One full day here in County Mayo before we start heading back to reality. We stayed over in Cong, a small village famous primarily for (and cashing in on) being the setting for the 1952 John Ford film The Quiet Man. (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045061/ in case you have been in a cave for the past 65 years). Did our tourist bit and made sure to hit some key sites.

Beside all of this trivia, Cong is also home to a very cool 13th century abbey (the site was actually an abbey originally in the 7th century, but current ruins only date from the 1200s).

And Cong is also situated on extensive preserved forest land that was once owned by the Guinness family, including nearby Ashford Castle. We hiked about 4 miles of trails and climbed the Guinness Tower, built by (certainly at the direction of) B.L. Guinness in 1864. At the time it would have commanded a view for miles around, but now the trees have outgrown it and the view is limited.

Lough Corrib is the largest fresh water lake in Ireland and both Cong and Ashford Castle are situated nearby. We took a two hour lake cruise – primarily out to the island Inchagoill in the center, which is home to the ruins of both a 12th century and a fifth century church and grounds, the latter said to have been built by St. Patrick when he was exiled to the island by pagan Irish druids. We had a guided tour of the ruins, then back to Ashford and the public dock.

Tomorrow, we leave Cong and will head west into Galway and Mayo before heading back down to Dublin for our trip home…

Checked out of Liscannor (a fantastic AirBnb place btw – happy to direct you if you choose to go) and decided to take the coast road up through Co Clare and into Co Galway on our way to Cong in Co Mayo. This drive hugs the western Irish coast and affords some fantastic views of the sea, cliffs and countryside. Unfortunately a bit rainy and fog today, so no stop at the Cliffs of Moher, but we have been before, and there is much more to see.

Heading up the coast stopped at Doolin for some shopping and to catch the coast road. A bit further along we stopped at a spot purpose made for views of the ocean from atop some other cliffs – spectacular views and yes, the waves do reach the top!

After leaving this not far up the road we stopped at Fanore’s Craggagh Cemetery- because this is what I do…lucky bonus about a dozen McNamaras that we will look up when we get home.

After this we stopped in at Linnane’s Seafood Bar for some amazing fresh oysters – this place was built over 300 years ago right on the ocean. Great food and a great stop for lunch.

From there we headed around Galway Bay to Cong in Co Mayo, where we walked around for a little while before getting in at Danagher’s Hotel and Bar for dinner, beers and music.

If Danagher sounds familiar think Maureen O’Hara and The Quiet Man – this town is where the classic John Ford movie was filmed. More on that tomorrow as we play tourist…