Jamie Thingelstad

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.

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.

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. 🤣

I was pretty anxious about today. Today was the day that we did the hike along the Cliffs of Moher.

First of all, I’m fairly scared of heights. Going to the top of tall buildings is not something I look forward to. Being on very tall things with a lot of wind makes me just more uncomfortable. And then you add people that I love to the mix and I’m just a ball of nerves. We did a cliff walk in Ballybunion and that got me spooked a bit and I knew that was beginner level for the heights that we would get on the Cliffs of Moher.

The plus was that we were going with Pat Sweeney of Doolin Cliff Walks. Pat has grown up in this area and he was instrumental in this cliff walk even coming about. He worked with all the farmers that own the land along the way to get hiking routes through and make this a reality for the last 14 years. Pat was calm and confident, but also realistic. He stopped a couple of times along the first half of the hike to remind us of safety and being careful. He shared that accidents do happen on the cliffs. Every year there are people that fall off. Some for doing things that they really shouldn’t be doing. Others because an accident happens. At one of the stops he shared that just four weeks prior a college girl traveling with three friends fell off the cliff. There was flooding on the trail. So they got on the grass edge to avoid the water, which was probably fine. But then there was an oncoming group and she stepped aside to let them go through and lost her footing.

In fairness I know people fall into the Grand Canyon every year and you should always be aware and cautious in places like this. So, that is what I focused on. That and keeping myself firmly in the right place on the trail. The kids were kind to me and realized I was anxious and they did a great job. Tammy was helpful too. In the end, we did it and it was an incredible day with amazing views. All while sometimes just a few feet away from a 600 foot drop. 😬

The walk started very close to the cottage that we are staying in, just down the road. The first stop was to take a moment to take in the area and see Doonagore Castle and appreciate the stone bridge we were walking over that was over 300 years old. The cottage that we are staying in is actually connected with Doonagore Castle and only became an Airbnb recently.

We passed through and along many farms as we went along the coast.

After rising about 150 feet above the ocean the views become more stunning.

There were some stones laid as bridges across streams. Pat commented that this particular stone crossing had been washed out twice by the ocean in the last 10 years.

Our first true view of the cliffs.

There is always wind on this trail.

The “peak” on the left is the highest point we reach as we make our way along the cliffs.

Another warning sign of the extreme danger along the cliffs.

Here we are at the fort after we completed our hike.

The cliffs continue to go along the coastline. You could keep walking for the whole day.

Nice cappuccino from Irish Crafts this morning.

Me sporting my Irish look with new Fisherman’s Sweater and Cap. ☘️