We stayed in Stravithie Castle last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't have my laptop charger at the moment - David Pond inadvertantly took it to Spain with him but has posted it back to our Ireland address. However, being in Scotland for another day I won't have it until Tuesday!!!
However...........................
have to tell you & let you Google Stravithie Castle (a B&B) where we stayed last night!!!!! Just outside St Andrews. We had to keep pinching ourselves as we walked around the acres of woodland & had our own separate apartments!!!!!! We didn't want to leave!
We were blown away by both!!!!!!!!!

Tillycoultry Scotland!

17 years ago I heard of the little Scottish town of Tillcoultry, for the first time! There was a William MESSER born there in 1770 who could have been the father of a Henry MESSER (my g-g-g-grandfather) who married in Sydney in 1835. A William Messer married Ann in London in 1793 & had a son Henry in 1806. 17 years later (AFTER RESEARCHING most OF THEIR FAMILY & DESCENDANTS!!!!) I found out that Henry died in 1811, aged 5 years!
But Tillycountry always held a fascination for me - today I found out why! Little town of many OLD stone houses (also some nice newer ones!), OLD churches, High Street of shops all with a backdrop of high hills / mountains, half covered in low cloud & a part gourged out for a quarry.
We parked opposite a church (turned out to be Congregational) with some wonderful lady volunteers who serve morning & afternoon teas (home made scones, cupcakes & slices - all 50p) & lunch (soup, toasted sandwiches etc. tea, coffee & milkshakes - every day!!! Wonderful!
I told them my family story, showed them the family photos & they were sure the MERCER's they knew of were them! The uncle looked the spitting image of my Henry & a relative had gone to Australia! I did tell them we were talking 300 years earlier but it didn't seem to register - they were out checking all the plaques in the church & ringing everyone!!!! I left my phone number & email & they were happy.
We continued on through the town of Dollar, beautiful golf courses everywhere, Campbell Castle, ruined tall round tower, archways of trees, autumn trees & hedges & are staying 2 nights at a lovely B&B in Kinross. Tomorrow we start checking out where all the SHARPs ( Jen's husband, Brian's family, came from.

Catch up ........ Ireland to Scotland

A bit behind due to various reasons!!!!! Too busy enjoying ourselves & trying to see it all. We (with my sister Jen) have done the family history sites! On our way to Belfast we left a green & gold plant on our g-g-g-grandparents' grave hoping they will plant it nearby for us - we left a note explaining it all.
Another day we went to Donegal for the day - via Beleek (pottery place) It is also the town on the border between the Republic & Nth Ireland. I bought a special The Gathering mug there (14 pounds!!! - all of it so expensive!) It was a grey day but fined up in the afternoon & brilliant sunshine.
We travelled up the south shore road of Lough Erne (passed the Resort where G8 was held) & back along north shore across Boa Island. Sunshine picked up the splash of autumn trees along the hedges & little green fields.
It rained it Donegal - Jen shook a bridegroom's hand on his way to the church to get married. He thanked her & asked where the money was!
Warren went through the Castle - it was original home of the Brooke's home from Colebrooke!
Another day we all had lovely afternoon tea in Lisnaskea, on way back from Crom Estate. We had afternoon tea - hot chocolate & scones (muesli & blackberry; mandarin & inger - YUM!) - because it was closing time she gave us the 3 left - over scones to bring home!!!! I bought a lovely warm beige & brown blotchy scarf at Vinnies for 2 pounds too!
On way to Belfast we stopped off at Portadown where Dad's grandfather born - I'm still to find out just where!!!
In Belfast we 'did' the Hop -on / Hop - off bus - great seeing the whole city & explanation of the Troubles. Saw the Murals in both areas (Shankill Rd & Falls Rd), the gates they closed when trouble started to keep the houses/people safe inside. Also the high security walls - now called the Peace Walls where everyone writes & paints messages. We spent a few hours at the wonderful Titanic Exhibition too!!!!
The Canadian couple (McCollum sister, Belle) & Harry picked us up & took us walking along the Lagan River - beautiful. They then took us to dinner at the Benedict Hotel & to their home for supper. They  were both born in Nth Ireland but lived in Canada for 47 years. They have been back every year except 3!!!! Harry bought his parents' home when they died & has done it up for them to stay in - often 6 months at a time. Gorgeous inside - one of a row of small terrace houses - 3 stories, tiny rooms, very narrow staircase - you'll have to wait for photos - sorry!!! Van Morrison grew up nearby!Saw his house.
We worked out that Belle & (Kathleen & Emily - the other 2 sisters in Tempo) - our great-grandfathers were probably brothers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Our Robert COLLUM & their John McCOLLUM!!! Close rellies - 2/3rd cousins?
Today we bused (20mins) from Belfast to the dock; 2 & half hour sea voyage to Cairnryan - smooth as could be - 2 hour bus trip to Glasgow - all along the coast of Scotland!!! Just beautiful - islands off shore surrounded by misty cloud, sheep in green fields, stone fences, little white houses! Lots of ruined stone houses, castles, tall round towers - gorgeous!
Too late to hire a car so we are staying at the Thistle Hotel - our room has 2 double beds, & is about 15 m long & 6m wide!!!! We think we might stay!

