Yes. It rains in Ireland

The locals told us Tuesday that the rain we are experiencing is unusual. We think they are having us on. We planned that for our longest day of driving from Omagh in Northern Ireland to Clifden in County Galway, we would be taking in dramatic scenery. No. Just low clouds and fairly constant rain. Although, in some ways, this was a good day to be travelling as better to be in the car than waiting somewhere for weather to clear.


We stopped in remote Ersky for our now regular tea and scones. The only clients in the only coffee shop and with 3 people to serve us. “Should have been here yesterday” they said. “The weather was beautiful”. In Ballina for lunch where an Irish visitor in the former pub where we had lunch said that “This used to be a good pub, but now you cannot get a drink”. That got the owner out from behind the old bar area to explain the demise of the pub business in Ballina. From 76 pubs in the early 2000s to about 20 today. And they are struggling to survive.


But from there it was over to Westport where things are a lot different and clearly richer. Probably a lot to do with nearby Crough Patrick which attracts many Catholics and walkers. The rain had stopped by now but even so, the place looked quite prosperous. Good spot for afternoon tea and a leg stretch around town. The roads around here are a bit narrower though.


From there the change was dramatic as we neared remote Connaght. Yvonne's camera leapt into action and the trip driver was getting used to urgent calls to stop the vehicle, regardless of traffic and road conditions. We must have snapped every sheep in Ireland now but they are never shaggy fleeced enough for this camera.

Then we came around the corner to find Kylemore Abbey. This place, a former majestic country home built by Mitchell Henry to show the love he had for his wife (they don't make men like that now!) and sold off to a Catholic order after two former owners went broke. It has a fantastic setting over a lake and tucked into a mountain side. Very impressive indeed.

From Kylemore it was just a few kilometres to our next home in Clifden capital of Connaght.