Connemara Countryside
Day 10 – Travel from Galway to Westport
Cong
Gary was especially excited to visit Cong, the 1951 filming site of "The Quiet Man," starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara – one of his favorite movies.
The red and white Dying Man House and other cottages were constructed specially for the film.
Ruins of Cong Abby
Built during the 11th century, the Abby features a mix of Romanesque rounded arches and the pointed arches of the Gothic style.
Harry Clarke Windows
A plain, 20th century church nearby held a colorful surprise –
three beautiful windows made by Irish artist Harry Clarke in 1933.
The castle is a short walk from Cong. Ashford Castle is now a pricey hotel. We walked across the bridge, onto the castle grounds. From there we headed through the garden to the Ireland School of Falconry.
Ashford Castle
A Unique Experience and Group Fun at the Ireland School of Falconry
The park-like castle grounds were lushly landscaped with woodland trees and colorful shrubs.
At the falconry school, we met the handler who first introduced us to Dingle, a giant Eagle Owl. Then he brought out a Harris Hawk and walked us out to a clearing where each of us, in turn, put on the falconry glove and "flew the hawk." The hawk returned from flight to nibble on a treat which the handler placed in our glove. It was so incredible – being eye to eye with this powerful and beautiful bird! What a WOW experience!
A Memorable Drive through Connemara
Connemara is a region northwest of Galway. It is known for its magnificent beauty and stark contrasts. Lush rolling hills give way to craggy mountains as one travels north from County Galway into County Mayo.
Paul treated us to soup and Irish bread at Hamilton's Bar in the little town of Leenane. After lunch, we looked out over nearby Killary Fjord – the only true fjord in Ireland. We marveled at the beautiful scenery.