Crom Castle & ruins; ancient Aghalurcher Church & Cemetery

We’ve been busy having a wonderful time with our international visitors!

With both Denise & David Pond & now my sister, Jen we’ve been on some lovely scenic drives – the autumn trees are starting to change colour & a splash of dark red or orange or yellow among all the green is spectacular! I didn’t expect to see it in Ireland!

We visited Crom Castle – a small round tower on an island in the middle of the loch, a ruined castle from 1611 built by the Balfour’s and the still lived in BIG castle built in early 1800’s. They are set on 2,000 acres of woodlands full of OLD oak & ash trees etc. We walked the 1 & half to 2 mile path around & through the Estate. There was misty rain at first then it fined up & sunshine! – all adding to the atmosphere!

On the way we stopped at the ruined ancient Aghalucher Church (founded in 7^th century but the ruins from the medieval times). This parish is the one the Collums & Browns lived in. Can’t remember if I told you this - when asking about it I have always pronounced it as it looks/sounds (Aghalucher). A man looked at me strangely when I said it & he said when I showed him the word ’ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you mean ACALOOKA’!!!!!!  This is where I’m sure all our family history is on the fallen, moss covered, word – eroded gravestones!

We also found the OLD Mullaghfad Church where Browns & Steen’s were - but very few graves – maybe one possibility (HOWEY) further back up the family name road! It is the among forests of pine trees planted since there day – quite hilly!

We are off the Drunquin today on the way to the Folk Park with Jen. We’ll have a better look around where Dad’s grandparent’s ( James MOORE & Jane GIVENS married & lived/worked in 1852).

I had my haircut in Fivemiletown the other day!!!!  £5  - for ‘ wee drive trim’!!!!! I like my wee dry trim too!

Molly made us another apple pie (the pastry ‘so short’ – beautiful!) & some stewed apple.

Warren’s birthday today so we’re all celebrating – special seafood dinner tonight! I’m sure he’ll enjoy his present – Jame

son’s Irish whiskey.

For Joshie & Ellie - Rose

This is where 'the little people' (leprechorns [sp?] & fairies) dance!!!!!

Lots of kisses & hugs
Nanna & Pappa

Colebrooke & The Sperrins

Colebrooke & The Sperrins

Sunday, as predicted was cold and wet with sunny breaks in the afternoon BUT very windy as well!!! Their 13 – 14 degrees not as cold as ours! Their 8 – 9 degrees usually the wind chill & IS COLD!!!!

 We went out to Cooneen  on Sunday morning hoping there may be a church service on there. WE saw the Collum & Baxter houses & church – service onlt once a month but Morning Prayer at 12.15! It is Ireland!

We drove the 3 miles to Fivemiletown (3 miles), arriving at 10.30 & service at the Methodist Church at 10.45! We were the ‘great interest’ of the day! Many people spoke to us & we were welcomed. The Johnston’s (related to the Baxter/Collums somehow) sat behind us & are going to see what they can find out for me. When the lasies sany I could hear Gr’ma Messer’s (Collum) bit of Irishness coming out in the ‘LoRd’ & ‘buRn’ – sort of accentuate & roll the ‘r’.

It took a little bit of getting used to the minister’s accent – preached about Old Testament fellow (forgotten his name!) ‘peon’??????? After afer half a dozen times realised it was his ‘pain’!!!!! Also his ‘praire’ – prayer.

We had lunch in the café we went to last time & the waitress asked if we’d found out any more!

In the afternoon the sun shone! Showed Denise & David the Colum grave & then found the Estate House, ‘Colebrooke’. With it being the National Trust free open weekend could we go in for a tour! We came in the back way through long archway of trees, beautiful, sunshiny through the leaves! OLD barn, stables, houses (servants’ lived?) falling down, roofs half covered in moss!

