to note, the awards Chill Spa received is an accolade to their amazing service, one where you feel totally rejuvenated and "Chilled"
Not to far from Clifden is the Wild Atlantic Way Signature discovery Waypoint Derrigimlagh. The site is home to 2 significant historical transatlantic technical achievements which took both place around the start of the 20th Century. The first one is why we found ourselves in this barren landscape, we wanted to walk in the footsteps of Guglielmo Marconi. After having established the first transmitted wireless connection from his station in Cornwall to Newfoundland, he decided to move as far West he could, and Derrigimlagh nearby Clifden is almost as far west as you can go. But back to the start, after having parked the car, we walked across a walkway to the Wild Atlantic Way waymarker. The first thing to mention is the walkway, the land in this area is boggy which means that pending the season, it is more waterlogged or less waterlogged. If you would build a path on this type of terrain, your path would crack. So in this case, the path which was put in place is really a floating segmented bridge which floats on the bog surface and is able to move very slowly over time. A very colourful display welcomes you to the site of Derrigimlagh Bog and explains through interactive displays the history of the site. It is also the starting point of a 5km looped walk through the bog where through 7 stop points,the history of the site is explained. And we advise you to bring a decent jacket as you never know when it will rain in this part of the country. But don't worry to much, 6 of the stop points also act as shelters. So to continue our story, Marconi established the commercial signalling station here in 1907. And it must be said it was an impressive site in this barren landscape. A huge condenser house building, a huge power house and a massive aerial system were installed as was a railway across the site. As this site had the potential to make a lot of money and as the site was significant from a research perspective, it used to be heavily guarded by British troops. During the first World War, the site had a huge number of English soldiers protecting the site and controlling people and goods entering the site. The railway was used to transport the people and goods around the extensive 300 acre site. Walking further, we learned and discovered much more facts about the Marconi site. We even learned that on one day in August, the writer james Joyce turned up at the site in the hope of interviewing Marconi for an article, but was turned away as he didn't have the approved paperwork. Walking along the bogroad, the views you can enjoy are incredible. The bog landscape, the lakes and the mountains in the distance result in a fantastic landscape which can be enjoyed by all. The Honeysuckle was in full bloom and the sweet scent was lingering along the bogroad, the blackberries were turning from green to black ready to be sampled later in the year. Remember how we mentioned that the site was home to 2 historical events? The second one was that it was the crash landing site of the world's first transatlantic flight. Both John Alcock and Arthur Brown had taken off in their Vickers Vimy biplane from Newfoundland some 16 hours before they crash landed on the 15th June 1919, covering the 1980 nautical miles. This flight resulted in the men winning a £10000 prize as offered by the Daily Mail newspaper for the first non-stop transatlantic flight. A few days after their crash, both men were honoured at Windsor castle during which King George V knighted them. So after our afternoon filled by history, we decided the time had come to carry on our trip along the Wild Atlantic Way. All we can say is that the Wild Atlantic Way Waypoints are not only marked by natural beauty, but a lot of them are steeped in history as well.
After having parked the car nearby the Marina of Acres Lake on the outskirts of the pretty village of Drumshanbo, co.Leitrim , we were welcomed by the sun which tried to make an appearance on this wet Sunday in September. We were here to walk the new floating boardwalk at Acres lake which forms part of the Acres Lake loop which runs over a distance of 12km. The walk starts at Acres Lake and runs as far Leitrim village passing Drumhauver Bridge, Drumleague lock and Battlebridge lock. The floating walkway was only opened on the 5th September 2017, so it is brand new. The floating path is approx 160 meters in it's entire lenght and links up with a brand new path towards Drumhauver bridge. Walking the boardwalk opens up a different perspective of Ireland's waterways, and walking past the reed and waterlilies with the odd fish jumping up out of the water is a fun way to discover Ireland's wildlife. We believe this part of the walk is perfect for schools, clubs or any nature lover wanting to be close-up to Ireland's water fauna and flora without the need to be on a boat. As you can see from the picture below, when the path is wet, you get the impression that you have to walk through the water, but don't worry, your feet will stay dry.
