We chose to focus on two areas in Ireland and wrapping up our visit in Dublin and already it is time to move on.

We have been “pottering” around in Dublin for the last three days and with no to-do list to tick off we have gone where things looked interesting.

It is a pleasant city, there is no particular feature that stands out (other than the towering spike) but as you wander around you come across many memorials to the struggle for independence, the famine and the literary revival of the late 18th and early nineteenth century. In between there are bars and a shops with a pleasant riverfront.

The city has been busy with Rugby fans crowding the streets on Saturday (Ireland v Scotland) and Hurling fans crowding the street on Sunday (Galway v Tipperary).

Our last day in Galway was spent in the Connemara region which is West / Northwest of Galway city. It is marked by water and mountains, the former being in numerous Loughs (Lakes) and interconnecting rivers (and on the day we were there, thankfully stying in the clouds) and the latter being barren rocky hills that look very impressive.

We managed to get the rental car back without a scratch or dent which was amazing given the width of many of the roads we travelled along but overall, we found the driving pretty easy. Perhaps we are used to narrow winding roads.

Our lasting memories of Ireland and the Irish people will be the amazing hosptitality we received, their love of music, the ever changing scenery, some very special moments in Galway with our hosts Martina & John (I hope the rain cleared and you got the hay in John), the humour and their forgettable summer.

Well, we are off to the Lake District for a bit of walking before hitting the highlands.