Thursday September 8th

It was raining again when we woke up. However, by the time we were ready to leave it was clearing up.

 

We set off for Sligo town to the north. It takes about 1 hour to get there. We visited the Sligo Abbey ruins. It is really a Friary. The difference is that friars commune with people and monks in abbeys do not. It was found in 1252 or 53. It is a Dominican Friary. This is one of the best preserved abbeys in Ireland. Sir Donagh O'Connor influenced Queen Elizabeth to save Sligo friary from dissolution. So many of the Irish catholic religious houses suffered the fate of dissolution in the 16^th century. It was not just religious houses that suffered this fate but many of the manor homes did as well. The early 16^th century was a terrible time in Ireland. We are so glad we went back to Sligo to see the abbey.

 

We went out to Knocknarea to try and see the cairns there. Unfortunately it was about a ¾ hour walk up a steep hill to see the cairns on top. You can see the cairn for miles around. It makes the mountain look like a pot top with a knob on top. We were disappointed but after all it is a pile of rocks.

 

On the way back to Ballina we went in search of Cabragh Wedge Tomb. There were no signs around to show us the way. In the town of Coolaney we stopped and asked directions. Following these excellent directions we thought we would not find the tomb. Giving up we decided to stop so I could take pictures of the landscape. Charles spotted a fenced off area that looked like a wedge tomb. Eureka, we found it. We did not get close as we would have had to ask permission from the farmer. This was a different example of a Neolithic burial site. So many of these sites were buried under peat that preserved them from people taking away the stones.

 

We continued our overland trip on a one lane road. This one even had grass growing down the middle. To think you can do 80 km/h on these roads.

 

Our last stop was at the Kilcullen's Seaweed Baths in Inishcrone. It was a very interesting experience. We had a double room which meant that Charles and I each had a bathtub with very hot water sea water and seaweed in it. We started out in a steam box. There was only one of these. I have seen them in movies but never had experienced one. It helped your pores to open up. What a relaxing time we had. I stayed in too long and felt very dizzy after getting out. It soothed our skin.

 

I needed a nap when getting back to the B&B.

 

It did not start raining until this evening. It was a gentle misty rain.