Gary-Summer: IR-Galway

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

July 22, 2025 - Connemara

Title: July 22, 2025 - Connemara

Old Crow by Information Booth

Hike Info : Description : Background : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Touring, Car, Hiking

Description:

I woke up at 5:30, but this time I was pretty refreshed. When Sherri turned over, I got out of bed around 6:15 to continue writing up our trip-this is a perpetual thing to do. We are planning on a 9am get away to Connemara National Park. Others get up with Sherri getting up around 8:50-her alarm did not go off.

Start of path up

We did leave by 10 with Rachel driving, as usual. We thought about taking a northern route past a fjord to get there. But almost from the get go, the route seemed a bit dicey. The first attempt is blocked by a construction sign saying local traffic only. The way Google leads us is to a one lane passage which Ireland is noted for. This is a bit too much for our newly minted European driver. Besides, it is raining a bit. So we back track to a national route, N59.

I am riding shotgun today. This is a new experience. From the backseat, I do not have that upfront experience of seeing cars coming at me from the “wrong” lane. Nor that Rachel is turning into the “wrong” lane. It is taking some getting used to and I am thinking that I may not be the best companion for Rachel on the side here. But she is stuck with me, even with my anxious looks.

Stone Fence

The first half of the route is more populated rural. The road, while narrow by California standards, is in a lot of ways nice, I do not think I have seen one pothole which plagues our streets and roads. About half way to Connemara, loughs (locks, lakes) appear. I enjoyed traveling along them. Then there is the excitement of traveling a rural road, R344. Not sure how these roads got narrower than before, but this is. It is also less traveled. There are sheep along the side of the road and sometimes in it. But other vehicles seem to accept them as part of the travels.

Classy Rabbit

There are mountains which start to appear, some shrouded by clouds. This is the Ireland which I thought we would meet outside of the cities. By the way, Galway is not that big, about 85,000 people. Still compared to the countryside around them, it is the City. The rural parts really feels rural.

We rejoin N59 and travel for 20 minutes to Connemara. Evidently there is not enough parking there as we park on the side of the road, maybe an eighth of a mile from the parking area. This is a free park, so it is not a means to avoid an entrance fee. We stop in at an information booth which sends us down to the main area for bathrooms. There we eat our packed lunches.

Handy AED

The main trail in the area is a set of loops up Diamond Hill, or as the Gaelics would call it Binn Ghtiaire, one of the 12 Bens.We start our climb. This is a good incline, but without the lack of atmosphere which a Sierra trail would present. Also without the lack of large trees. But do not take this “lack” as distaste as there are things here which my Sierra does not provide. These include the stone walls jutting out across large expanses of hillside, the clear view-I think on a none cloudy day one might be able to see the tip of Ireland from the top. But today is overcast with a bit of rain earlier. So the Ben’s around us are ringed with clouds. An impressive sight.

Gary and Rachel

The first part of the Lower Diamond Trail Loop has a broad trail which has been smoothed out. We get to an overlook, take a family photo with the help of a rabbit. When we get to the junction where another loop leaves our trail, our trail continues up the mountain. But the trail changes at this point from good but broad, to the stonework with stone steps. But the steps are not the giant steps of some Sierra trails. These are well constructed manageable steps. Going up them is not an issue. Later on when we go down other stairs they do not give the impression of being in danger of your life, instead, they are even better than stairs in a house.

Steven and Andrea: top of Diamond

No matter how well constructed the steps are, I needed to stop and take a breath. While we are going up, it is not like some of the steep trails in the Sierra and altitude is definitely not a factor. Now it may look like I am admiring the view or letting a downward direction traveler through, but the heaving of my chest would give it away without too much observation. As I go up, I am taking inventory about my body. How badly am I stressing it? Am I at the margins? The answer is no, just keep things under control. These are questions I have been asking myself after an incident a couple of months ago.

Stone Steps

We get to the stone block which marks the top of the lower loop and the start of the upper loop lollypop. Rachel, Sherri and I decided we are not interested in going to the top of Diamond Hill. But Andrea and Steven charge forward. We will meet them at the intersection here. Actually the three of us decide to go a little ways further up to the end of the handle of the lollypop. There is a bit of a surprise there. First there is a good view. Second, we found an AED there. As I am pondering it, a little girl walks by and makes a comment that she might need that. I mumble under my breath, you are too young-I am much more in need. I wonder how many times this has been used.

Gary, Rachel and Sherri

We go back down to the Rock to wait. The three of us talked for a while. Earlier, when I looked out across the vastness of the land with the greens under the mountains, I mentioned to Rachel that I can see how come people would love this land. But that is not to say that this is where I would want to live. I do not feel like I possess this land. Or maybe, a better way to say it is that this land does not possess me. But I can still appreciate the stirrings which it can raise to a soul which breathes this aire and why it would do that.

Sherri, Rachel and I start down after getting a text from Andrea and Steven that they are on the way. We are finishing the Lower Loop, going down the west side. This gives us a different perspective from our trip up. Rather than the long view down past all of the green into the dale, and beyond into the louch, we see across into the hills and the meadows with the greenness of the isle. The way down this way is less steep, which I appreciate.

Andrea Coming down Diamond Hill

Towards the Visitor Center, Andrea and Steven catch up to us. We spend a few minutes there and then drive off-or should I say Rachel drives us while we appreciate not being in that seat, using the same route we came up with. Which means we go down R344. Which it does not seem nearly as bad. Well almost. Rachel now has an obstacle course as the sheep decide that they like being in the middle or close to the side of the road. Makes for an interesting drive, along with the lorries zooming past us. But she does well and we get back to the AirBnB safely.

Streets of Galway

Now what to eat? It is suggested we go to Brazzie in downtown Galway. When we get there, it is packed and we might as well forget it. But there is another place close by, Woozza Woodfire Pizza. Sounds like we are all ready for some good pizza. And it is. We order two pizzas-Ruspante and BBQ Carnivora. That turns out to be sufficient for us. I try once again for ice tea, but the best they can do is fresh brewed tea with a glass of ice. Still good.

We then walk down the street, enjoying the sounds of live street music being played. Why does it seem authentic here and maybe a bit less so in the States? I suspect it is in the listener’s ears, not in their playing. I expect a certain type of music in Ireland, and the music I hear is a pretty good approximation of that.

Sherri has wanted to get a wool sweater. As we walk down the street, several wool stores are visited. Both Andrea and Sherri procure garments to their liking. Me? I stand outside and read. A win-win for all. Then it is time to return to the car and back home. While returning back we pass Oscar Wilde and his friend Edward Vilde. When we get home, we all retreat to our rooms for the night.

Background

Gilgamesh. As we walked around Galway, we came to a large mural on the side of a building. It was Gilgamesh. I was wondering what Gilgamesh had to do with Galway or was this just a random street art? A few years back, a short 22 minute movie was shot in Galway about Gilgamesh. This is a remanent of that movie. I understand if you look closely around the city, you can also find other reminders.

Extra Photo's