Our morning began once again with sun and clear skies. What little chill was present as we left the ship quickly faded as the morning progressed and we were greeted on our approach to the small harbor at Mullaghmore in Sligo by the mountains rising up in the distance. Amongst these is the legendary Ben Bulben, a large, rounded hill that overlooks much of the landscape, and it is under this mountain that the grave of Irish poet W.B. Yeats lies. Yeats is heavily associated with this area, and many of the locations we visited this morning carry direct connections to him. Aside from his grave, the most famous of these is the former home of the Gore-Booth family, Lissadell House. Situated near the sea amidst expansive gardens, it is clear why Yeats spent time in this place of history, beauty, and serenity. Others of us also went to visit different highlights of the area, such as Glencar waterfall and Meadhbh’s Cairn.
We returned to the ship for lunch, repositioning to the north to nearby Killybegs. This working commercial fishing port with its trawler fleet served as a base for our afternoon activities. These include an exploration of the prehistoric landscape surrounding the town, with some of Ireland’s finest examples of Neolithic and Bronze-Age monuments. Other outings this afternoon included a hike through the beautiful Donegal countryside and a visit to the local woolen mills. In all, we experienced Ireland’s west at its finest, in exceptional weather. This was our final day before heading north towards the Hebrides, and just before Recap we set sail towards St. Kilda into a long evening under stunning red and orange skies.