‘Colebooke’ is big. Owned by the Lords of Brookeborough, came from England in late 1600.s & all ours were tenant farmers. Lord Alan Brooke (in 60’s) greeted us, gave us the talk & tour – fascinating. He & his wife lived there since 1980 when married – they don’t have any children. He is still one of two Equiries (sp?) for the Queen who take it in turn to accompany important visitors around while in Nth Ireland. He ‘did’ Obama’s & Putin! They are given a gift by them afterwards.

He said his grandfather (who was PM of Nth Ire for 20 years up to 1964) sold off EVERYTHING in & about the house & farm (Molly later said it would have been for tax reasons) & then house empty until they moved in. So they have returned it & filled it to what it is today – BEAUTIFUL!!!! His wife made ALL the curtains (130 m in dining room ones alone!!!!). Only very few things belong to the Brookes – one a christening cup (about a foot high & all engraved & decorated from Queen Victoris to his G-g’fth, as she waqs his Godmother  – one of about 400!!!!

In one room is a huge billard table – mainly to fill up the space! Also big old gold framed pictures/portraits on the wall – they don’t know who they are, but bought at auction & look good!

The garden was lovely too – she does that as well; & big impressive entrance way gates when we went out the way we should have come in! He asked us not to go out the back as unsafe with work going on =- pleased we’d already been! We couldn’t take photos inside.

When we were going I told him Collum’s called all their houses they lived in in Aust he was ‘quite chuffed’ & impressed! It got it’s name from era when a Brooke son married an Earl of Enniskillen (Sir William Cole’s) daughter.

Yesterday we went for lovely scenic drive through The Sperrin Mtns – north west of us. Sunny breaks, little OLD stone houses & barns; new RED barns; tractors bringing in the hat bales; orange sheep!!!!, white sheep with black faces & feet! Small GREEN field with hedges around them -  just beautiful!

Lots of BIG new‘Celtic Tiger’ houses (many unfinished or empty) throughout. D&D said their tour guide said ‘in the good times’ people were encouraged to build ‘holiday house in the country’ & if ‘done / organised ‘prope

rly’ they could be built for free’.

Molly came for dinner last night – the men couldn’t come as a cow was struck by lightning & killed the night before  & they were busy with Vets & insurance agents.

Fine day so far (7am!) D&D leave tomorrow midday on bus back to Dublin to go to Malorca then 15 day tour of Spain & Morocco.

Jen arrives tonight at 8.15!!!!! Very exciting!

Hi there everyone,

Hope you are all fine? We are – Denise & David arrived on Friday  on 12.15 bus from Dublin. They really enjoyed their all around Ireland trip. Not wonderful – mostly fine but grey days. Friday afternoon we walked down to the farm little caravan park area, Mark is developing. He thinks caravanning will become more popular here. The builders were there building the sides of the amenities block.

We went into Enniskillen & ;did; the quite long main street & churches. We also went for lovely drive around the country streets & lanes nearby but the local Lace Museum wasn’t open. They are putting a new thatched capping on one end. My casserole dinner was good!

Yesterday we had a lovely day! Denise had said it would be good to see some sun – it was the most perfect autumn day – sunny & warm ALL day & blue sky ALL day! Incredible!

 We drove the 20 miles to Omagh stopping off at the quite substantial town of Drumquin where the MOOREs were from/married. Would you believe the week before I left I read a different obituary of James (Dad’s grandfather) & it said he was born in Portdown (just SW of Belfast!) in 1828. He married Jane GIVINS in Drumquin as she was from there & that’s where they were living/working at the time.

We went on to the Ulster American Theme Park just out of Omagh – O in the News because Govt here decided not to have ANOTHER inquiry into the IRA hotel bombing there in 1998. The Theme Park was wonderful – one of top 4 attractions. It is all so well done - there is a large section of rooms with explanation (dioramas, museum & personal objects of early Ireland & ALL the immigration to America. You go from what it was like in Ireland to the covered wagon & life in America. There were 113 passengers on the Titanic so that features prominently – stories, photos of survivors.

 Then there is an outside Irish town on 16 houses, churches, barns, shops you walk through (people dressed up as in the time  -late 1700’s – ‘doing’ a craft (printing (you get your shipping ticket), making corn dollies, soda bread, blacksmith etc; also grocer, tailor etc). A couple of the houses are the actual houses & others ‘copies, rebuilt. Peat fires burning the lot – wonderful!

