Ireland Day 9 – Dingle to Galway

Today was mostly a day of driving. We got up around 6:30 AM and had breakfast at 8:00AM.  We were on the road to Galway by 9:00AM.  To avoid driving around the peninsula, again we took Conner’s Pass which is one of the quickest way across the peninsula and involves going up Dingle’s highest mountain, using a narrow one lane twisty road.  From there we joined up with a more “major” two lane road before joining a “N” road which is a very major road but not quite freeway.   Our first and only stop today was the Cliffs of Mohr.  I wanted to stop at the oldest working windmill in Ireland, but it was closed today.   

Along Conner's Pass

I was last at the Cliffs of Mohr in 2006, it has changed. When I was first there was a basic gravel parking lot and some gravel paths with signs saying don’t fall off the cliff.  Now it is like a Disney attraction with way too many tour buses and people.  It has a visitor center, with a museum, gift shop, café, and little convenience store.  It also has a few permanent gift shops along the edge of the center.  The paths are now paved with steps and a golf cart that runs people who don’t walk well up to the one tower and back.  It turned commercial and into a destination instead of staying a nice little roadside viewpoint.   From there we continued along the Wild Atlantic Way up to Galway, with a slow down so I could grab a picture of a castle out the car window.  

Cliffs of Mohr (cell phone photo)

Castle from side of the road (cell phone photo)

Our hotel is a five-star hotel and former manor house just outside of Galway.  It has a golf course, a 2.5-kilometer walking path, spa, restaurants, a parlor to relax in, and falconry on site.  I actually could stay here at least two days and just enjoy the hotel.  We will be having dinner in the Pullman restaurant, which is a restored Pullman train car that used to be part of the Orient Express.  No, we have no idea how a train car from the Orient Express ended up in Ireland.   

Tomorrow, we head back to Dublin for our last full day in Ireland.