April 10--Day tripping from Oughterard

After waking to a soft rain and having a lovely breakfast of porridge,  we set out for Ashford Castle in Cong, about an hour's drive northeast. Ashford Castle was originally built in the 13th century. In the 19th century, it was purchased by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness who restored it and passed it down to his son. 

In the 20th century, it was converted to a hotel. John Ford used it, in 1952, as his base while filming The Quiet Man.   One of the scenes was filmed on the bridge that we found.  We also learned that Maureen O'Hara's stand-in, during filming, was the aunt of our hostess, Amelia Joyce. Small world. 








We enjoyed the gorgeous Connemara scenery on-route to the Castle. Once there, we visited the lobby and adjacent rooms as well as the formal garden. Our plan was to participate in the 1100 hour boat trip of Lough Corrib that departed from the Castle's pier. 

We arrived a bit before other passengers and got to visit over a cup of coffee with Captain John, who was surprisingly knowledgeable of the States, and his brother and crew, Patrick. The vessel, the Isle of Inisfree, was about twice as long as Peregrina and half again as beamy. Capable of holding 80 passengers, we departed with ten. Captain John took us on an hour circuit of the Lough.  

We learned that four flour mills operated around the Lough in the late 18th/early 19th century and that flour was taken to market in Galway City by boat. On several of the 365 islands, that can be found in the Lough, archaeologists have found a dugout canoe dated to 3000BC and an ax handle which is considered to be evidence of the Vikings. In the 5th century, St. Patrick was banished to one of the Lough islands by the Druids. Even today, there are pilgrimages to the remnants of his church there.  

Today the Lough is famous for angling, especially trout, and for woodcock shoots. 

We stopped for some modest provisioning on our return to the cottage. John prepared lovely local pork chops for dinner with mashed potatoes and a cabbage/leek dish.   I toasted "the crew of the Isle of Inisfree" and John toasted "the boat ride."

We watch some TV before sleep.