Sightseeing
on
the
westCoast
DeirdreMahony, Chair of Greater Belfast branch, venturedacross theborder toexplore thewondersof Ireland.
Shemade themost of the IPA’Snetworkof Houses - several ofwhichare ideally located for touring thisarea.
M
y daughter Taraand I hadamost
marvellous tour of thewest coast of
Ireland - first travellingwest towards
Enniskillenandover theBorder toSligo.
I really knew very littleabout Sligo, choosing to go
there just because therewas an IPAHouseand it
suitedour plans. TheHouse is anextremelywell
situatedapartment along thebankof theRiver
Garavogueandonly a fewminutes away on foot
from theheart of Sligo.
This town isdelightful. Inparticular, we loved the
small shopownedbyMQuirkes - awood carver,
theOldeWorld sweet shopacross the road, St
John’sCathedral and the local court house -
which isquitea livingmuseumwith somany
original features. Thebuilding is extremelywell
maintainedandwe got an impromptu tour by the
young caretaker who clearly loves thebuilding
and itshistory.
At night the town is alivewith traditionalmusic -
theatmosphere is electric and so friendly. Onday
twoweexplored theSligo countryside, visiting the
GlencarWaterfalls and theDrumcliffeGraveyard
whereWilliamButler Yeats isburied. It was
wonderful to see theareahe sobeautifully
wroteabout.
We thenheaded to the IPAHouse inGalway City.
EnrouteweexploredCountyMayo, visiting the
coastal townofWestport, ClewBaywhich in the
Easter sunshine lookedout of thisWorld. On
arrival inGalway early evening, we foundour way
to theHousewith relativeease. It is situated in
EyreStreet only a fewminutes away fromEyre
Squareand themainpedestrian thoroughfare
of ShopStreet which leadsdown to the famous
SpanishArches and theCladdaghAreaof Galway.
It ishere theCladdagh ring isnamedafter. Shop
Street iswonderful as are themany smaller
streets and lanes off it. This city isburstingwith
theatres, art galleries, street theatre,magnificent
craft shops sellingwares of creators fromall over
Irelandandmusic streamingout of every bar and
restaurant.
Onday four of our tripweheadedout to thewilds
of Connemara, visiting the villages of Barna,
Spiddal and the set of RosnaRun, an Irish soap
drama. Theweather wasbeautiful, the seaAzure
blue.Weeventuallymadeour way back through
the charming villageofMoycullenandback to the
city. After dinner wewalkedback through the city
streets, still teamingwith life, to the IPAHouse.
We really neededanother day at least inGalway,
however we left thisbaseand visitedCounty
Clare, theprotectedBurrenarea, the famous
Aillwee caves and theCliffs ofMoher.
We thenheaded toCork.Wedidn’t stay in the
IPAHouse, asmy sister lives there, but it isworth
noting for other travellers there is aHouseand
Cork is a great place to visit.My favourite thing to
do inCork is visit theShandonBells at St. Anne’s
churchas it has thebest viewover the city.
Youareallowed toplay thebells and thereare
music sheetswith thebell numbers andpauses
outlined. I think I get better every time I visit.
Section Irelandhas picked great locations to
have their Houses. I would strongly recommend
my colleagues inRegionNorthern Irelandand
thewider IPA toavail themselves of a very
inexpensiveway toexplore theWest Coast. It’s
onour doorstepand it is amazing. IPAmembers
everywhere should comeonover, theCraic
is great!
DeirdreMahony
, Chair Greater Belfast branch
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 3, 2014
Article
14
DeirdreMahoney
West coast scenery
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