Where we see tombs, ruins, and beaches

Our tour of County Sligo continues.

First stop of the day: Carrowkeel megalithic passage tombs. We had some fun getting there. Our navigation system led us up a road that was, technically, wider than our car. One side of the “road” was an unforgiving stone wall. The other side varied between a hillside and a ditch. We did not drive particularly fast on this road.

(From Kevin: What do you mean, “we”??)

The drive to Carrowkeel, County Sligo. This is a 2-way “road”.

At the end of 2km of narrow, winding, steep driving, we were greeted with … a farmhouse. What we had taken for a road turned out to be, essentially, a 2km-long driveway! Fortunately for us unsuspecting American tourists, the Irish are incredibly nice. A woman at the house saw us drive up and walked over to offer us parking in what turned out to be their carport.

After a chat with our hostess, we parked, and started up the hill. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll already know that we walked by lots and lots of sheep. This girl was very interested in our movements and had a few comments to add.

The Irish people are really nice. The Irish sheep…not so much.

OTOH, the horses had better things to do than worry about us.

Horses doing what horses do.

On the way up, we had a fun time playing “find the path”

Hiking to Carrowkeel, County Sligo (“It’s over here!” “No, it’s over here!”)

But we made it!

Carrowkeel passage tombs, County Sligo. Kevin wondering if any of them are available for purchase.

Carrowkeel passage tombs, County Sligo

More tombs off in the distance. Of course we hiked over to them as well.

It was very windy on top.

I liked what I saw.

View from Carrowkeel, County Sligo

12 seconds of wind and sheep on Carrowkeel

On the way home we stopped to visit an old priory. St. Mary’s was originally founded in 1507.

St. Mary’s Priory, Ballindoon, County Sligo

St. Mary’s Priory, Ballindoon, County Sligo. This is typical of the priories, abbeys, and friaries: No roof, but lots of graves. (Some of them ancient, some very recent.)

And then home for the day.

Dibs on the sunny spot

The next day, we started with a hearty breakfast out. My choice was an Irish version of avocado on toast. If you can’t tell from the picture, the avocado covers a layer of peanut butter. Yum.

(Comment from Kevin: Read that again. AVOCADO. AND PEANUT BUTTER. ON TOAST.)

Breakfast of champions.

And then it was time to walk it off.

This is Streedagh Beach. Note the mesa in the background.

Yes, those are sheep.

And cows

The beach was lovely.

Streedagh Beach, County Sligo

There was a beach-art project going on. The artists had been there for four or five hours by the time we came by.

Beach-Art Fair Streedagh Beach, County Sligo

After a long beach walk, we headed inland to Gleniff Horseshoe. This is the mesa we saw from the beach. It was spectacular.

Gleniff Horseshoe canyon, County Sligo.

And the beach from the mesa:

Gleniff Horseshoe canyon, County Sligo.

Next up… the cliffs of Slieve League, the highest in Ireland.