Day 18 Loop Head and Carrigaholt

Map of Loop Head Peninsula

Had a lovely day today as I traveled down to the Loop Head Peninsula.

But first let's go back a bit to last night!!!

My theme of a nice quiet day yesterday dissolved as I was sitting quietly watching TV last night!

My Irish phone rang and Marie was on the line and wanted to know where I was...

At home, says I !

So she said get down to the main street there's going to be a big parade coming through in a few minutes...

Apparently Ellen's GAA football team had just won the cup for the Under 16 competition. She was playing for Liscannor ladies team and they beat Kilmihil.

So after a few minutes, this is what I saw and heard coming once down the main street, then turning around and coming back to do it all again!!!

Who said Lahinch is Sleepy Hollow?? What excitement!!! Then seeing I was out and about I went down to the beach and took a couple of pics of the beautiful sunset...

Lahinch Sunset 

Lahinch Sunset 

So that was my exciting end to my quiet day!

Here's some pics of Ellen and her team

Ellen and Patrick and Trophy

Ellen on the field

Ellen plays as a forward

Ellen's team

Now, back to today....

The weather is still lovely, so I thought I would go down to Loop Head and have a cruise around there. I knew the lighthouse was closed, but I didn't mind because I have been there before.

I had trouble with my phone camera today so my pics are very average! When I tried to line up a shot the screen was very dark and I could only see myself reflected in the camera. Not happy Jan!!! Will have to Google that a bit and see if I can sort that out...

So the drive was listed as about an hour - just nice! I stopped again at Kilkee for lunch - again at the Stella Maris Hotel and again had the vegetable soup and soda bread - very nice!

Then I headed down to the furthermost point of the Peninsula where the lighthouse can be found

Loop Head Lighthouse

Because the gate was closed you couldn't get up close so this shot is the best I can do.

This is where the River Shannon runs into the sea, and there was sea on either side of the Peninsula.

The day was clear enough to see the Kerry mountains

Kerry Mountains

On the other side of the lighthouse were some Cliffs. Once again, I had to be careful not to get too close to the edge!!!

Loop Head Cliffs

After I had finished there, I went back through a little village called Kilbaha. Last time I was here I had a bit of a run in with the cafe owner, so I was't staying long there!!!

But I wanted to come home through Carrigaholt, because a couple of the Sisters from St Joseph's Convent in South Perth (where I attend Mass most weeks!) came from there. Sr Betty Keane and her blood sister Teresa left Ireland at an early age to join the St Joseph Sisters. And I have had a few contacts with Betty as she spent 20 years in Newman - where I also lived before.

Keane's shop in Carrigaholt

I saw a shop called Keane's so I went in and ordered a coffee and asked them if they knew the Sisters, but the man, who was a Keane himself, said there were millions of Keane's around the area.

Bishop Fintan Monahan has prepared a short video about the Church of the Little Ark, which was originally a Church on wheels at Carrigaholt, so the people couldn't be evicted when they were practising their faith.

Church of the Little Ark Carrigaholt

So here's a few pics of Carrigaholt for the girls!!! :)

Main Street Carrigaholt

Carrigaholt Harbour

Carrigaholt Harbour

Carrigaholt Harbour

Info about Carrigaholt

Info about Carrigaholt

And then I took the coastal road as I headed back to Kilkee and it was just delightful. The road was only a few metres above sea level and the scenery was just magical.

So that was my day on the Loop Head Peninsula. Cant' believe the weather is still so good... but I'll take it any time.  Makes it a lot easier to be an intrepid adventurer!

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Once again my blog post was ready to be published and I was just about to push the button, when my Irish phone rang and it was Marie again, asking me would I like to go up to the Cliffs of Moher via the Cliff Top Walk - much better than lining up with all the ants again! 

So we approached the Cliffs from the South and walked a long way!!!  But it was worth it. Marie took Daisy the dog and it was really beautiful to see the Cliffs in their natural beauty.

Here's a few pics to show you the Cliffs in their true glory... without all those tourists!!!

The Walk

Cliffs  of Moher

Cliffs  of Moher

Cliffs  of Moher

Daisy the Dog enjoyed her walk...

Marie and Daisy

Marie and Daisy

And I enjoyed the walk too!!!

Wattle at the Cliffs

Lovely flowers on the route

Pink Flowers

A few more pics..

Hag's Head 

Hags Head

View of Liscannor Bay

Sunset

So that's it for tonight, unless Marie rings up again!!!! 

Thanks Marie - you're helping to make this holiday so memorable!