Westport and the holy mountain.

The Dental reunion was a laugh.  We had the Saturday for various activities including of course golf. But one of the guys who lives locally led some of us on an easy walk from Tramore Beach to the swimming cove at the end of the rocky point.


Ireland has had a terrible summer and we timed out arrival with the first real days of heat, cloudless skies and no wind.  It was really warm and there were a lot of people  looking to be severely sun burnt that night.  The beach slowly filled up with punters, drawn by the lovely swimming conditions, the classic fair ground amusement park, and the fish and chip shops along the quay.


The deep water rocky cove at the end of the walk was teaming with brave swimmers, water temp about 15 degrees. The sign at the top of the track leading down the cliff is a relic from the past - women are now allowed to swim there!



We walked back through lanes lined with blackberry and moss, to a cafe on the beach for a watery Americano. The evening celebrations started with a photo shoot of the Dental Class of 83. 



 Then it was champagne and beer before a formal dinner with speeches. There were only 28 students in the class of 83 and they remain close. Still a little jet-lagged, and unable to keep up with Irish drinking rates, I retired to bed just as someone shouted the whole group cocktails. Lucky escape.

The goodbyes the next morning took all morning, and rather than wait another 20 years for a reunion it was decided a 45th might be best so there are still dentists around to turn up!

Dara and I made the long cross-country drive north-west across most of Ireland to reach our roof-top apartment home for the next few days. Westport is not at all like the NZ Westport. The town centre is classic small town Ireland, but we are staying a couple of k's away on the quay, with a view over the river and harbour. It is really pretty, especially when the the tide is in. When the tide is out, there are miles of mud flats and the sea is so far away you can't see it.




Trying out an Irish IPA - not bad!

The large building right in the middle spoiling the view is a new dry pet food factory! Be thankful for the Resource Management Act in NZ.


Our aim for Monday was to climb Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick. There is a good path to the 764m summit but it is rough and steep, and took us 2 1/2 hours up.  Perfect weather and views of the surrounding mountains, islands and lakes. I don't know how many of the walkers survived the hike with no sun protection, food or water. It's apparently very holy and thousands of pilgrims climb it each summer. According to traditions and accounts, in 441 AD, St Patrick spent the 40 days of Lent praying and fasting on the mountain top as part of his effort to convert Ireland to Christianity. Good on him.


Rosary beads for the holy walk. 

View over Clew Bay.

The sheep are marked in Irish colours of course.





The final push to the summit.

Church on the summit.



We might have missed this part.

After a slow descent nursing our knees we re-hydrated with a few glasses of Guinness on our little veranda in the evening sun. Bliss.










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