Then you go into a mock up immigrant ship on how they would have travelled which leads onto an early American village they would have lived in & the houses, churches, shops there - so good!

Last night they took us on a 90 mins cruise of Loch Erne (still sunny & warm 6.30 – 8pm – up through waterways around Enniskillen – it’s on an island between Upper & Lower Loch Erne – past the castle, through a ‘one level type’ lock; to Devenish Island where there is a ruined monastry, abbey church; round tower etc & back to swish hotel for 3 course dinner – wonderful!!!!

We got talking to a family on the cuise, as the 11 yr old grandson wants to come to Australia – asked us all about the spiders, snakes & sharks he’d seen on documentary about Aust. I was telling them about us & grandfather asked what names I was researching, He said ‘I’m a MOORE from Portadown’!!!!!! His cousin Helen Moore has done the family tree so we have swapped emails & phone numbers & he will pass them on to Helen!!!! He came back 3 times to talk to me – told me about old cemetery where lots of Moore’s would be buried & wants me to ring him when we are there & he’ll take me to it!!!! Lovely guy! There are coincidences like that SO OFTEN in family history research!!!!

Today is cold, wet & 60 mile an hour wind gusts!!!!!!!!!!It’s 7.20am, no one else has stirred yet!

All National Trust properties are open & free this weekend so we’ll see some of them. COLEBROOKE House where COLLUMs were is open & have tours, so hope to see thatou should see this table I’m at – cameras, videos, Kindles, laptops, tablet all recharging – CORDS EVERYWHERE!!!!!!

Photos - Family resemblances from tour = 'our farm house' + Aran Island

Andrew?

Dad?

 'Our farm house'

 600' cliffs near ancient fort (on top of cliffs)
Aran Island

C 

 Some of the 3.000 miles of stone fences on Inhishmore, Aran Island (10 x 3 miles )

t

On the last blog post the ruined stone house was the McCollum house on top of the hill at Largandoy out of Tempo. he Baxter house  inhabitated until 1990 by May Baxter - Baxter's lived there for 275 yrs

End of our first week here at farm

Things still going really well! We have got all the emails - I think - except one from Clare apparently.Thanks so much for them - love reading your doings!

Sun & Mon fine although some showers. We went to the pink column Methodist Church on Sunday - 11.30.About 100 there - first service on the year - it sounds funny them talking this was - but take everything from when school goes back so a new. There were 9 in the choir. Good old Wesley hymns we knew.

When we came out - minister stands outside the door to shake hands - it is right on the road so everyone disappears straight away - also it was 12.45.

Monday - we went to Coonien - where Collums, Brown's  came from etc. We were taking photos of the old place where the Baxter's lived (after visiting the church - it was open as workmen there!!!!

A lady walked down the drive & I said to her are you Ethel? Yes - it was May Baxter's daughter, I wrote to in the 80's!!!!!! She remembered we writing to her. She invited us in for cup of tea. We stayed about 2 hours. I had the letters for her to read. She has mine to her mother - in the attic. She said a fellow was over from USA a few years ago & she has papers he left too!!!!! We met her husband Roy who came home as well. We'll go back when Jen here.

She directed us to the real Baxter house (only 275 years old, I exaggerated!!!). The one we took photos of was where May's sister lived. Also where John Collum & Eliza Baxter lived - they were Robert Collum's parents (Gr'ma Messer's grandparents.

She said they would all be buried in Colebrooke Cemetery near the BIG church. This was the estate they all worked on - & Gr'ma called all their homes in Aust  'Colebrooke'.

WE FOUND JOHN & ELIZA'S grave!!!!!! I have never known when they were born (had a guess) but ALL the dates were there.

I've bought a yellow plant & hope to plant it near the grave when Jen gets here!!!!We've just had an 'international breakfast' over at the B&B. 6 others = English as well as one fellow from Bendigo, visiting his sister. We don't need to eat for the rest of the day!!!

Tempo

What a great day we had yesterday! Sunny & warm we went out to Tempo where Gr’ma Messers father’s family, the Collums came from. It’s about 10 miles from here, little town. As we parked we saw a big black van go down the very narrow main street, It was pulling a clear sided enclosed trailer with a Cinderella type coach in it!!!! There is parking on both sides of street so only room for one vehicle at a time to go through!. Caos all the time!

