Day 19 Sure, it's a soft day

Lahinch Beach this morning

Lahinch Beach this morning

I had the go slows this morning and it was kind of reflected in the beach too! I think it might have been my big walk last night, but I wasn't rushing anywhere today. 

So I did my usual  Mass, walk, coffee routine.

They're painting the Atlantic Hotel

Then on the way home I decided to do a born to shop!

Donogh O'Loughlin

This was my shop of choice today. I bought 2 tops and a hoodie. Maybe a bit OTT (over the top) but hey, who knows if I will come this way again???

Then when I came home I just took my time and had my lunch and then was ready to go for a little jaunt.

But what I didn't know was that in the mean time it had begun to rain! Sure, it was a soft rain, but very persistent!

I had thought I would just take a little ramble around the coast close to White Strand and Spanish Point - which I did end up doing..

Today's  Map

But every time I wanted to take a pic I had to get out of the car into the rain! The things you do for love.....

So, there's not a whole lot of pics, but perhaps enough to give you a bit of an insight into each place

The surf was raging at White Strand...

White Strand

White Strand

White Strand

The next stop was not far away - just around the corner and it was Spanish Point.

Apparently it was named Spanish Point because

On the coast, 2.5 km (1.6 mi) from Milltown Malbay, Spanish Point was named after the Spanish who died here in 1588, when many ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked during stormy weather. Those who escaped from their sinking ships and made it safely to land were later executed by Sir Turlough O'Brien of Liscannor and Boethius Clancy, High Sheriff of Clare.^[2]

From Wikipedia

Again the Atlantic was rolling in at quite a pace..

Spanish Point

Spanish Point

Spanish Point

It was a bit hard to get good pics, because I literally ran out took my pics then ran back to the car!!!

Armada Hotel at Spanish Point

The Armada seems a nice hotel and is found at Spanish Point.

On the way home I came back through the town Miltown Malbay

Miltown Malbay

Miltown Malbay

A few interesting points - again  taken from Wikipedia...

• The name means Street of the Stone Ringfort

• Malbay is the name of the bay to the west of Milltown. The name Malbay is thought to come from the Irish meall-bhaigh, which roughly means "treacherous coast". It could also stem from the legend of the witch "Mal" who was drowned in the bay by Fionn mac Cumhaill.^[3]

• During the Great Famine (1844 - 1848) many farmers were evicted by the unpopular landlord Moroney. In the years after the famine the (Protestant) Moroney family went on with rack renting and evictions. At one time the population had enough and started a boycott. The government did not like that and imprisoned all pub-owners and shopkeepers who refused to serve the family or their servant. So at the end of 1888 most pub-owners and shopkeepers were in jail.^[3]

• Milltown Malbay was served by the West Clare Railway, which operated from the 2 July 1887 and finally closed on 1 February 1961.^[6]

• The town is home to the annual Willie Clancy Summer School and Festival. The Willie Clancy Summer School (Irish Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy) is Ireland's largest traditional music summer school^[16] held annually since 1973 in memory of and to honour the uilleann piper Willie Clancy.

Willie Clancy

Willie Clancy

So I was a bit wet and cold by now, so I hurried home to change my clothes and turn the heaters on!  

Again I just took my time and downloaded all the pics and named them etc...

Then I needed to recover, so I headed for town for my Smithwicks.

Ended up having it at Kenny's which is the first pub - only because it was still raining and I didn't wan't to get wet again!!!

Smithwicks at Kenny's

It was just starting to clear, but still drizzling so I managed to get a few pics of the Lahinch Beach this arvo.... just to show the contrast with this morning.

Lahinch Beach this afternoon

Lahinch Beach this afternoon

Lahinch Beach this afternoon

So your intrepid adventurer was not totally intrepid today... but at least we have enough to show the contrast in the weather and the ocean. I love the  different moods of the Atlantic.

I'm looking out my window now and the sun is starting to come out!!! 

That's one of the joys of being in Ireland. You never know what's coming next!!!!