[31-7-1985]

Foto: kerkruïne bij Ballinrobe.

Uit de reisbeschrijving van Frames National:

Day 4 WEDNESDAY

Leaving Westport we travel due south through the lovely scenic Lough Mask and Lough Corrib by way of Ballinrobe, a busy market town on the river Robe by the lush green plains of Ellerton and the hamlets of Kilmare and Shrule.
Headford lies next, an angling resort close to Lough Corrib one of Ireland’s largest lakes and then we reach Galway.

[31-7-1985]

Foto: straatje in Galway.

Uit de reisbeschrijving van Frames National:

The capital of the west of Ireland, Galway is an ancient city with a recorded history of almost 1000 years. The city derived its name from the River Corrib (known locally as Abhainnna Caillimh). The village and the fort, part of the O’Halloran territories, were seized by the de Burgos who built a castle there prior to 1240. The town was saved and fortified at the close of the century. When a brisk trade grew up with Spain, Richard Il of England granted a charter which made the town independent of the De Burgos and it became, in effect, a city-state. It was ruled by an oligarchy of the fourteen ‘Tribes', mainly Norman and Welsh merchant families and became known as the ‘City of the Tribes'. Today the city is the administrative centre of County Galway and vigorous and expanding regional capital.

[31-7-1985]

Uit de reisbeschrijving van Frames National:

After a short sightseeing tour in Galway we continue today’s journey through Aranmore, an attractive village in woodland with a 17th century Castle and Clarinbridge, a little fishing community famed for shellfish, to join the coast road of County Clare.
Passing through Lisdoonvarna we reach the coast at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, 700 ft. white cliffs rising vertically above foaming Atlantic. Nearby lies The Burren, a vast limestone wilderness unique in Europe and a haven for naturalists.

Turning inland we travel via Ennistymon, a holiday centre built in a wooded valley and Inach to the town of Ennis. This is the capital of Co Clare and spreads alongside the river Fergus, 12 miles from Shannon Airport. Near the river bridge lie the ruins of a Franciscan Friary founded in 1241.
Continuing south we pass through Clarecastle, and Newmarket on Fergus at the centre of a farmland area, and Cratloe to reach Limerick, where the night is spent.

[31-7-1985]

Foto: Bunratty Castle, een paar kilometer ten westen van Limerick.

Uit de reisbeschrijving van Frames National:

Straddling the majestic River Shannon, Limerick is Ireland’s oldest city with a rich illustrious history dating from the 9th century when the Vikings made a settlement here and used it as a base for plundering the hinterland. The colony endured continual attacks by the Irish for more than a century until Brian Boru finally sacked the town and drove out the Vikings.
The town was later taken by the Anglo Normans towards the end of the 12th century but control was later gained by the O’Briens who in 1194 commenced the building of St Mary’s Cathedral, originally designed in the shape of a cross. King John visited Limerick in 1210 and ordered a castle to be built which still stands and forms a fine picture on the far side of the river. In 1760 the guns were removed and the city walls were allowed to decay and the city spread southwards. Limerick is now a busy seaport and the fourth largest city in Ireland. It is, in reality, three towns. English Town, Irish Town and Newtown Lery and is a joyful place with buildings as colourful as its people.

Day’s mileage 161

Informatie over Bunratty Castle is te vinden op de Engelse Wikipedia.