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Today we made our way from Galway to Doohlin. Not a very far trip but the best scenery of the trip so far. The first stop was in Kinvara looking for hookers. Not those kind but the local fishing boats and found none. Stopped at a place called Corcomroe Abbey. Construction on the abbey most likely began sometime between 1205 and 1210 and used local limestone. Legend maintains that the building was commissioned by King Conor na Siudane Ua Briain, who died in 1267 and whose tomb niche and effigy are visible in the north wall of the choir. According to the legend, Ua Briain executed the five masons who completed the abbey to prevent them from constructing a rival masterpiece elsewhere. In reality, it was probably built by Conor's grandfather, Donal Mór Ua Briain (Donald O'Brien), the patron of a number of other religious structures in the historic Thomond region.
We next went to the Burrens which are limestone formations which are very harsh but support a wide variety of plant life. It seems really desolate but apparantly it is great grazing land.
Fourth stop was Lahinch which is actually a pretty well know surfing spot. As well there is a golf course herewith some reknown. BIll Clinton apparantly played here.
We mad our way to the Cliffs of Moher first stopping at St Bridgets well and O'Briens Tower just outside of Lahinch. This well is reputedly a 'healing well'.
The Cliffs of Moher are one of the biggest tourist spots in all of Ireland and its no wonder why. The cliffs rise 120 meters (394 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 214 meters (702 ft) just north of O'Brien's Tower, eight kilometres away. The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views. On a clear day the Aran Islands are visible in Galway Bay, as are the valleys and hills of Connemara.
O'Brien's Tower is a round stone tower at the approximate midpoint of the cliffs. It was built by Sir Cornellius O'Brien, a descendant of Ireland's High King Brian Boru, in 1835, as an observation tower for the hundreds of tourists that frequented the cliffs even at that date. From atop that watchtower, one can view the Aran Islands and Galway Bay, the Maum Turk Mountains and the Twelve Pins to the north in Connemara, and Loop Head to the south.
Spent the night in Doohlin which is famous for having three pubs and not much else. Actually this area is famous for its traditoinal music which is played nightly in the various pubs. A few of us also visited an old church/cementary which is located near where Spanish galleon sailors were executed. It was a pretty spooky place.
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