Day 9 Poulnabrone
 |
| Poulnabrone |
 |
| Lahinch beach this morning |
It had rained quite heavily overnight, but it had calmed down by the morning. It was just on the edge of showers.
On my way back I continued to check out yet another coffee shop. This time it was Joe's... and it was a good one!!!
 |
| Joe's cafe |
 |
| Nice coffee |
BY the time I got home it was nearly 12 noon, so I was thinking about what I might do with the rest of the day. I had bookmarked a few places on Google Maps before I came. I was looking for somewhere not too far. So my choice was 30 minutes away - just right! It was called Poulnabrone
 |
| Map to Poulnabrone |
So I drove first to Ballyvaughan. I had my usual fight with the GPS. She was determined to get me on those back roads again, and this time I was more clued up and knew I wanted to go via the main road. But she was very persistent - with messages to continually turn right.... But I persisted and eventually overcame her! But it was a battle!
Ballyvaughan is lovely little village about half an hour North of Lahinch
 |
| Ballyvaughan Harbour |
Had a lovely bowl of soup and slice of soda bread at the Tea Rooms across the road from the Harbour
 |
| Ballyvaughan Tea Rooms |
Poulnabrone is a very ancient tomb that is made of rocks - as usual we wonder how they ever put them together in that fashion.
Wikipedia gives a short synopsis of it..
Poulnabrone dolmen (Poll na Brón in Irish[2]) is an unusually large dolmen or portal tomb located in the Burren, County Clare, Ireland. Situated on one of the most desolate and highest points of the region, it comprises three standing portal stones supporting a heavy horizontal capstone, and dates to the Neolithic period, probably between 4200 BC and 2900 BC. It is the best known and most widely photographed of the approximately 172 dolmens in Ireland.
Here's more information from the official site
It was about 10 minutes south of Ballyvaughan and it was relatively easy to get to. It was just a bit tricky to find it at the end, because it was not highly signposted. According to Wikipedia they are discouraging people from visiting it, because of the possible damage that could be done.
A car park was available followed by a short walk. I had to be careful because the ground was quite uneven, and I'm not all that steady on my legs sometimes, but I was very cautious.
Here's a few pics that might show it to you..
 |
| Poulnabrone |
 |
| Poulnabrone |
 |
| Poulnabrone |
 |
| Poulnabrone |
Here are a some information boards that were dotted around the paths
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
 |
| Poulnabrone Info |
I was lucky on two counts when I got there...
1. I arrived there between showers, so I was able to see it all without getting wet.
2. Just after I had finished all I had to do and was heading back to the car, a big bus full of tourists pulled up!! The guy who took my photo and I looked at each other and said - that was perfect timing!!! Like at the Cliffs of Moher there were thousands of ants!!!!
So when i had finished, I headed back to Ballyvaughan so I could take the coast road home.
 |
| Coast Road from Ballyvaughan to Lahinch |
I just love this road. It hugs the coast the whole way. It started off with quite heavy rain, then almost mist. Sometimes it was hard to see the sea... I stopped along the way to take a pic of the misty view
 |
| Misty Sea |
 |
| Lahinch Beach this afternoon. Tide is in |
And of course I walked home along the beach and though how lucky I am!
