Galway and Dublin Returns

Since the Sunday closing time at the rental place was 1400, we opted for less pressure and more time freedom and elected to return the car on Monday. This virtual extra day allowed us to enjoy other parts of Mayo and Galway counties. We begin the day in Cong.

 

 

Climbing out or Cong, the route provided good views of Lough Corrib (Corrib Lake).



Passing by Lough Mask and Lough Nafooey we arrive at the only fiord in Ireland at Killary. On the bank of the fiord is a small trailer hawking oysters and mussels.  The beds are within a thousand yards. The oysters are very good.  The mussels the freshest and best since we left Rhode Island nearly twenty years ago!

 

 

Continuing on we dodge sheep eating, walking and laying down literally at the very edge of the road.  One even regally lies on the top of a stone wall that forms the "guardrail" of the road.

On the way to and from Lettergesh Beach we pass a number of fly fisherman.  The road to Lettergesh is very narrow; less than two lanes.

 

Carol's spies a sign to the Quiet Man bridge just before Oughterard.

We made our way back into Galway City across a rainy western Galway county.  The topography is a very unique blend of heather, huge rocks and wind swept hills free of trees. Roads are narrow and harrowing when confronted by an approaching bus or large lorry.

 

We join with Stephen and Nicole (chef and florist we met in Spain) for drinks in the hotel bar.  After a bit of catching up, they picked a good Thai restaurant for dinner.  We had a marvelous evening sharing travel stories both past and upcoming, cooking discussion, and business related discussions.

Having returned the rental without incident, we began the return train trip to Dublin through sheep and farming country. Light rain continued to fall. Instead of a taxi to our airport hotel we elect the special airport bus;AirLink. It affords us a tour of downtown Dublin from the front seat of a double deck bus. The first site is the Guinness brewery.

 

 

 

Dinner and drinks in the hotel and we set the 0400 wake up for the morning return to the US.

The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man is a darling movie starring John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, and Barry Fitzgerald and was filmed in the areas surrounding Ashford Castle.  John Ford and the cast actually stayed at Ashford Castle. Some of the scenes were shot at the castle.

Cong, the location of the pub and dying old man's house is a short walk from the castle and in the afternoon we walk to the pub to tip a few pints of the local brew.

 

 

We decided to use the movie as the basis of our exportation of this part of the Irish countryside. More about that exploration in tomorrow's blog.  The pictures below are some of the then and now locations found.

Opening Credits and Similar View of Ashford Castle



Not wanting to go swimming or boating to copy the photo exactly trust that this is the same place and nearly the same view.

The racing scene from Lettergesh Beach on the Atlantic Ocean



 

Many Scenes Shot with the Entrance Bridge to Ashford Castle

There are numerous scenes shots with this bridge.  The two or three fishing scenes with Ward Bond and a scene where a horse cart comes across the bridge.  We had to cross this bridge with the car to get to the castle.

Home of Squire Danaher

Exit from Squire Danaher's Cottage



The building on the right is now a part of the Ireland School of Falconry.  Even though the Danaher's house is on the castle property it is privately owned; purportedly by cantankerous owners.

Come to Call at the Squire's

Dying Man House from opposite ends of the street

The current red house is the yellow house of the movie.  The two story corner house in the movie is now the green one in the foreground.

"Quiet Man Bridge" in Oughterard

There is a reproduction of the interior of the house of Sean and Mary Kate in Cong.

Ashford Castle

In early morning we're off in a rental car for Ashford Castle about an hour north of Galway.  This lodging was booked for the falconry experience.  Later we discovered it was the location and staging area for the filming of The Quiet Man.

Very narrow roads and heavy traffic deliver us to the castle. The first sighting is spectacular.

 

 

The staff are over the top, the facility beautiful in every way, the grounds well kept, and its sighting on the lake picturesque.

 

 

 

CJ finally makes good on his 2007 Anniversary gift to Carol with an afternoon at the falconry school.  For an hour and a half we fly our personal Harris hawks, Rau and Cara; and for a short time an eagle hawk, Bingley.  This is up there with riding elephants.

 

 



An afternoon walk through the grounds and into Cong provides many photo opportunities and an excuse for a pub call.

Dinner is sensational. The oysters the best in a long time, an unusual monkfish casoulet, and the most incredible rice pudding of all time.  In the tank are something we've never seen; blue lobsters.



At 1000 each morning the Irish Wolfhounds come into the lobby of the castle.  One is named Gavin.