Field Trip #4 : Final and Best

Our fourth, and final, field trip was an overnight in Galway that took place for the past two days. This one was definitely my favorite!

Day 1:

First stop was to the Cliffs of Moher.  They are so breathtaking and we lucked out with a sunny and warm day, which made for visible cliffs, and an enjoyable experience walking around.

Caitlin and me enjoying the view

 Caitlin, Me, Chelsea, Nicole

Second stop was to an old fortified house belonging to the O'Brien family

Third stop was to Poulnabrone tomb.  It is a portal tomb dating back to 4000 BC

Fourth stop was to Corcomroe Abbey, a sixteenth century church

Heather, Nichola, Caitlin, Chelsea, Me, Nicole, Molly, Katy

We spent the night at the Kinlay hostel in Galway city.  It was a very nice hostel and was located directly in the city square so we were right in the center of all the action.  I had a lot of fun revisiting the city and seeing some of the places Katie took me to the last time I was there, and I hope to be back again soon.

Galway City

Day 2:

Friday morning was an early wake up call and off to the Aran Islands! We went to the largest of the Aran Islands, where there are only 800 inhabitants on the whole island.  It is an entirely Irish community in that Irish is the first language taught and spoken, and english is the second.  It is absolutely beautiful, with classic Irish stone walls as territory markers along with cows, sheep, goats and horses grazing everywhere in between.

This island is home to Dun Aonghasa, which is a massive defensive fort consisting of three layers of enclosures.  But the cool part about the fort is that the enclosures are only on one side because the other side of the fort is a 100 metere drop off of the edge of a cliff.

In the words of our professor :

"people fall off relatively frequently so for health and safety reasons we are going to avoid the edge"  

 Enclosed side of Dun Aonghasa 

Caitlin and me far from the edge

 Drop-off! 

View from the edge of the island looking out onto one of the smaller Aran Islands

This trip was incredible, and a great way to end my early start experience.  I have been well immersed into Irish history and culture, however now it's time to immerse myself in present day culture with the start of classes Monday.  

I can't believe three weeks have passed already, time is really flying!