Out off the coast of counties Galway and Clare are the Aran Islands. These are so well worth a visit. Recently I spent three nights there on Inis Oirr in the company of Maire Ann Keneally and Padraig O'Donnell. Well its the place to relax and let the wind blow through your hair and go for walks on the traffic free roads. Well not quite traffic free as you see below!! House above is the home of playright John Millington Synge. The photograph on the right top shows the Cliffs of Moher in the distance. You can also see in one of those photographs that time really has not passed this island by in that they have wind generators to keep the island supplied with electricity. Other photograph is of Maire Aine's father who is an expert fisherman. These photographs were taken on Inis Meain. So I take one of the ferries over to stay on Inis Oirr and on the way I see that the local rescue helicopter is having exercises. It reminds one how dangerous the ocean can become. In 1960 a ship was wrecked off the the island. It is still there...a huge hunk of rusted metal. Scroll down for more photographs.
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Below is a photograph of Maire Aine and in the middle is the most popular man on Inis Meain...Mairtin the local postman. You wonder how he gets his mail to deliver...an airplane arrives every morning at 9.a.m. and when I met Mairtin he was heading home for a nap...he has a stressful nightime life in the hotel. On the right is Padraig who ferries the tourists from Doolin in Co. Clare on trips to the Island. Final photograph below is of the only traffic jam you are likely to see...a pony and trap. Its a beautiful place to visit and one can walk for hours on roads and you are not worried about some motorist blowing you off the road only a friendly greeting is all you will hear. Go there if you want to get out of the rat race for a few days. The night life in the pubs is something...I recall being in one pub near the harbour and there was this lady who sang "Down by the sally garden" you could hear a pin drop in that pub when she sung. Padraig is no mean player of the bango but I prefer the slow airs.
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