After enjoying a leisurely breakfast it was time to pack the car ready for our departure from Galway . Over the duration of our trip we have developed a ritual when checking out of our hotels - firstly all the bags are made ready for travel then the last task is always to collect my frozen gel packs from the hotel reception and place them in thermal bags so my insulin maintains the optimum temperature while travelling.

I have been fortunate (thus far) that all the hotels have generously frozen my gel packs the night before our departure and the No.7 Hotel was no exception. Despite the No.7 not having a freezer their staff thought outside the square and contacted the bar next door who obligingly assisted. So once again the wonderful generosity of the hotel reception staff shone through and made travelling with Insulin so much easier.

Before we left Galway, Aaron had one last place he wanted to visit - it was the unit where he and his friend Michael had last lived. We stopped at the unit and took a few photos while Aaron reminisced for the final time about his former life in Galway .

Galway had been a fun place to visit. It was interesting to see the streets transform at night to accommodate and entertain the masses who came into the city to dine at the many restaurants and drink at the many Pubs and Bars.  It was easy to see why Aaron and other young people travelling overseas chose to make it their temporary home as the atmosphere is contagious. It was good for us to finally experience a little of what Aaron’s life was like when he left home and lived in Galway.

Our planned destination for today was Glin and our drive would take us via the famous Cliffs of Moher. On the way we made a brief stop for morning tea in Kinvara which is a small seaport on the edge of Galway Bay. Like most small towns Kinvara had a great sense of "community" which was palpable in the street markets Aaron discovered.   We enjoyed a brief stroll through the stalls laden with fresh local produce of vegetables, cakes and preserves . Aaron was unable to resist buying some homemade jam before it was time to continue on our way.

Back on the road our drive through County Clare was picturesque however the weather had turned a little inclement by the time we reached the Cliffs of Moher. After parking the car we donned our jackets to protect us from the brisk wind before we made our way up the steep incline to the top of the cliffs so we could take in the panoramic views.  

The view over the Atlantic Ocean was impressive - in the distance we could see Galway Bay and the three land forms that make up the Aran Islands. Standing on the headland is O’Brien’s Tower built in the 1800’s. You can climb the tower to take in a more expansive view over the cliffs however the line of people waiting to enter was long so we decided against it.

Looking over the cliffs towards the water below you can see a large numbers of seabirds constantly circling above the rocky outcrops which house their nesting colonies . The Cliffs are a sanctuary to many protected species of seabirds unique to the region. On the opposite headland cattle graze precariously close to the edge which made one wonder how many accidentally disappear over the cliffs.  

Since Aaron’s last visit to the Cliffs safety fences have been erected to prevent anyone from climbing the cliffs – I know the much younger Aaron and his mates have a story or two to tell about their previous skylarking on the unfenced cliffs. I remembered receiving an email from Aaron some eleven years prior telling me about their exploits on the cliffs. I still remember feeling anxious about their safety but as I was so far away there was not much I could do other than send a stern “Mum” email in reply. I think the more mature Aaron would now wonder what on earth possessed them to take such a risk. Thank goodness sons do eventually grow up and mature into lovely responsible human beings!

The Cliffs have become a major tourist attraction in recent years so a large information facility has been built to cater for the escalation in popularity . Due to the large number of tourist at the Cliffs, we decided not to remain there for lunch but to drive instead to the town of Lahinch where we ate at The Atlantic hotel. Pub lunches are such a good option when you’re on the road as they usually offer good food choices for a reasonable price and this hotel was no exception.

Lahinch is a small seaside resort town situated on the North/West coast of County Clare and it was surprising to find this town is a mecca for surfers. Who would have thought!   Surfing is not something that immediately springs to mind when you think of Ireland. After lunch, Aaron took a stroll around the town to check out the many surf shops as he and Nellie have become keen surfers since moving to Sri Lanka.

Back on the road we bypassed Shannon and Limerick and also Bunratty Castle as we made our way to O’Driscoll's B & B in Glin arriving in time for our 5.00pm check-in. The owner Estelle O’Driscoll showed us to our rooms then invited us to the conservatory for an afternoon tea of homemade Apple Pie and cream – no wonder Estelle’s establishment has received so many accolades on Trip Advisor – she certainly knows how to satisfy the needs of weary travellers.

Estelle was also helpful when recommending a good restaurant for dinner. We made our way to the Taste Café/Restaurant where Sal and I finally got to enjoy our much anticipated roast dinner that was well worth the wait.

O’Driscoll’s B & B is really a hidden gem - Estelle is the sole operator who besides being a great cook, also attends to all the maintenance work herself. The following morning we ate a hearty Irish Breakfast (also cooked by the very capable Estelle) before Aaron and Trevor packed the car ready for us to continue our journey towards the south coast.