Ireland

Monday, 22nd July
Today day we did a bit of exploring of the area around us. First stop was Ireland's oldest shop in Ireland, Jeremiah Higgins, in a place called Claremorris. It was established in 1820, and has had many different goods sold through it through the years, and is still operated by the sixth generation of the Higgins family.
Next, we ventured onto Cong, to where a movie was made by John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, The Quiet Man,. This is a busy little place with people of all ages wondering around. The movie was made in 1951, and it seems that it has many fans, or at least John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara fans. The pub that features in the movie, Pat Cohan, is doing a lively trade, as is most of the village. The village has a nice little  brook running through it, and also has the essential old ruined church. Then we make our way to Kylemore Abbey, Connemara. And what a beautiful drive that was, watching the landscape change to rolling hills and brooks and lots of sheep. The Abbey is now  home to the Benedictine Nuns in which their role was to educate Catholic girls in times after the war. . It was built in 1871, and took 5 years to complete. It was a home to the Henry family and once inside, it is set up as it would have been in the day. In 1903 it was sold, and had to be sold several years later due to gambling debts. At some stage, a fire destroyed a large part of it, and it has been rebuilt. About 1 and a half kms up the road is their Victorian Gardens. It is a garden surrounded by walls, and it 6 acres, and have not only flowers, but vegetables and fruit trees. It was very nice sitting there  taking it all in. Bob and I then walk back to the main area, and marvel at all the water running out of the ground. A lovely day exploring.