County Leitrim has a lot of lakes, rivers and canals, and the opening of this path will give everybody the opportunity to enjoy these in all their glory. The entire Acres Lake Loop (12km) can be completed in 2 to 2.5 hours without to much of an effort, this as entire loop is flat and well surfaced. Rain, driven almost horizontal by the strong winds, made driving from Sligo to Cong difficult enough on the narrow backroads. Cong is a beautiful village on the border of County Galway and County Mayo. On this particular cold morning, Cong was still bustling with tourists who were there to visit the Quiet Man cottage, Ashford castle and the fabulous Cong abbey. Myself and Dolores had planned this trip to Connemara for a while, and although we had decided to sample the beauty of the fabulous landscape on offer, we would only be spending 10 hours in Connemara. Cong was our entry point into Co.Galway, a fabulous county marked by desolate landscapes, a place where you can find yourself hiking the Twelve Bens in the morning, have a refreshing dip in the Wild Atlantic in the afternoon and finish off an active day in bustling Galway. The first thing we noticed was the amount of foreign cars, especially French ones. Connemara has always been popular with French tourists, especially after Michel Sardou sang about Les Lacs du Connemara. By lunchtime, we had reached Roundstone, and while we drove into the little fishing town, the rain decided that enough was enough, and grinded to a halt. It was only just gone noon, but we were on the road since early morning, so we decided we were going to grab a quick hearty lunch. Our choice was quickly made, O'Dowd's seafood bar and restaurant had some interesting dishes on their menu, and they didn't disappoint. Mussels, seafood chowder and seaweed hummus was our selection, and all was as tasty as each other. 2 fighting seagulls made us look up while walking back to our car, and to our delight we noticed that the rain had gone and the low hanging clouds were disappearing making way for a few patches of blue sky. And that is Ireland, during our 10 hours in Connemara, we got exposed to rain, sunshine, witnessed rainbows,... , we changed from jumpers to rain jackets back to Tshirts,.... the only thing which doesn't change is the amazing landscape. Our next stop was Dogs Bay, a white beach surrounded by the clearest water. And the weather didn't put a damper on the people visiting this amazing strech of coastline, some of them jumping into the chilly Atlantic only to re-emerge screaming with happiness, or should we say shock caused by the freezing water. The area around Roundstone is marked by bogs, small lakes and a fairly flat landscape. But in the distance, you always see the Twelve bens which stand there tall and impressive. Next stop was one of the Atlantic Way Discovery Points, Derrigimlagh Bog. It was here that the worlds first commercial transatlantic wireless station was opened , but it is also here where the first non-stop transatlantic flight landed. The walk is worthwhile doing, it is very educational and explains all that there is to know about the wireless station. Another observation myself and Dolores made while driving towards Kylemore abbey is the amount of sheep which wander around Connemara. And they seem to prefer walking along the few roads which meander between the impressive mountains of connemara, or just laying on the road enjoying their afternoon nap passing no heat of the many tourists driving by them. Next stop was Kylemore abbey, one of Irelands main tourist attractions. The amazing Abbey and it's walled gardens is flanked by a pretty lake, at the back of the Abbey is the imposing mountains of Connemara. The Abbey has been home to the Benedictine community since the 1920's , and it is mainly the last years which has seen the restauration of the victorian walled gardens,... Kylemore Abbey is not to far from another impressive location, Killary fjord , Ireland's only fjord.
