Connemara & Kylemore Abbey

Another beautiful day in Ireland. Started earlier this day with a delicious breakfast of pancakes and fruit. Packed up our laundry and headed into town to Greg's Laundry where we left our clothes to be laundered. None of us had ever done that and it sure felt weird. Didn't return in time to pick up so we'll get our clean clothes in the morning. I am so hoping they will still fit!! 

Have I mentioned what a loyal and smart companion our Garmin has been?? She is amazing! Typed in our destination for the day and off we headed toward Galway, Connemara and Clifden in Galway County. Our journey took us through more stunning scenery as the landscape changed from fields to mountains, streams and crystal clear mountain lakes dotted with grazing sheep all over the place..even on the road. Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens were our goal for the day. I don't think it will ever cease to amaze me how you can be driving along and then seemingly out of nowhere there sits a castle! The setting for this Abbey/Castle and Gothic Church is picturesque at best. If you get the chance google kylemoreabbey. It was built by Mitchell Henry for his beloved wife Margaret. He did much for the economy of the neighboring town by employing laborers to build the castle. His wife died at an early age (45) and he was bereft. They had 9 children for him to raise. He had a miniature of the castle built (Gothic Church) as a memorial chapel to his wife. Both of their remains are in a mausoleum just down from the church. The Benedictine nuns acquired the castle, ran a boarding school for a time but closed it in 2009. The nuns still live and work at the Abbey. It was fascinating and I really can't do the story justice.

Walked a short distance to a beautiful Victorian Walled Garden. Very serene setting. Will show all those pictures to anyone bored enough to want to see them when we return!

Starving by the time we left the Abbey so we drove to the quaint sea-side village of Clifden where we ate at Mitchell's. Each

of us had a different sea food entree and walked away fat and sassy! Not too fat and sassy to pass up yet another ice cream cone before we left for our journey home.

One of the pics is of the valley laid out before us just minutes from the B&B...a spectacular ending to another enchanted day in Ireland. 

I have to brag on Roy...he is the BEST driver anyone could have. Although, Mike does have a near-death experience to share...involves a really tight, narrow curve across a bridge next to a stone wall!! Mike swears Roy came so close, you couldn't have wedged a piece of notebook paper between the car and the wall! We laughed for a good 30 minutes recalling Mike's reaction. Thank God we are safe and continue to journey on down the back roads.