Leaving Dublin…………

There have been so many times when I’ve visited a new country and never ventured further than the inner limits of the capital city and quite frankly, some countries only require that but I found out that others like Ireland definitely require a trip further afield.

Four hours west of Dublin is Galway Bay, a place which is just as romantic as the lilting ballad suggests, conjuring up tall tales of leprechauns and other Irish lore.

The city of Galway is the centrepiece of the county that bears the same name – one of Ireland’s 32 and there are photo opportunities at every corner with the tiny port has been the face of millions of postcards sent to all corners of the globe by travellers to the town.

Galway’s two storey stone buildings ring the harbour and house a collection of galleries, craft shops, pubs and cafes and mostly they feature brightly coloured doors of reds, blues and greens and reflect in the ebbing waters.

In an unseasonably warm spring, the sun shines brightly and the tiny harbour is alive with human activity, with a population of wild swans decorating the tidal waters in front of the buildings and these graceful birds taking residence on the stone wall banks of the harbour.

It’s a seaside resort town – one that’s attracted Dubliners for centuries.

Beyond Galway in the Connemara region, I stop for the night at the Connemara Coast Hotel and as with most seaside guest houses the low rise hotel is spread out along the shores of the bay, with late at night, after the sun finally sets at around 10:00pm, the reflection of the moon illuminates the bay and sends a broad silver streak across to the opposite shore.

Hotel guests and holiday makers walk along the sand and craggy rocks and absorb all that is Connemara and in the lobby they talk about their day and the days ahead and make plans of discovery.

Galway, pretty as it is, is also the gateway to one of the most history-rich parts of the Irish Republic – the Aran Islands; a place so intriguing and compelling, it’s major industry is now tourism.

Leaving Galway, I make the 15 kilometre trip to the ferry terminal which sits at the mouth of the bay and I’m ushered on board a very powerful ferry operated by Aran direct.

On board the hospitality is the same in the rest of Ireland – welcoming and genuine, everything served with a broad smile and genuine interest in my well being and comfort.  They all need to know that I’m happy.

The ferry, The Clan Eagle, slick and smooth and only 12 months old from its dockside blessing by the local priest, has me at the tiny port of Innis Mor, the largest of the three Aran Islands in about 50 minutes, enough time to sample a few local oysters on board, washed down with; you guessed it, a Guinness.

As I arrive at the dock, lining the breakwater is a line of horses and carriages, waiting to take tourists on an adventure around the island and I’ve left Galway expecting these intriguing islands to tell me something but I’ve got no idea what they will say.

The Aran Island story will continue tomorrow……………

A Report by Kevin Moloney, international travel writer and Travel Mole correspondent – on location in Ireland – brought to you by Emirates, Aer Lingus, Driveaway Holidays and Tourism Ireland.