Connemara and Cong

The same tour company today, a different driver (Michael) who was just as informative and loquacious, and a very different location. Our major destination today was the Kylemore Abbey and Gardens in the Connemara National Park and the route there was through the most beautiful landscape of rolling peatlands, rugged mountains and crystal loughs. The morning drizzle added to the magical atmosphere but the stunning views could be seen very clearly when the sun came out in the afternoon.

Lough Inagh

View from Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey was built as a gothic castle in 1867 and is now home to a community of Benedictine nuns. We found the garden more interesting than the mansion which has been extensively remodelled since its construction. The Victorian Walled Garden was once Ireland's best and was likened to Kew Gardens. It is now being restored and, set against the backdrop of the wild Connemara mountains, this six acre garden is a delight with formal flower beds, kitchen garden, rockery, nuttery and fernery.

On the return journey, we passed equally stunning scenery including the Killary Fjord. As  a contrast to stories of the potato famine, Michael also showed us a Fairy Tree and pointed out some Killer Sheep which he claimed were responsible for the disappearance of tourists.

Killary Fjord

A Fairy Tree full of mementoes (note the 'no dumping' sign!)

We had a break at Cong Village and Abbey where we took photos of the ruins and the woodlands, and then our final stop was at Ross Errily Abbey, the best preserved Franciscan friary in Ireland.

Woodlands at Cong

Ross Errily abbey

As we came back into Galway, Ian and I both agreed that we had made the right decision to take the tour, rather than drive ourselves. It had enabled us to see much more than we could have managed in a day on our own, without the stress of driving and navigating. Being with a 'group' had not been a problem and we enjoyed the driver's sense of humour and the Irish music he played.