 We walked down the main street to a RC church (among all the houses & shops) where there were 2 guys with big cameras taking photos. 3 guys in suits & flowers in buttonholes got out of an orange & black mini in front of the church! I spoke to one of the standers-by & a well known rally car driver getting married there in half an hour! LOTS of guests. The wedding party arrived in beautiful old Mercedes wedding cars – not the coach!!!

We visited the Church of Ireland & Presbyterian (where Collum’s married in 1862) churches & cemeteries – found only one McCollum. Gr’ma’s grandparents died elsewhere. They were ‘McCollum’ in early days (from Scotland in early 1700’s) & later dropped the Mc.

We went to the PO & told them my story. Lady said there were 2 McCollum sisters living in town & gave us their names, addresses (directions to houses & phone numbers). She rang one who said she’d be home until 2pm if we’d like to call!

We had lunch I’d made, then went to see her. Kathleen Elliott could not believe we were there – her br-i-l had arrived from Canada a few days earlier & he had just started to research the McCollum’s & had sent her what he had found on the 1901 & 1911 censuses. We compared notes & there were all farmers at Largandoy, the same as ours!!!!! She had never heard of the place (old townland name about 3 miles away!!!!) He hasn’t got back far enough to see how we could be related.

Another researcher thinks there were originally 3 McCollum brothers there & we are all descendants! So I’m off to library today to look for some more info. We arranged to get in touch again, plus her sister) after that. They had lovely big home & 2 Mercedes.

We called at her sister’s (Emily Armstrong)– beautiful new BIG “Celtic tiger’ home next to a ‘twin’ house where her daughter lives. (these houses were built in the good times – ‘Celtic tiger times’ - before the financial crises - LOTS of BIG 2 storey houses built EVERYWHERE - & now lots not completed or up for sale or just closed up & left)

 So these McCollum descendants have done well!!!

We started to drive out to see the McCollum house & the coach was outside the RC church!!!! It was for a SECOND wedding after the one we saw!!!!

We called on 2 brothers (90 & 84) who remembered where McC’s had lived – 2 places, one still there!

We found the original house I WILL HAVE TO TRY & SEND YOU PHOTOS!!!! On top of a hill over looking a quarry (still working) & farming land. Tiny (falling down) one room stone house, very low doorway, 2 windows with corrugated iron & wooden covers’ mud floor, small raised area & fenced off,  (made of cement - added later?- for animals?) This could well be our McC’s house as Kathleen’ s family was ‘at the Crossroads’. There were blacberries all along the way so we picked & ate some – beautiful.  Just wonderful to see it all.

Last night we went over to the house for dinner – tomato & vegetable soup;  roast beef & lamb, mashed & roast potatoes, broccoli & cauliflower (whole one cooked in big bowl, leaves, stem & all in white cheese sauce!!!! Red & white wine; home made fruit salad, cream & ice cream – beautiful! Tea & cake for supper anyone?!

So what a day!!!!

2pm Saturday -  just heard results of election - pleased Rudd going to stand down - will let someone new have a go! Australia 'under Tony'????!!!!!! There was a report on it on Wed & again this morning. Only news we’ve heard of Aust. We haven’t met any other Australians since Singapore!!!

T

Riverside Farm - first 3 days

 

Beautiful sunny days (mostly!) still (17 - 21 degrees) but quite cool early morning & evenings.

We've had 3 car less days but not been idle! Mon - we went into Enniskillen (Mark's dad drove us in on way to Dr's appt - all done up in his collar & tie & sports jacket!). I joined the Enniskillen library & talked to Fam Hist Librarian - I think I knew more than she did but she was interested!!! We walked town (

along narrow main street, a couple of shopping centres as well) BIG RC & Church of Ireland (Anglican) cathedrals like - opposite each other in main street!. 

We found the Methodist Church today  BEIGE/CREAM & PINK!!!!!!! BIG CHUNKY COLUMNS in front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Will have to send you the photos!!!!

Yesterday we caught the bus to Fivemiletown - 10.50 pound return each! It's about 15 miles from here. It's the main town near where Baxters, Collums, Browns, & rest of our lot from. Saw the Market Place where they would have come to the monthly Fairs. THE highlight of their lives! I really felt touched/moved by walking up & down - seeing the signs to the villages they came from (3 to 5 miles away). Spoke to an old man who knew the later Baxter's (Grandma's grandmother). I corresponded with a Baxter descendant & her daughter still lives ON THE SAME property - her son lives in THE house where Baxters have lived for nearly 300 years!!!!! I will contact her & arrange for us to visit (hopefully) when you are here Jen.

