Inishbofin Island

Photo highlights, top to bottom:

Ferry ride, Connemara Mountains

Shorebirds, Inishbofin Island

Cromwellian Fort, 1600s

Two carrachs

Stephen on the trail, with the Carna Walking Club

Sheep

Vistas

Turf cut out for fuel

Rooster

Sheep skull

Farmer haying

Foreground-old stone structure, background-Cromwellian Fort

Geese

Stephen finds another float

Stephen and I went with the Carna Walking Club to Inishbofin, an island off the western Ireland coast. We carpooled with around 25 members of this club to a ferry, boating about 1/2 hour out to this island. We then had a scone and tea at one of a few restaurants on this island of perhaps a hundred or so dwellers. Then we were off on a 5 mile walk, which I would describe as absolutely amazing. The vistas were incredible. I unabashedly admit that I took over 400 photos on this two and one half hour walk. It was a case of photographer gone wild. I found myself being overtaken by many a Carna walker, average age 60. Most photos were literally stop for 1 second shoot and start walking. We slowly fell behind, with Stephen frequently cajoling me to hurry up. fortunately the trail was well demarcated, and you could often see the jack rabbit walkers (in the lead) a half mile ahead. Stephen did remarkable well, only really tiring in the last half mile.

The first site , actually initially seen as we motored into the wharf on the ferry, was the ruins of a star shaped Cromwellian English stone fort from the 1600's. The fort was used to hold Catholic clergy and others captive, for subsequent transport to the West Indies. There were rumors of bad things happening there. The walls alone were 6 feet thick.

Then we hiked along this stunningly green hillside, with sheep around, and incredible vistas of rocky coastline and a beautiful beach. There was a memorial for 3 young family members, drowned as they rowed their currach from the neighboring island, Inishshark, to Easter mass on Inishbofin.

We then entered a moonscape like terrain, untouched for miles. Some of the "jackrabbits" headed off to the area of some blowholes. Big winter storms would drive water into these huge holes, spouting up a geyser out the other end. Stephen and I stayed on the main trail. We saw another memorial, 2 Kansas students drowned while swimming. I suspect perhaps an undertow? The island is amazingly untouched, with the few inhabitants living near the church and ferry dock. there are a few rusty cars too. Gerard relates how the hotel caretakers would serve them dinner (choices fish or meat, and red or white wine) then leave the hotel, which they would have to themselves. The new hotel is quite nice, we stopped there to rest at the end of our jaunt. Along the trail, we saw some bog cut up, which must be the fuel source for the island. I hope we can go back to explore the other half of the island sometime! It would be quite an isolated place to live on, given the fierce storms that buffet the area. We met some young scuba divers, who had seen a lot of lobsters and some Tiger fish, at about 80 feet deep. We ferried back, and carpooled with Rorey, a local craftsman, specializing in jewelry. He has a lot of creative talent, and is hoping to guide hikers around the Connemara area. He told me of a few local waterfront walks for our children. This island visit was definitely a highlight of Ireland for me, to date.