Radford University Study Abroad Program
Dr. Jolanta Wawrzycka
European Literary Trails
Bliss Mulligan's Web Site 2003
Drive Through Connemara
The Bog and turf fuel
En route to Sligo, we
took the country roads (what roads aren't?) and drove through Connemara.
Connemara is north- west of Galway and is a mountainous region filled with
bogs, valleys and lakes. The landscape of
Connemara was what I was expecting of Ireland. There was the occasional "Irish
cottage", and there were hills and lakes and I felt like we were so far away
from the real world.
Kylemore Abbey
One stop that we made was at Kylemore Abbey. Kylemore Abbey is a very prestigious girls boarding school. Though we didn't have time to take a tour of the grounds, just looking at the enormous building and the scenery was enough. I could not imagine going to school here. It would probably be fun for about a day, but then the realization that you are far from any kind of civilization with nobody to visit with besides your fellow classmates and the wandering tourists would set in.
The Fields Bar
Our next stop was for lunch at the Field's Bar. The movie, "The Fields", which I had never heard of till now, was shot in this pub. When we walked in the place was packed. It was going to be next to impossible to find a place to stand for all eleven of us, and for the poor bartender to get us all a toasted ham, cheese, and tomato sandwich (the only thing on the menu to eat). Most of the group opted to eat at the tourist center, but Lindsey and I wanted to experience the culture. Of course this culture ended up with each of us getting a pint of Guinness. I mean everyone else was doing it, why not? Our sandwiches were amazing and we just watched the people and drank our Guinness. One man had his dog in the pub and was giving it Guinness to drink and shouting, "See, Guinness is good for you!". This was one of my favorite lunches. The pub really plays an important role in the lives of the Irishmen as we were able to experience first hand.
Kilmacduagh
"Cill Mhic Dhuach"
Kilmacduagh or "Cill Mhic Dhuach" was a monastic settlement. The cathedral which was the first structure to be built was completed in the eleventh century. The round tower was built in the twelfth century as a place of refuge for the monks when they were under attack. The churches were plundered in the thirteenth century but remained the seat of the Bishop until the sixteenth century. The door to the round tower is about twenty-five feet high. The monks would have to climb a wooden ladder in order to take refuge in the tower and then pull the ladder up after themselves. I found myself circling the tower looking for the door before I realized that the door was straight up.