Day 27, July 25, 2012

It's sunny today, a great day for touring. We left our B&B in Westport and headed north. Our first stop was at the town of Newport, where we hoped to get some good pictures of the aqueduct known as the Seven Arches. It has been converted into a pedestrian walkway but the exterior looks the same as it has for many years. We were in luck. The sun was in the perfect position to create striking reflections of the bridge, clouds, and buildings. We got some great pictures, some of which I posted on my Facebook page.

We left Newport and drove onto Achill Island. There were some stunning views, especially from the seaside cliffs. It made for some interesting driving too. I think I can truthfully say that I've experienced about all the types of roads that Ireland has to offer. If I can make it two more days without any mishaps, I will consider my driving in Ireland a success. We turn the car in on Saturday, so on Friday, we plan to have it cleaned inside and out so it won't show much off the wear and tear from four weeks of use.

When we left the island, we headed north again, this time heading for a World Heritage Site known as the Ceide Fields. This is considered to be the largest neolithic site in the world. Fields, fences, houses, and buildings from 5000 years ago were gradua

lly covered with peat through the encroachment of bogs. After 5000 years, the fields were covered to a depth of 5 to 10 feet. When farmers were cutting peat to use as fuel, they discovered the fences and building under the peat. The ancient farmlands under the peat extend for several square miles. It is too costly to uncover all the fields so they have determined the extend of the fields and fences by using metal probes and bamboo sticks to show where objects lie beneath the peat. It was very interesting, to say the least. There were also sheer sea cliffs nearby which were quite appealing.

We made our way back to Westport and went back to the same restaurant we ate at last night, the West Bar. The reason I was so eager to return to that particular bar/restaurant was due to what I learned about their seafood chowder. Their chowder was named the best chowder in 2012 for all of Ireland. This November, it will be entered in the world chowder competition in Boston. I had to try it and I was not disappointed. It was the best chowder that I ever tasted. I think it will win.

After dinner, we dropped George and Grace off at our B&B, and Nancy and I headed off to take a few evening pictures. We drove to the visitor's center and trailhead for Croagh Patrick, a 2500 foot high mountain made famous by St. Patrict. Legend has it that Patrick fasted for 40 days of Lent, climbed the mountain, rang a bell, and drove out all the snakes in Ireland. Every year, on the last Sunday in July, as many as 30,000 people will climb the mountain in honor of St. Patrick. Most of them are Catholics and they will celebrate mass at the church at the top of the mountain. Some will make the trek barefoot. Some will come back down on sretchers. I guess it's quite a sight.