Inishmore
Largest of the Aran Islands
Day 9 – Traveling by Ferry to Inishmore
The three Aran Islands lie off the coast, not far from Galway. Our ferry trip to the largest island, Inishmore, was smooth going out and very rough and stormy on our return.
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Arriving at the island, we were offered electric bikes or pony cart rides, but we chose to hop on minibuses with local guides to tour us around the island. It was a good way to learn about the simple and harsh existence of the people who live on Inishmore.
Islanders live in sparse villages and on small plots of rocky land. To create their fields, settlers had to clear rocks which were then stacked in dry-stone walls. Seaweed, sand and animal waste were then layered to create soil.
Like Dingle, the economy on Inishmore is driven mostly by tourism. Inishmore is another Gaeltacht area. Locals speak both Irish and English.
Dun Aengus Stone Fortress
The main attraction is Dun Aengus, a 2000-year-old ring fort perched 200 feet above the Atlantic. Our minibus took us to the base of a long, rocky trail leading to the stone fortress, and we trudged up to the top where views of the cliffs and sea were breathtaking
The ring fort's walls are 13 foot thick and 10 feet high. Jagged stones outside the wall added additional protection against attacking enemies.
Despite the high fort wall, the wind was fierce and exhilarating, especially as we ventured out toward the cliff edge. WOW – what a lot of drama and fun!
Seven Churches of Inishmore – Ruins Dating from the 8th to 11th Century
We had one last stop on the island. We headed back down the trail and boarded our minibus. The wind continued to blow, and a storm was on the way. How lucky it was that the rain held off until we got to the ferry. It was a full and wonderful day!
