Ireland 2024 Log - Day 9
Weather: Cool with gentle but steady rain much of the day.
Today was a longer transit day starting in Doolin and making our way to Ballyshannon for the next stop.
- Left Doolin at 8 AM.
- Drove to Galway.
- Breakfast at Dela.
- Shopping and exploring in Galway: Port West (Tyler Jacket), Butler’s Chocolates (Truffles), Aran Sweater Shop, Weavers of Ireland, Intersport, Life Style Sports (Tyler Jersey), EuroGiant (Tyler Fan), Coffeewerk + Press (Jamie Mug), Wooden Heart (Mazie Maileg Mice), Le Petite Delice (Jamie Scone), Harper (Tammy clothes), The Sheep, and Murphy’s Ice Cream.
- Checked out the Galway Market.
- Drive to Ashford Castle.
- Go on a Hawk Walk!
- Drive to Bundoran.
- Dinner at Blue Leaf.
- Continue to Cria Lodge to check-in.
- Try out hot tub for our first night.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Guinness in the hot tub tonight outside of Ballyshannon.
The kids meeting the Alpaca that live here at Cria Lodge.
Hawk Walk at Ashford Castle
If I was living hundreds of years ago I would like to have been a person that hunted with a hawk.
On our way to Ballyshannon we stopped at Ashford Castle to experience a Hawk Walk. After completely missing the car park on the first round through we found ourselves back outside the castle grounds getting more thorough directions from the gatekeeper who found us quite amusing. The second time through the gorgeous estate we found it. The castle and estate were amazing on their own. The Guinness family owned it at one point.
We made our way on a nice 10 minute walk through the grounds to the Ireland School of Falconry and started our Hawk Walk with a tour of the facility and seeing some of the 32 hawks that they have there. The Harris Hawks that we would walk with are unique in that they hunt like a pack. They work cooperatively.
We all took turns with Mazie and Tyler starting out with the hawks. We took Walnut and Chestnut out for the walk. The hawks came to the glove quick and obviously knew that the morsels of rat were waiting for them.
We went out on the walk and it was incredible to have these hawks pacing along with us as we went. Anytime you raised the glove they would immediately come. We would then launch them off again and they would fly away. In between they would survey the area and swoop in around us joining along on the walk. Their speed was amazing. They can routinely go 60 miles an hour.
An amazing experience made even more incredible with Ashford Castle as the backdrop. Photos don’t capture this experience that well but the videos really do. The power and grace when the hawk lands on the glove was inspiring.
Enjoying a flat white from Coffeewerk + Press in Galway. Love the graphics on their cups. Delicious coffee.
On Quay Street as we explore Galway.
Final look at Doonagore Castle as we check out of Doonagore Cottage. On to Ballyshannon and a full day in Galway today.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 8
Weather: Best weather yet. Good amount of sun. Reasonably warm. Not too windy.
Another day spent entirely on foot. Activity for Tammy is 40,995 steps and 95 flights climbed and Jamie 32,498 steps and 81 flights climbed.
- Tammy and Mazie go on independent runs.
- Tyler and Jamie walk to Irish Craft for breakfast. Tyler got pancakes. I got a scone and ham & cheese croissant.
- Tyler, Jamie, Tammy meet at Doolin Inn about 10 minutes early for cliff walk. Mazie arrives 2 minutes late.
- Pat Sweeney collects the group for the amazing Doolin Cliff Hike.
- After completing hike visit the shop at Cliffs of Moher and Tammy gets a purse.
- Take shuttle back to Doolin Inn.
- Shopping at Village Crafts. Tammy and Mazie get hats to vibe with Jamie’s.
- Ice Cream stop at Doolin Ice Cream!
- Chocolate stop at Village Crafts.
- We try our hand at golf at the Doolin Pitch & Putt.
- Everyone is very hungry so walk and have dinner at Stonewall Wood-Fired Pizzeria in Hotel Doolin.
- Walk back to cottage to hang out for a bit.
- Walk back into Doolin for music and Guinness at Gus O’Connors Pub.
- As we lose light, walk back to cottage to wrap the day.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
We got to take in a bit of Irish music tonight at Gus O’Connors in Doolin. The place was packed and it was very warm inside.
Pitch & Putt
We are not a golfing family. I’m not a golfer. The extent of our golfing is really some mini-golf once in a while. But while in Doolin we walked by the Doolin Pitch & Putt and it looked like it might be something we could do.
Many people go to Ireland in part to play on gorgeous golf courses. Our Pitch & Putt was right off the ocean and had some great scenery. Our golf game? As bad as expected. 🤣
