Cork and Kerry A.R.I.: MALLOW AND KANTURK VISIT CONNEMARA APRIL 2018

A GROUP FROM KANTURK AND MALLOW SPENT THEIR SPRING BREAK IN CONNEMARA RECENTLY STAYING AT THE STATION HOUSE HOTEL IN CLIFDEN AND TRAVELLING WITH CRONINS COACHES.. WE HAD A MARVELLOUS 3 NIGHT BREAK VISITING LILY MAIS IN BUNRATTY AND PEACOCKS HOEL MAAM BEFORE ARRIVING AT CLIFDEN ON THE FIRST DAY. AFTER A GREAT WELCOME AND LOVELY DINNER WE HAD A CHOISE OF A CLASSICAL CONCERT WITH A SPANISH GUITARIST AND GERMAN CELLIST OR MUSIC IN THE BAR. ON THE SECOND BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS INCLEMENT WE WENT SHOPPING IN WESTPORT, AND THAT EVENING AFTER ANOTHER DELICIOUS DINNER WE HAD A MOVIE IN THE CINEMA. WE WATCHED MAUREEN O HARA AND JOHN WAYNE IN THE QUIET MAN MADE LOCALLY 67 YEARS AGO. IT WAS FASCINATING TO WATCH IT AGAIN. MORE MUSIC IN THE BAR BEFORE BED.SOME WENT SWIMMING IN THE LOVELY POOL OR WALKING BEFORE BREAKFAST OF MASS AFTER BREAKFAST.ON THE NEXT DAY WE VISITED CONG AND WENT ON A TRIP ON LAKE CORRIB. WE WERE SERVED TEA/COFFEE AND SCONES AND ENTERTAINED BY MARTIN ON THE MELODIAN. MARTIN IS NOW 88 AND THE LAST SURVIVING MEMBER OF THE CAST OF THE QUIET MAN (WE THINK)WE VISITED AN ISLAND CALLED INIS NA GHOILL A HOLY ISLAND NOW UNINHABITED BUT PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED BY DRUIDS AND MONKS AND MORE RECENTLY A HERMIT. THERE ARE MANY GRAVES THERE. IT IS LOVELY AND PEACEFUL THERE WITH NATURE AS IT SHOULD BE. WE HAD A GUIDED TOUR WITH DAVID LUSKIN WHO WAS VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE AND INTERESTING. THE WEATHER WAS FABULOUS ALL THAT DAY A PROMISE OF SUMMER. THAT NIGHT AFTER DINNER WE HAD A TWO MAN BAND IN THE STATION BAR WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL STATION AND THEY HAVE MANY INTERESTING ITEMS AROUND THE BUILDING.

ON THE LAST DAY RAINING AGAIN SO WE HEADED FOR GALWAY FOR MORE RETAIL THERAPY AND AFTER LUNCH WE HEADED FOR HOME TIRED BUT HAPPY. MICHAEL STUBBS TOOK SOME PICTURES AND THESE ARE SOME. HE WAS ALSO A GREAT HELP WITH LUGGAGE AND GENERALLY HELPING PEOPLE.EDDIE WAS AGREAT DRIVER AND GOT US THERE AND BACK SAFELY.