The Day we Returned to Cork

We were afforded the luxury of a late start today with no rush to be anywhere until our scheduled coach back to Cork in the early afternoon. 

Of course it was drizzling rain, but we ordered a taxi at 10 and set off into Galway City to stow our luggage and explore a little. 

First stop, The Spanish Arch, which everyone found a bit underwhelming, but hey, it was built in 1584 and is still standing, surely that is enough to recommend it. 

Through the arch is the Long Walk; a promenade along the river Corrib past some coloured houses, but most importantly, there was a coffee shop stop to fuel us for the rest of the morning. 

Over the river and the Eglinton Canal Sea Lock, we visited a mysterious sculpture of a seated man and a memorial to some Claddagh Fishermen who were lost at sea in 1902. We saw the Claddagh  mute swans, believed to carry the spirits of old fishermen. 

Back in the Latin Quarter we wandered the shops, were entertained by a variety of buskers, found Lynch’s Castle and popped into the bank on the ground floor to read the history of this historic fortified house. 

Before we knew it, it was time to collect our luggage and stroll to the Galway Coach Station for a 3 hour coach trip back to our home base in Cork. 

The temperature and the amount of sunshine increased considerably as we travelled back across the island of Ireland  and we arrived into a balmy 25 degrees at 4:30 pm. We were soon home to the mundane tasks of sorting our belongings and washing. 

I am excited for both the warmth and the sunshine, although the accommodation being difficult to cool, may mean I am not so happy with the warmth when I am trying to sleep later. Ask me in the morning! 

With only one week left in Ireland, we are doing some planning to fill the last days and fit in as many of the things that we want to do before we go.