Ireland 2023In July 2023 Laura and I spend over three weeks in Polranny, near Achill Island in Ireland. We were here earlier, in 2009. It feels very nice to be away for a longer period of time.
In the bedroom on the tenth floor of the ferry from Hoek van Holland to Harwich.
We stay one night at the Gazelle Hotel in Menai Bridge, on the island of Anglesey, near Bangor. This is the view from our hotel room.
The beach on Menai Strait near the hotel.
Rainbow (photo by Laura).
View from Rathcroghan, the burial place of the kings of Connaught, in pre-Christian times.
The driveway of the house.
Our house is called "the house of a thousand books". I suspect there are actually many more (photo by Laura).
My study, with an inevitable glass of Guinness.
A cat makes it to the front door, but hardly dares to cross the threshold (photo by Laura).
The garden, with a view of the sea behind it.
Strand (photo by Laura).
Sea (photo by Laura).
Me, enjoying the beach (photo by Laura).
Sheep are everywhere.
More beach.
Laura on a footbridge at low tide.
Seawater.
Beach, or sea, or land. There's not always a clear distinction.
"Please take care! There is not enough water here."
Uitzicht over een strand, met bergen aan de horizon.
View with sheep.
View of the sea. This photo was taken next to the supermarket.
A plant that grows on peat, possibly bell heather.
Behind the garden.
Peat.
Cattle crossing.
Mountain.
A resting place on our walk (photo by Laura).
Passers-by photograph us (and the other way around) on our walk near Ballycroy.
Me (photo by Laura).
At the top of a hill there is a large stone with a hole drilled through it, offering a view of a mountain peak in the distance.
Surroundings of Ballycroy.
View from Ballycroy.
Shore.
Rocks (photo by Laura).
In the afternoon we see a deer with a calf in our front garden. The mother grazes calmly while the calf runs around.
We take a boat trip from Westport.
View in Achill Sound, near the bridge to Achill Island.
Beach with sheep.
Beach at Dugort, on Achill Island.
At the Red Fox Press, a small printing company and bookstore in Dugort.
View.
Me, taking the previous photo, next to the Red Fox Press (photo by Laura).
Sheep pasture.
Sea view.
Me, with Keem Beach and Moyteoge Head in the background (photo by Laura).
Surroundings.
White Cliffs of Ashleam.
Panoramic photo of Laura and the White Cliffs of Ashleam.
Surroundings.
Bog.
In the distance the bridge to Achill Island can be seen.
We dine at the Mulranny Park Hotel, with Guinness IPA.
Sunset, photographed from the car.
Again deer in our front garden, with the calf again running wildly.
A blooming torch lily in the front garden.
The back garden.
Our return trip, somewhere between Ireland and Great Britain.
Lake Llyn Padarn in Snowdonia. We spend the night near Llanberis.
Laura at the lake.
View over the lake.
The bank.
View from the bridge.
We look for a place to take a break and end up at the country house Shugborough Hall. It is busy, but we don't understand why, other than to celebrate class society as it used to be and to marvel at faded wealth. But there are some nice cattle.
Our last overnight stay of this holiday is at the Plough Inn in Coldharbour, Dorking.
LaMa on the terrace of the Plough Inn (photo by Laura).
