the davenports: day 11 – aran islands

For our first day adventure from Spiddal, we drove down to Rossaveal to catch the ferry out to the Aran Islands, specifically Inishmore. The weather wasn’t going to be fantastic but it also wasn’t likely to improve so we made the trip.

The Aran Islands weren’t on the itinerary for my very first trip to Ireland (in 1993) but they’ve made the cut on all subsequent trips. Mom thought that we would rent bikes which is typically what young “in shape” people do but we hadn’t yet told them that I was pregnant and not keen on the idea of riding a bike around a cold island (the time I did it, 9 years ago – it was a fantastic summer day and it was hard work). Our plan was to get a horse drawn cart because there was an old lighthouse that we didn’t figure would be on the regular bus tour and we wanted to try to walk back.

But first we had to get some food – pregnant ladies get very concerned about when they get to eat. This guy was “parked” outside the Spar in the town.

Just as normal as could be in a parking spot just like the cars.

It turned out that the horse drawn carriage idea – EXPENSIVE! So we ended up on a regular old “bus” tour in the end anyway which was what my folks had done right after getting off the ferry.

First stop, Dun Aengus, the fort at the top of the island. What they were protecting, no one is sure. You can only get so close to the fort before you have to abandon all other forms of transport and rely on your own two legs to get there.

Here are some random shots as we walked up hill through the karst to reach the fort.

Ah, we’ve finally made it.

One of the main reasons for going up to the fort is the views of the cliffs that you are afforded with no barriers between you and the drop off. Gotta love a society that isn’t as overly litigious like Americans.

Alright, I have to admit that even though on previous trips I just waltzed right up to the edge and peered over. This:

was as close as I could get and Will took all of the cool pictures.

Must have been that early motherly protective instinct kicking in or something.

And a couple more random shots from the top and/or the way back down where we found my parents in the little “town” that has cropped up at the trailhead.

The next stop on the tour was the 7 churches – mostly a collection of old ruined churches and a graveyard.

Oh, and a few cows.

Our last stop was out to the end of the island where the functional lighthouse resides. We found a pair of fishermen just beginning to repair their boat.

As it turned out, we didn’t have time to make it to the old lighthouse (one of our goals because there was a cache there) but my parents did! It was the first stop on their bus tour in fact.

Clearly, we should have just stuck together for the day after all.