It's been that long since I started this post that I cannot remember the details anymore so here is a very pic orientated post of more of our holidays in Galway.

View taken along the Connemara loop.

Pics taken at Kylemore Abbey on a very bad day weather wise.

There is a very dramatic scenic route called the sky road which is not to be missed, here's some pics.

At this rate my next post should be in 2010.

Cathal

Rohan's first tramp

We went on our holidays last week to the West of Ireland. The west of Ireland in terms of sightseeing is the equivalent to NZ's South Island. It's not that there isn't lots to see and do in the North Island of NZ or indeed the East coast of Ireland it's just that there's more in the South & West of the respective countries. By coincidence the weather is the same also i.e. it gets pretty wild in the West of Ireland. We went to a place called Connemara in County Galway and below is a map which shows where we were. We actually stayed in Galway city too but I have decided to do this post first as it is easier. There's a good link to a web site here.


In Connemara there is a national park and within the park there are four tramps which are actually one big tramp broken down into four parts. As it happens the weather was relatively good the day we arrived, however, we decided not to do the longest tramp to the top of the mountain on the advice of the tourist centre. Too windy and dangerous for Rohan. Here's the entrance and a close up of the sign. I don't think you would have to be a native Irish speaker to understand the sign even if it is in Gaelic! Be warned it's not all as easy as that though!

After you pass through the entrance pavilion you descend to the tourist centre which is adjacent to a lake, from here you set out on a 4 km loop to the top of Diamond Hill.

Rohan being carried by his dad on his first ever tramp.

Mam & Dad and part of Rohan's head oops...

Some views along the tramp.

A view up the branch off for the full tramp up the mountain. You basically walk to the top where the views are meant to be very dramatic.

Some views along our decent.

Back at the tourist centre for a well earned bowl of soup.

More on Galway in the next post.

Cathal

Rohan goes to Johnstown Castle

Rohan lives in the south east of Ireland in County Wexford. Wexford boasts some really nice places to visit, one of these being Johnstown Castle. Here's Rohan is his pram sporting a hand knit hat his Granny G knit him.


The front of the Castle.

The back of the castle.

New parents breaking new ground i.e. getting out of the house!


More pics around the grounds of the castle.

There's swans and peacocks in the park. We only got to see the swans today.

Johnstown castle is a brilliant place to bring kids. There's all sorts of things to see and plenty of space to run around. There's even a walled garden with a glass house, but we didn't manage to get to it today. Maybe next time.......

Cathal