McGann's Pub in Doolin Ireland

Cliffs of Moher Ireland

The cliffs are 600 feet tall. Still, it is hard to gain perspective until one takes in the detail. The Atlantic sea wasn't particularly stormy the day we were here, yet the swells were huge.

A Fine High Cross in Kilfenora

Read about the historic high crosses of Kilfenora here

and elsewhere via Google.

Near Westport Ireland

Corcomroe Abbey

Sheep Country, West Ireland

Into these hills to graze and lamb wander the 600 sheep belonging to Joe Joyce and 4 other farmers in this valley. Mr. Joyce demonstrated for us how he works with his Border Collies. 

Mr. Joyce and the other farmers drive the sheep back to the village 5 times a year for dip, lamb checks, inoculations, shearing. The dogs, seeming independently, gather the sheep from away to the tops of these mountains and beyond.

Joyce Country Sheepdogs' website is here.

A lake fills the bottom of the valley in front of the village. Joe lives on the other side of the lake. He takes his dogs across the lake in his motor boat. As they tear up the mountain, he can see and direct them from back out on the lake.

Formal Walled Garden at Kylemore

Kylemore, Ireland

Easy shot. This photogenic, relatively modern in Irish terms, home and all the greenery surrounding it were installed mid-to-late 19th century. Today one finds a girls' school, the stately home as a museum, an abbey and an incredible Victorian walled garden, all owned and managed by Benedictine nuns. 

Looking south into the clouds over Croagh Patrick. Thousands of pilgrims climb to the top on the last Sunday in July. Saint Patrick rid Ireland of snakes from here. Not a difficult task since there were none to start with. Pagan beliefs, yes, and he dealt with them too.

West Coast of Ireland Near Westport

Country and Western in Westport, Ireland

Loughcrew, Boyne Valley, Ireland

Loughcrew is one of several major Stone Age passage tomb sites in the Boyne Valley, a short drive and worthy day or more's explore west and north of Dublin. The area's ancient sites are extraordinarily interesting in understanding life during paleolithic time. 

The view from Loughcrew shows the typical pattern of Irish fields...no pattern, seemingly random, enclosed with stone over much of the country. The further west one goes, the more stone.

The tiny white dots? Hundreds of sheep.