Today we got up and drove to Connemara to see Kylemore Abbey. This exquisite castle was erected as a gift for a rich man's wife, turned abbey in WWI when Benedictine nuns fled from Belgium, and now a working Benedictine Monastery and tourist attraction. It sits amongst trees, facing a lake, and with extensive grounds featuring the famous 6-acre Victorian Walled Garden. We wandered the castle, property, watched the pigs get fed, and were amused by the sorts of crops they were able to grow in the 22 greenhouses that sat inside the perimeter of the walled garden. I'm so glad we didn't miss this serene and moody castle and it's rich history!
A short drive away, with backpacks full of sandwiches, we began our hike through Connemara National Park. We were warned by our one of our food guides and also our host's brother not to hike this in bad weather conditions, but it was only misty and windy (which we Americans didn't equate to 'bad weather conditions'). The other important trail note was to hike clockwise around Diamond Hill, as to do the opposite is more difficult and possibly more dangerous.
We trekked for several kilometers, slowly ascending the hill, which went from grassy, hilly, and green to rocky, steep, and misty landscapes. The wind started to really pick up as we ascended the jagged hillside, and we started to all become a little more than alarmed when the mist left little visibility while the wind was practically pushing us sideways. Slowly, crouching, we steadily looped our way down the hillside and out of the mist and the wind. With laughter and relief, we all agreed that we would have probably not done the hike had we known the length and difficulty, but we were proud and exhilarated at what we had accomplished!
On our drive back towards Galway we found another small castle on the GPS. With a little trial and error, we walked through a private drive to get back to an abandoned Gothic Revival-style castle that was built in the early 19th century. Only 75 years after Clifden Castle was built, the family that bought the castle from the original owner, who had died, let it fall into disrepair. It was surrounded by the greenest grass, sweetest cows and tiny, soft little lambs.
. We stopped for dinner at a local pub in Clifden, which is the cutest little coastal town. I wish we had more time there, but the end of our journey was just days away! We looked around for live music and had dessert at a spot across the street from the pub, but Irish-time didn't come soon enough and it was time to leave before any music started to play :(
A long drive back, and it was time to turn in before our final day in Ireland.
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