It was so hot when we went to the Cliffs of Moher on Sunday
that the tar in the carpark melted. Some said the temperatures reached 22⁰C.
We saw some poor locals who looked like lobsters and even we got a touch of
sunburn. The cliffs rise to around 190 metres and provide breeding grounds for
many sea birds including a colony of puffins.
As well as walking the cliff tops, we also viewed them from
the sea on our way home from one a trip to the Isle Innis: one of the Aran
Islands. On the Isle we took a horse and cart ride tour and inspected a castle.
Whilst in the area we also inspected a Neolithic Tomb and a bronze
age ring fort. We got to talk to some archaeologists who were involved in a dig
and had found a couple of pins, a knife blade and a hair comb. On our way from
Derry we also spent a night in Sligo where we visited a late stone age graveyard
and considered climbing Knocknarea mountain where Queen Maeve is said to be entombed. We
made it to base camp from where it is a 40-minute hike to the summit. It was
cold and wet, so we decided to skip the climb, got a hot chocolate and headed
to the pub.
On Monday we made it Limerick and toured another Castle. Tuesday
it was a drive out to Killaloe to visit the Brian Boru Heritage Centre. According
to family folklore Joy is descended from the brother of Brian. Brian is famous
for uniting the tribes of Ireland and becoming High King in the 11th
century. We had attempted to visit the Heritage Centre in 2007 but when we arrived,
we found out the centre had closed for the winter. This time we were prepared.
We had checked the opening times on the Heritage Centre website, its location
on google maps and followed signs from Limerick. So, when we walked in: we
surprised to be told the Centre closed down three years ago!
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