Killary harbour is approx. 16km in lenght, and at it's deepest point it is 45m deep. And we ended our Connemara trip with an unexpected find. Along the road overlooking Killary fjord in the Misunderstood Herron, a roadside cafe selling the freshest of food like mussels, smoked salmon,...all of which can be finished off with one of the tastiest of cakes available,... So, Connemara is a must visit location in Ireland, one where it really doesn't matter if it rains or not, one where you can discover all that Ireland has to offer. On this particular beautiful November morning, we found ourselves at the gate of the Guinness Storehouse, Ireland's most popular tourist attraction. If you plan to visit the Guinness storehouse, our advise is to buy the tickets in advance on their website (Guinness store website). After having paid the entrance, a colourful escalator brings you the the starting point of the tour. Here you will find a large Guinness store, an office where you can collect translator units for the non English speaking visitors, ... The building where the Guinness Storehouse is located was used as a fermentation plant for St James's Gate brewery up until 1988. The interior of the building was stripped and a glass atrium was installed which resembles the shape of a pint of Guinness. At the bottom of the atrium within the floor, you will find a copy of the 9000 year lease signed by Arthur Guinness. The Guinness Storehouse exists out of 7 interactive floors, the groundfloor introduces you to the ingredients required to make a pint of Guinness. The other floors make you familiar with the brewery it's founder, the brewing process, transportation, cooperage, advertisement and on the top floors you find some bars and a restaurant. So let's start the tour: Groundfloor - Ingredients & brewing story On this level, you become familiar with the beer's 4 ingredients: barley, hop , yeast & water. Interesting was the amount of work Guinness has been doing in regard to water conservation projects. Next, we were introduced to the actual brewing process - from roasting barley to create that distinctive aroma and colour of your pint of Guinness to how 30 million bubbles give you that creamy head on each pint, all is explained through visual displays. And that creamy head on a pint of Guinness, we have a man named Michael Ash to thank for that one. Floor 1 - cooperage / transportation / Arthur Guinness On this floor, you learn all about the way Guinness was transported around the world, from boats to trains. The cooperage area explains how the wooden barrels were made. On display are the many tools which were used to make wooden barrels. Another escalator brings you to floor 2 Floor 2 - Tasting Excited, we arrived at floor level 2 which is dedicated to tasting. Here they explain how to drink a Guinness, allowing you to enjoy that pint to it's fullest. Your senses will be pushed to the limit, from the aroma's to the actual tasting. So how to drink that pint of Guinness - take a deep breath - take a decent sip and hold it in your mouth for 3 counts, then swallow. And then repeat over and over until your glass is finished. Floor 3 - The world of advertising Everybody knows the Guinness signs and ads - they have always been very inventive, from the weird to the visual stunning , you can discover it all on this floor. We met Gilroy himself, we met the fish on a bike, we got to relive the advertisements Floor 4 - Guinness academy / Connoisseur experience
On this floor, you learn to pour a pint of Guinness. Or you can opt to go on the connoisseur experience where they will make you into a Guinness expert (additional cost). Floor 5 - food and drink Another floor up is food and drink, a restaurant where you can sample many dishes prepared with the black stuff itself. We didn't really hang around on this floor as we were to excited to go to the famous level 7 - also known as the gravity bar Floor 7 - Gravity bar The gravity bar is just amazing , in the middle you find the bar where you get your complimentary Guinness, all around is glass opening up the views across Dublin city and as far as the Wicklow Mountains. So while sipping our pint of Guinness, we had time to reflect back on our visit. If you expect to see a working factory, you will be disappointed as the Guinness storehouse is a museum with interactive parts thrown into the mix. We loved the building that much that we actually enjoyed just looking at the architecture of the Guinness storehouse. The building is a mix of old with new, where glass meets old brick and steel - it is a massive tumbs up for the building. The different floors also get the tumbs up, from the very visual displays to the interactive digustations, it is just brilliant. A tumbs down is the price which we believe is a bit steep, although it doesn't seem to stop the 1.6 million yearly visitors. If you think about it, that would be a yearly turnover of around 32 million a year just from the Guinness storehouse visitors - not bad for a tourist attraction. All we can say is Slainte A few days before Christmas, we escaped the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping in Sligo town and found ourselves in the seaside village of Rosses Point. It was a dreary day, so we headed straight into The Driftwood restaurant, a restaurant which opened it's doors during the summer of 2017. We were pleasantly surprised to find the interior to be bright and open, giving The driftwood a modern feel, but still feeling cozy on this rainy day. A wood fire and a Christmas tree were lit and welcomed us into The Driftwood. Around the wooden tables were cool leather seats which were comfortable. We picked one of the tables along the wall where a huge long bench with comfortable cushions welcomed us. The menu's were handed to us by Andrew, an Australian lad from Melbourne who has been working in The Driftwood since September. He was very friendly and was up for a chat. After having scanned through the menu, I decided to go for the daily special which was smoked fish fingers with thick cut chips. Dolores decided to go for the grilled chicken with toasted pita, beetroot hummus and roast vegetables. While we were waiting, Andrew told us that they have now a smokehouse dinner menu, so we had a quick peep through it. All we can say is that we will be back for it. From monkfish to pork tomahawk chop - it sound delicious. Another thing we learned is that they are opening guestrooms as well. And then we got our food, 2 plates with beautiful cooked homemade food. I loved the smoked fish dippers, the tick cut chips and the homemade dip. Dolores didn't talk to much, so that means the food was lovely. With the meal finished, we were a bit disappointed - NOT with the beautiful cooked meal, but that we hadn't visited The Driftwood before.
