In a maze you lose yourself, in a labyrinth you find yourself.

Sunday, May 25

Another leisurely start, with the full Irish breakfast, before heading off to Connemara and Mayo. We started following a suggested route, but deviated, captivated by the stunning scenery, and not because we were lost. Not at all.

We covered about 300 kms driving around loughs, over mountains, next to peat bogs, Connemara ponies, by the sea, through villages and feel we have only seen a glimpse of Ireland.

We headed to Croagh Patrick, a mountain that rises up 800 metres, close to sea, where Saint Patrick is said to have driven the snakes from Ireland. Probably paganism, as there were unlikely to have ever been snakes here. Pilgrims climb the mountain and for a Plenary Indulgence (I thought they went out decades ago) recite a series of prayers and rotations around the peak. Mmmm.

Opposite the site is a haunting sculpture, the “coffin ship” dedicated to the wretched folk who emigrated after the famine in the late 1840’s. Many of the ships were unseaworthy and the passengers half dead before they left the shore. It made me think of other wretched people who leave their homes on unseaworthy vessels, seeking a safe refuge. Mmmmmm.

On the way back to Galway, as we drove through the small town, Shrule, we saw a sign, Shrule Labyrinth. We stopped there and walked the labyrinth which was made by the parishioners of St Joseph’s for the Millennium. The whole community was involved in making it and it is situated next to the church. We found the way in and the way out. spiritually uplifted. Mmmmm.

This evening we had dinner at the Galway Bay Hotel, a big, old fashioned hotel on the promenade at Salthill, the posh part of Galway. After dinner was the “Trad on the Prom” show, traditional Irish music, song and dance. Many of the performers have performed in RiverDance and with Michael Flatley’s shows, three of whom are current or past world champion dancers, and the musicians have performed with The Chieftains. Fantastic! We danced our way back to the car. Mmmm  

Dick’s observation update:

1/- the “WTF” road sign – a black exclamation mark (“!”) on a yellow background? 

2/- the Petrol station named “Emo” - for when your car is feeling sad, tired and stressed?

3/- we were amazed by the dancing (& the music) - how do the dancers make the tapping sounds when both feet are up in the air – is it such a powerful mime that we think we hear them tapping?

4/- The beautifully coloured pheasant quietly making its way across the street just down the road from the castle Pierce Brosnan rented out to get married in Cong – another magical place?

Ireland is becoming more and more a mystery the more we see.