Traveling the Emerald Isle -- Day 10, Sunday, August 28, 2022

 Limerick and The Cliffs of Moher, Ireland – Day 10, Sunday, August 28, 2022

At our B&B this morning we had a delicious Irish breakfast of eggs, sausage, ham/bacon, cooked tomatoes, toast, yogurt and fruit.  Then we headed to Limerick to walk the streets a bit and tour St. John’s Castle. The city is located on the River Shannon and is said to date back to 812 or even earlier.  We spent a fair amount of time studying the history and lifestyles during the 800 years of St. John’s Castle.  The Castle also is located along the River Shannon in the city’s Medieval Quarter. The displays and re-enactments were well done and informative.  People in period costume were in the courtyard to show us various skills needed of those running and defending the castle. Climbing the watch tower provided a beautiful view of the city, and the tiny quarters of those guarding the Castle gave us a glimpse of what life was like 800 years ago.  This was a very enjoyable stop.

The Republic of Ireland has designated a roadway around the edge of the country called the Wild Atlantic Way where travelers can enjoy the beauties of the Atlantic Coast from Kinsale in County Cork to the top of County Donegal.  We have been following this route for much of our travels, and we do so again, going up to Doolin for lunch at Fitzpatrick’s Bar before making our way to the Cliffs of Moher whose dramatic cliffs soar as high as 702 feet above the Atlantic.  There was a lot of walking and climbing … so today was a 12,000+ steps day!  But the seascape is stunning and worth every step of it.   It’s difficult to describe how sheer the cliffs are, how numerous they are, the many unique rock formations there are, etc. etc.  I absolutely loved it, having spent several hours exploring the area.

The Cliffs of Moher

Leaving the Cliffs of Moher, we meander north toward Galway and see the 10-square-mile limestone plateau called The Burrern. It is indeed baron and a dramatic change of scenery, although it does have a very unique ecosystem with flora that has managed to adapt since the last Ice Age 10,000 years ago.  The first humans came here about 6,000 years ago and cut down most of the trees, and it is said that there are many pre-historic and Christian sites here as well.

The Burren

This evening we are staying at Raffery’s Way B&B in Kilcolgan just south of Galway. I guess we’re in the pattern of finding a nice Irish pub for dinner, then chilling out before putting our very tired, but happy, bodies to bed.  It’s been another day of stunning scenery on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.