The Driftwood opened it's doors quietly, don't even think they have a website or a twitter page - but honestly, the driftwood doesn't need those things. The food speaks for itself, from the friendly staff to the great food to the beautiful location (although it rained when we visited) - it is a must visit location. But just so you know, they are on facebook (www.facebook.com/driftwoodsligo/) An interesting museum we recently visited is the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life which is located in Turlough Park, Castlebar in co.Mayo. The museum let us explore the life of our rural ancestors who lived during the mid-19th to the mid -20th centuries. The Museum is housed in a purpose built building which is modern in appearance located in parkland and gardens of Turlough Park House. The great news is that this museum is free admission and has free car park as well. And we must say it is a great museum which will be loved by all generations. There are so many displays ranging from trades and crafts to life in the community. Admire the old "push bikes", the old shop counter or blacksmith workplace, discover the traditions and celebrations in rural Ireland or just watch how turf was being gathered. Discover the clothes being worn by our ancestors, check out the utensils and cooking pots used to boil potatoes above an open turf fire. We loved the museum and the displays, all of which are very informative. The museum has also a great shop and cafe within the grounds and there is a great walk through the parkland.
On a dry but overcast day, we arrived bright and early in the village of Cong, co.Mayo. After parking the car closely to Cong Abbey, we decided to walk the grounds of Ashford castle first. The first stop was the old Monk's Fishing house which was built between 1400 and 1550 on a platform on the river Cong. There is an opening underneath the house allowing the river to flow freely underneath it. A trapdoor was then used by the monks to drop a net into the river in order to catch fish. The rivers and lakes around Cong are known for the abundant fish swimming around in them and are popular with anglers all year round. After having crossed the footbridge, we made our way over to Ashford castle. During the summer season, you have to pay an entrance fee of €10 (adults) to wander through the gardens, but as it was only April, we got in for free. Ashford Castle is a magnificent 5 star hotel which is set in 350 acres of manicured gardens along the shores of Lough Corrib. The hotel opened it's doors again in 2015 after a $75 million restoration which made this hotel into one of Europe's most prestigious ones. As activities, they offer fishing, falconry, equestrian, archery and clay shooting,...and much more. All of these activities can be enjoyed in the magnificent gardens of the castle The gardens vary from formal to informal gardens. The main central terraced and broad walk gives you amazing views across all the different gardens, from the walled garden which is reached by tunnel to the Tolmann garden which has a huge fountain in the middle of the sunken garden. We walked back to Cong village passing through the ruins of the Augustinian Abbey which dates back to the 13th century. The remains of Cong Abbey have been praised as featuring some of the best examples of early gothic architecture and masonry in Ireland. Cong is also famous for the Hollywood blockbuster "The Quiet Man" featuring John Wayne and Maureen o'hara. the film was shot mainly around Cong in 1952. Cong has the Quiet Man museum which is housed in a replica tatched cottage which is located in the heart of Cong . The ground floor of the cottage has been designed as an exact replica of the "White O-Mornin" cottage as featured in the movie. The furnishings, artefacts and costumes are authentic reproductions of the items seen in the movie. Early April is a great time to visit Cong, mainly because the hordes of tourists haven't arrived yet in the picturesque village. It was Lunchtime and we had worked up a great appetite. So we went into the hungry Monk Cafe, a lovely cafe which was for a day in April very busy.
And afterwards, we knew why it was that busy. The food is tasty, colourful and decently priced and the service was quick and correct. It was a nice way of finishing our couple of hours in Cong, a place we will surely visit again, probably spending a couple of days discovering the surrounding area and venturing into Connemara which we love for it's scenery and beauty. |
About the AuthorWe are Peter & Dolores De Bie. We love the great outdoors, discovering new parts of the world and writing about our adventures along the Wild Atlantic Way and further afield Categories
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