Today we caught the bus to Belfast International Airport!!!!!!! 86 miles, 2 plus hours away 18 pouds single each.

We hired a car Peugeot 4 door. We'll have it until we go to Scotland with Jen. 

We are sitting outside (can get wi-fi that way) in the COLD breeze- but sun at 7.20pm.

I have been meaning to say - IRELAND HAS RED BARNS TOO!!!!!!!! I love the American ones - Irish barns have rounded tops - I think I sent a photo earlier.

Where we are I'm unable to attach photos!!!!

Some other things - 

 There are no screens on the windows at the house so LOTS of flies get in!!!!! Also GIANT mosquitoes - long 'spiderly' but fine - legs & wings.

We haven't met any Australians since Singapore!

Molly has some bird feeders in the trees outsaide our kitchen window & each morning there are about a dozen tiny little birds around the, Also BIG pigeon today!

We found a GIANT Tesco supermarket today - the same as Cosco to us; Tesco would be to them>

We were like kids in a candy store with all the 'specials'!!!! I've found food here (to buy & consume at home) cheaper than home - except for meat maybe.

ALSO THERE WERE JARS OF VEGEMITE THERE FOR 1.97 pound - & I CARRIED MINE ALL THE WAY HERE!!!!! At least some of the Americans tried it on our tour!!!! 

Our Irish home!

Lovely 2 buses trip yesterday (Sunday 1 Sept - happy Father's Day; Warren's first Irish one!)  - Galway to Sligo (2 & half hours) then Sligo to Enniskillen (1 & half) The difference in scenery incredible! The first (Sth Ire) little GREEN fields of sheep, cattle with stone fences; very few trees. The latter we could have been sitting on a bus around Orange way!!!! Mountains, hills, tree everywhere, pine forests, still small fields of animals but with wooden fences! Not big chunky ones like our's though.Weather fine - cloudy, sunny but warm.

 We got a taxi to the Riverside Farm - 2 miles south of E. Our house is about the same size as ours (up top). Big kitchen/dining area; big lounge room - 3 bedrooms all with big ensuites & 2 single beds, so 4 bathrooms & 5 loos!!!!!

Molly & her son Mark run the B&B & he the farm. Molly is friend of Vi who I email on family history website. She called in & met us last night!!!!(

 They also have a caravan park area (2 ports - loos!)  by the river (next trip Engadine group?) & 18 boats anchored at their moorings.

BIG TV, & Big fuel stove powered by oil which heats water & house.

I washed this morning - front loader type - it was still going an hour & 20 mins later & not 'spun'. When I opened the door the steam nearly knocked me over!!!! I ended up hanging it on the line (good breeze) & did some other by hand!!! Molly's 'lady' comes about 10am & she will show me how it works!!!!

We're off now for walk down to the river where their boat &cruisers are kept. Then into town to see about getting a car & buy some more food supplies. There is a little village about 30 mins stroll away where we went last night.

Haven't found the local pub yet!!!

Ps - Mark came over & set the washing machine (cold, quick wash)  for me - 2nd wash still going after  an hour! When we finally got the door open - WET clothes & BOILING HOT!!!! I'm giving it one last try now!!! Otherwise it's down to handwashing!

Aran Islands (Inishmore) off coast of Galway

At 8.45am I read Triona's suggestion of going to the Aran Island - we were on the bus to the ferry at 9.30!!!! Hour trip in double decker & hour trip in ferry.

The island is 10 x 3 miles with 3,000 miles of stone fences!!!!!! The island has a population of 900 - always the same except during the Great Famine (1845-48) when they had potatoes & food & no one else did. Pop went up to 3,000.

The story goes - there originally was no soil on the island so over three years they collected all the stones & made the fences; then brought in sand & seaweed, mixed it & planted potatoes the first year; the 2nd year they grew & mixed in rye and the 3rd grew crops!

We visited Dun Aonghasa - ancient (2,500 yrs) fort of stones - one of only four - this one on top of 600; cliffs - incredible scenery!!! The people built huts inside fort & massive ramparts each side of gateway.
There are 3 villages, 2 primary schools, one high school, few churches. Cromwell's men ever reached here & destroyed 7 church complex & killed all the monks.
I didn't feel least bit seasick on rough trip to & fro!

Wonderful day - thanks Triona for suggestion!!!!
Unable to send photos on this wi - fi so hopefully catch up next time!