County Donegal, Ireland
The morning began today with brilliant beams of light bursting through a hole in the nimbus clouds, illuminating the waters just offshore of Inishmurray. We carefully navigated the Zodiacs through a natural narrow channel to our landing site, and made our way to the soft earth of the island. It was inhabited until the 1960’s, but was originally established as a settlement for Irish monks back in the 6th century. Vikings attacked here in the year 807 and a substantial amount of ruins still exist on the island, but they are covered in lichens and surrounded by an abundance of wildflowers and bracken. Evidence of wild rabbits littered the ground while greater and lesser black-backed gulls foraged along the barnacle-encrusted shoreline. An ancient graveyard was marked by intricately carved Celtic headstones and perfectly preserved beehive huts protruded amongst the ruins. The quiet serenity of this place helped give a greater understanding as to why monks would chose this space to settle.
Across the channel we spent the afternoon in Ireland’s most significant fishing port, Kellybegs. Some of us went on a leisurely hike in Glencolumcille, which was the home of Saint Columba, founder of the island of Iona. Others were able to visit Glebe Mill, which is famous for its traditional weaving techniques and Donegal carpets. The rest of us could be found exploring the streets of small fishing village, or slaking our thirst with a pint in one of the many pubs.
We were greeted back onboard by a traditional Donegal band, and couldn’t help but clap along to the sounds of the fiddle, uillean pipes and the citern. Eventually we had to bid farewell to the music and cast off. On our way out of County Donegal, we passed by the tallest sea cliffs in all of Europe at Slieve League, standing just under 600 meters. The setting sun cast a golden hue on the cliff faces, and allowed us one last chance to exercise our camera skills for the day, while providing the perfect excuse to go out on deck before retiring to our cabins.
The morning began today with brilliant beams of light bursting through a hole in the nimbus clouds, illuminating the waters just offshore of Inishmurray. We carefully navigated the Zodiacs through a natural narrow channel to our landing site, and made our way to the soft earth of the island. It was inhabited until the 1960’s, but was originally established as a settlement for Irish monks back in the 6th century. Vikings attacked here in the year 807 and a substantial amount of ruins still exist on the island, but they are covered in lichens and surrounded by an abundance of wildflowers and bracken. Evidence of wild rabbits littered the ground while greater and lesser black-backed gulls foraged along the barnacle-encrusted shoreline. An ancient graveyard was marked by intricately carved Celtic headstones and perfectly preserved beehive huts protruded amongst the ruins. The quiet serenity of this place helped give a greater understanding as to why monks would chose this space to settle.
Across the channel we spent the afternoon in Ireland’s most significant fishing port, Kellybegs. Some of us went on a leisurely hike in Glencolumcille, which was the home of Saint Columba, founder of the island of Iona. Others were able to visit Glebe Mill, which is famous for its traditional weaving techniques and Donegal carpets. The rest of us could be found exploring the streets of small fishing village, or slaking our thirst with a pint in one of the many pubs.
We were greeted back onboard by a traditional Donegal band, and couldn’t help but clap along to the sounds of the fiddle, uillean pipes and the citern. Eventually we had to bid farewell to the music and cast off. On our way out of County Donegal, we passed by the tallest sea cliffs in all of Europe at Slieve League, standing just under 600 meters. The setting sun cast a golden hue on the cliff faces, and allowed us one last chance to exercise our camera skills for the day, while providing the perfect excuse to go out on deck before retiring to our cabins.
