Ireland, Day 2: Sligo to Roundstone, Part 1

We stopped briefly in Inishcrone on the way south from Easkey. I was craving my first water/rock experience, something I seem to need on an annual basis. Oddly, the map we had (from National Geographic) called this town Enniscrone. We found several discrepancies like this.) We walked a little but the wind was so intense! Still, some things caught my eye:

And this! I will be looking into this story as a possible add to the repertoire.

Leaving this pretty town, a tourist destination that was quite busy.

Then we drove on, and stopped at a village recommended by Carmel, our b&b host: Cong. This was the filming site for the John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara movie "The Quiet Man." I am not a John Wayne fan (because of his many affairs, dodging the draft and participation in the McCarthy era Communist witch hunt) but the village is a beautiful place to visit. And who doesn't love Maureen O'Hara?

The place was full of tourists and tour buses, and this sculpture of John Wayne was a real draw.

The ruined church was beautiful, a reminder of days past.

We were surprised to see cremation ashes scattered on one of the graves. One way, I suppose, of being buried with the ancestors.

The calm and beautiful River Cong rises in and flows through the village,

and attracts a variety of birds.

The thatched cottage from The Quiet Man movie.

Here, the river is the dividing line between County Galway and County Mayo.

A old walkway that used to lead to the churchyard.

And a bridge across the river, leading to a quiet little wood with a meditation place and nature paths.

Larry is pointing to the stone carving on the arch, a bishop perhaps?

On the second arch, a king (sorry for the cut-off picture--there's a crown on his head).

In the river, a little stone building, a "fishing hut" for the monks of the abbey.

This stump shows the size of some of the trees in the area.

Like this one!

A beautiful driftwood sculpture I missed the fact that it was a raven at first.

And then, we were on our way through the Twelve Bens to Roundstone.

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