TRAVELOGUE

 

My third trip to Ireland, Valeria’s first. Ireland is a relaxing country, easy to get around , with plenty of sights and beers! We hired a car from Shannon Airport and passed two weeks strolling around the West Coast from Killarney to Galway, County Mayo and Sligo, Donegal, Northern Ireland and back to Shannon. What a difference from my first trip here in 1991! Back then Ireland was essentially agricolture and farming, not so many tourists and low prices… This time we’ve found a wealth which surprised me, lots of big cars and shops everywhere. Ireland has gone a long way since lots of big companies started coming here in the early nineties (attracted mainly by the then low wages).

Still, the beauty of the nature and the coasts is almost intact, with some ecceptions around Achill Island which is now full of cottages, and the horrible path they’re building at the Cliffs of Moher. Doolin’ is still there, the Aran (at least Inisheer) retain some degree of magic, but the overall sense of solitude and peace is somewhat gone forever. But as a traveller, i think it’s outrageous to complain about other countries being richer than they were just to preserve your memories… it’s pathetic and offensive.

Anyway, this 2005 trip was more relaxed and we had a good time from pub to pub, from cliffs to green fields, from charming seaside villages to towns growing bigger and more cosmopolite then ever… Thanks Ireland for a Pint of Guinness and a good laugh!

 

ITINERARY

mappa Irlanda

1 august 2005 – Ryanair flight from Milan to Shannon – care rented

2 august 2005 – from Shannon to Killorgin – Ring of Kerry – Valencia Island – Waterville – back to Killorgin

3 august 2005 – from Killorgin to Dingle peninsula – around Dingle – Ballydavid

4 august 2005 – from Ballydavid to Tralee – to Tarbert by ferry – Kilkee – Doolin

5 august 2005 – from Doolin to Aran Islands – Inisheer then back to Doolin – Cliffs of Moher

6 august 2005 – from Doolin to Galway – Connemara – Roundstone

7 august 2005 – from Roundstone to Inishnee peninsula- County Mayo – Clifden – Kylemore Abbey – Joyce Country – Westport

8 august 2005 -from Westport to Bellmullet

9 august 2005 -from Bellmullet to Killybegs – Yeats Country

10 august 2005 -from Killybegs to Carrigart – Sleave Leagues

11 august 2005 – Fanad peninsula – Ratmelton – Derry – Limavady

12 august 2005 – Giant Causeway – Ballycastle

13 august 2005 -from Ballycastle to Belfast – then to Oranmore 

14 august 2005 – Oranmore to Burren – Doolin – Shannon – back to Italy