We arrived in Scotland yesterday and are now in Oban for three nights.
We came back from the Aran Islands to the mainland on the ferry to the port closest to Galway. I wanted to see it. We didn't have much time there, but we got to see "Shop Street." (Needs no explanation)
hen we admired Galway's unique setting on the bay. These colorful houses reminded me of Amsterdam.
Then on to our last area of Ireland, The Burren in Clare County. Once again we marveled at the same ecosystem as the Aran Islands: large limestone slabs scoured by glaciation.
Here we saw a portal New Stone Age burial mound called Poulnabrone.
Here's another view of the Burren looking towards Galway Bay. Notice the limestone covered hills on the right.
Towards the end of our journey in Ireland I began to ask myself, "What makes Ireland unique?"
I came to the conclusion that It is a country that is palpably overlaid with its own history. Its ancient Gaelic language is in evidence in everything from road signs to menus which are both ancient and modern. Sure we know of other bilingual countries, but the omnipresence of Gaelic is like living on top of an archeological language dig. (It would be like having all our signage in Amerindian and modern English). Sadly though the spoken language could very well be dying out in Eire.
The other way in which ancient and modern are superimposed is in the landscape. Norman towers loom over the hills. Celtic crosses keep the cows company.
Even modern homes are cheek to jowl with their ancestral stone counterparts.
Of course it's the people that make all the difference. I leave you with a picture of Jerry and me with our driver Tom and his lady friend Laura at the Galway airport this morning. We hung out for about a week with Tom and sometimes Laura and thoroughly enjoyed exchanging perspectives on life, history, and politics. Plus in Tom Jerry had a pal in the exhibits where they could discuss the intricacies of farm machinery or the finer points of windmill mechanics. (My eyes would have started rolling into the back of my head). Instead I went to the cafes for a cup of tea and waited for them. It was glorious!!
My eyes leaked a little when we said good-bye. We send a fond farewell to Eire.
All the best,
Mary
No comments:
Post a Comment