Donegal Traveller

Top O' the Mornin'

We had a bit of a late start today since we didn't board the bus until 9:00. It was nice to be able to sleep a little later especially since it was cool and rainy outside. To avoid another bout of motion sickness I avoided the Irish breakfast and had a good ol' American breakfast of cereal and toast.

Our journey today took us to the north of County Donegal near the Atlantic coast. We visited Glenveagh National Park and Castle (http://www.glenveaghnationalpark.ie/). It is a lovely wooded area on the banks of a serene lough or lake. Glenveagh Castle was built by John George Adair in 1859. In 1861 he forcibly evicted 243 tenants who were legally, by contract, living on his land simply because they detracted from the beauty of his castle. Adair later moved to Colorado, bought a ranch from Charles Goodnight in Texas and then split his time between the ranch and the castle. He died while hunting buffalo in Texas. His wife continued to keep up the castle and the ranch. The castle was later sold to a professor from Harvard who mysteriously disappeared during a research trip to the Aran island. The castle was then sold to it's final private owner, George McIlhiney who lived in the castle until he gave it over to Ireland in 1986. The castle and grounds are now a national park. The castle is fairly modern and quite different than other castles I've visited in that it reflects its final owners rather than the time period in which it was built.

We ate lunch in the little tea room at the castle while listening to 3 old men who were singing Irish pub songs. They were just as you would picture them to be and were quite delightful.

We journeyed on to the Atlantic cost stopping in Downing (Dunning) for ice cream and then on to Letterkenney for some free shopping time while our guide went to the doctor as he hasn't felt well all week. Letterkenney is the largest city in Donegal and the fastest growing in IE. However, they need a new mall. It was probably the least interesting hour that we have had on the tour.

Dinner is at 7:15. Our meals have been an experience. Breakfast is always a full Irish meaning eggs, rashers (like bacon), bangers (sausage), tomatoes, mushrooms, potatoes, blood pudding and toast. There is always fruit and cereal as well. I have not tried the blood pudding! Lunch is on our own wherever we might be. Dinner is table d'hote meaning a 3 course meal of appetizer, main dish, dessert and tea or coffee. We usually have a choice of fish, poultry, beef or pasta as the main course. The food is outstanding, just heavy.

Tomorrow we leave at half-eight to head to Derry aka Londonderry by the British, and the Giant's Causeway. We sleep in Ballygally castle tomorrow night.

Well that's the news from Stranolar (Stran-no-lar). Later then.