Aran Islands and Dingle Peninsula
During our Easter holidays, we decided to visit a little bit more of Ireland, so we planned a trip in the south west.
Our first step was in the Aran Island.
The Aran Island is an archipelago located in Galway bay formed by three islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer. It is one of the most amazing places in Ireland, very wild, quiet, typical and beautiful. The islands history is not really common. Indeed, there were only rocks at first in the islands and nobody lived there. But men decided to settle in and during centuries they mixed sand with seaweed to create humus and have a ground available for agriculture. With the extracted rocks, they built little walls to limit erosion. This kind of landscape is now typical in the west of Ireland. Furthermore, people are still speaking fluent Irish and they keep the traditions alive.
Our first step was in the Aran Island.
The Aran Island is an archipelago located in Galway bay formed by three islands: Inishmore, Inishmaan and Inisheer. It is one of the most amazing places in Ireland, very wild, quiet, typical and beautiful. The islands history is not really common. Indeed, there were only rocks at first in the islands and nobody lived there. But men decided to settle in and during centuries they mixed sand with seaweed to create humus and have a ground available for agriculture. With the extracted rocks, they built little walls to limit erosion. This kind of landscape is now typical in the west of Ireland. Furthermore, people are still speaking fluent Irish and they keep the traditions alive.
So we spend one night on the largest isles of the Aran Islands (13 km): Inishmore. It was the eighteen birthday of someone in the island so everybody was in a pub, they gave to everyone free birthday cake and food, and they were dancing Irish dance. It was really nice and typical.
On the morrow, we ranted a bike and we visited the entire island.
What is there to see?
A seal colony chose this island to settle in so you can often see some of them.
There are lots of Celtics cemeteries and ruins.
The main attraction in Inishmore is Dun Aenghus, one of the finest prehistoric fortresses in Western Europe. The fortress is built just in front of an impressive and magnificent cliff. A must to see !
On the morrow, we ranted a bike and we visited the entire island.
What is there to see?
A seal colony chose this island to settle in so you can often see some of them.
There are lots of Celtics cemeteries and ruins.
The main attraction in Inishmore is Dun Aenghus, one of the finest prehistoric fortresses in Western Europe. The fortress is built just in front of an impressive and magnificent cliff. A must to see !
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| The cliffs in front of the Dun Aenghus |
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| Dun Aenghus |
That was our first step and it was amazing. Then we continued our trip and we stopped in the Dingle peninsula. The movie “Ryan’s Daughter” was filmed in this area. Dingle is a lovely city with painted houses and a charming port. Dingle is popular because there is a dolphin called Fungie who lives in Dingle harbour and it is a huge attraction for tourists. You can even swim with Fungie !
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| The Dingle port |
So we rented a bike again and we did the “Slea head road” (40km) which goes around the entire bay. Again, a must to see! Beautiful green hills, wild landscape, rocky cliffs and… sheep everywhere!
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| Sheep everywhere! |
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| The Slea Head Road |
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| The Slea Head Road |
After that, go back to Dublin.
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