An 'Aran Islands Experience' is said to be a true highlight on the Wild Atlantic Way and a true Irish experience. We certainly had that today and to add to the experience, the weather was unbelievable. We had quite a lot of rain overnight, but the sun shone for most of the day and there was little wind. With two nights in Galway, this trip was optional and an extra cost.

We left the hotel at 9.00am, giving ourselves plenty of time to drive the 40 minute journey to catch the ferry. We had thought that the ferry would leave from Galway, but we actually drove further out along Galway Bay towards Golam Head. By the time we got to the ferry wharf, the countryside had become extremely rocky and arid. Well Irish arid! It was still relatively green, but quite different to anywhere else we have visited in Ireland. The hydrangeas are all a bright pink, close to a red in colour and that is because of the limestone in the ground. They were really red on Inishmore Island as well. By the time we returned in the afternoon, the day had cleared so much, we were able to see the Connemarra Mountains clearly.  
 
The ferry left a bit before 10.30am and the crossing took approximately 40 minutes. It was a little rough, but only for about 10 minutes of the trip. We were side on to a reasonable swell, but there were no white caps.

We were met at the wharf by the drivers of the two mini coaches, that would take us for the tour of the island. The main tourist attraction is the ancient fort of Dun Aonghasa, 100 metres up on the cliff top. It is an important archaeological site that also offers spectacular views over the island and the cliffs. The fort is thought to have been built during the 'Iron Age'. Excavations at the site indicates that the first construction goes back to 1100 BC, when the first enclosure was erected by piling rubble against large upright stones. Around 500 BC, the triple wall defences were probably built along the western side of the fort.

The walk up to the top of the ancient fort took about 20 minutes, so the look around and the walk back down took about an hour. There is a Visitor Centre that you have to pass through, to do the walk and the cost was 2 euros. There were a couple of places to buy a meal and a few tourist outlets, selling local craft, Aran knitted garments and the usual tourist bits and pieces. The wool to knit the Aran garments is imported from Australia.

At 2.00pm we were picked up in the mini buses and taken for the second half of the tour. Down on the lower roads of the island. Two and a half years ago they had a terrible storm which washed roads away and also deposited huge rocks up on the roads. Unbelievable! There are two schools on the Island, a primary and a secondary school. In total 150 children. They have three language courses on the island each year, to teach the Gaelic language.  

The Dominican monks came to the island in the 7th century and stayed until the 15th century. We were taken to the remains of seven churches they built. Many Irish Saints had some connection with the Aran Islands. 

Ancient stone walls were everywhere on the island and this is how the local livestock is contained. There are all of 50 sheep on the island and about 700 cows. There are 14 villages on the island and some of the so called villages, only have a few houses! The island is 7,000 acres in size and it is 26 miles from Galway. There is a supermarket and a couple of reasonable size tourist shops, within the vicinity of the wharf area. Bike hire is big business. A couple of pubs and four policemen provide for the needs of the 751 residents. The biggest farm on the island is 354 acres. To get enough soil on the island to grow grass, they bought/brought in soil and mixed it with seaweed!

The island had a new harbour built a few years ago at a cost of 41 million euros. They have a new rescue boat that was built in Australia.

We had a bit of free time to walk around once we were dropped back at the wharf area. Not a lot to do, but we checked out the shops and found where the cattle yards were! The ferry left at 4.00pm and it was a really calm trip back and Tommy our bus driver was waiting for us. Eugene has had to have a day off today.

We dined at the hotel, following a walk on the path down near the waters edge. I also managed a sunset photo over Galway Bay. Taken by opening the window of our room and kneeling on the wide shelf of the bay window.