Ireland Road Trip – Day 3 – Aran Islands

Today was a break for me from driving as we did a day trip out to the Aran Islands which are a grouping of three small rocky islands just out of Galway Bay.  We took a bus out to the ferry terminal which is an hour outside of Galway along the same shore road we drove yesterday.  We then took the ferry across to the biggest island, Inish Mōr, where we picked up a mini-bus tour that took us around the island.

It is another lovely place, all rock, sea, and atmosphere.  It has been inhabited  for thousands of years.  It is naturally just a big limestone rock.  The farmers had to actually make soil in order to grow anything.  It was a three year process – Year 1 they cleared the stones from the fields piling the rocks into dry stone walls and covered the exposed ground with a mixture sand and seaweed from the beach into which they were able to plant potatoes,  Year 2 was rye so they could use the stocks to make housing, and Year 3 was grains to feed livestock.  Today most of the area is used for cattle and there is still some fishing.  It is mostly tourists though as there are only 800 people who live on the big island.   The big island is only 9 miles long and 3 miles wide.

We walked up to the ruins of a 2500 year old structure that they think was a fort or ceremonial centre (meaning they have no clue what it was fore!) and it is at one of the highest points on the island.

The walk up to Dún Aonghasa

Dún Aonghasa (or Dun Angus) ruins

In this region of Ireland gaelic is still very strong.  All of the road signs and other postings are in gaelic.  I’m assuming that all the shapes for traffic signs are universal as I have no clue what they are saying!  I have figured out that “mall” means “slow” and “go mall” is “very slow” as that is what is written on the road in school zones.  Our guide today told us that kids come to the island in the summer to attend gaelic school so they learn the language and it is still used as the everyday language there.

We also stopped at the ruins of a monastery which was a famous centre of learning until it was destroyed by Cromwell in the 17th century.  Since it is still consecrated grounds the islanders have been using it as a cemetery for centuries.

Monastic ruins

Of course we took the easy way of getting around.  It is also possible to rent a bike and cycle around the island and to go in a horse cart.

Horse cart

There are actually very few thatch-roofed buildings because the insurance is very expensive and the cost of replacing the roof is very prohibitive.

Thatched cafe with tourist bicycles our front.

Of course what the islands are best known for probably are Aran sweaters.  Unfortunately we didn’t see many sheep but I did find a horse.

Aran sweaters

My new friend

Aran sweaters

Many of the sweaters that were for sale were actually locally hand knit. I’ve been inspired.   I have decided to knit a small Aran sweater for Bearic so I got some yarn and needles and no just need a pattern.

I should introduce him.  Bearic is the third party to the “we” in these current adventures.  He is my bear.  Each day he rides along on my backpack so that he can see all the wonderful sites.  He even enjoys a good meal occasionally.  He has met many very friendly people in Ireland who have asked how he is enjoying the trip!  In Germany no one really said hi to him.

Bearic at a restaurant in Dublin

Bearic at the organ recital in Hamburg at the Michel

I wanted to also let you know that my cold has cleared up and Mum is slowly making her way through it.   The sore throat and sinus congestion has passed and the mild cough (the last couple of days) is underway so I hope she will be fully mended in a couple of days and her energy fully back to normal.