Into The West, Leenane, Co Galway 5th - 7th September 2025
- Thread starter Wapping
- Start date
Reminds me of one I heard…..
‘What’s the fastest way to Dun Laoghaire from here…..?’
‘ Car…..definitely car.’
Day four, out and about with Jockser
As is, I understand, normal Jockser kindly lead us around the highways and low ways and ‘just about a way’ of the area.
For me, a virgin to the west, it was a great way to see the countryside, with the luxury of it being follow my leader and using the ‘drop off’ system.
Whist the weather was, shall we say, ‘Irish’ at least it wasn’t absolutely hosing it down and it wasn’t cold.
Our first stop was at Keogh’s cafe at Ballyconneely, where the photograph makes it look wetter than it actually was:
Then on to the steel ring of Fáinne Chamuis or, more commonly, ‘The Big O’:
www.galwaytourism.ie
From there, it was off to lunch in Cartron at the Pota cafe:
atasteofgalway.com
Lunch done, it was a shortened ride back to the hotel, the weather not looking like it was going to suddenly improve.
All in all, a great day out, well organised by Jockser and tail-ended very well by landmark John; thank you all.
As is, I understand, normal Jockser kindly lead us around the highways and low ways and ‘just about a way’ of the area.
For me, a virgin to the west, it was a great way to see the countryside, with the luxury of it being follow my leader and using the ‘drop off’ system.
Whist the weather was, shall we say, ‘Irish’ at least it wasn’t absolutely hosing it down and it wasn’t cold.
Our first stop was at Keogh’s cafe at Ballyconneely, where the photograph makes it look wetter than it actually was:
Then on to the steel ring of Fáinne Chamuis or, more commonly, ‘The Big O’:
Fáinne Chamuis (The Big O) ⭕️ sculpture in Connemara Galway with map
Visit The Big O in Camus Connemara and experience the unique landscape in this Gaeltacht region with map, photos of Fáinne Chamuis when to visit
www.galwaytourism.ie
From there, it was off to lunch in Cartron at the Pota cafe:
POTA Café - A Taste of Galway
We are a small café in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht and the last eatery en route to the Aran Islands.
atasteofgalway.com
Lunch done, it was a shortened ride back to the hotel, the weather not looking like it was going to suddenly improve.
All in all, a great day out, well organised by Jockser and tail-ended very well by landmark John; thank you all.
Day four, the end
The day was rounded off by an excellent meal, a Guinness or three and ‘craic’. Tip-top, as they say:
The day was rounded off by an excellent meal, a Guinness or three and ‘craic’. Tip-top, as they say:
I just wanted to abduct them, you wanted to up ship and move in with them! At least my idea is only temporary!!Also.....can we have a round of applause for the quality of the bar staff in that little establishment
(they have no idea how close they came to being abducted.... SEAN
If Jockser grows that beard a bit he'll be able to get "Seasonal Work" soon 
One is highly illegal.....the other is mildly distastefulI just wanted to abduct them, you wanted to up ship and move in with them! At least my idea is only temporary!!
Ho! Ho! Ho!If Jockser grows that beard a bit he'll be able to get "Seasonal Work" soon
Or from The Quiet Man from 1952...
'Could you tell me the way to Inisfree?'
"You see that road over there?, Well don't take that one, it'll do you no good"
Day five, Wapping’s fánaíocht
As ChasMill and I were staying through to Monday, we thought we might as well go for a Wander around the countryside, so I hacked one into MyRoute. At 92 miles, with some small roads, it isn’t too bad.
With a good bit of local knowledge from Charlie, we stopped for a coffee at the Acushlafoods cafe at Murrisk, which sits beneath Ireland’s famous Croagh Patrick mountain, itself a pilgrim destination:
www.mayo.ie
The cafe and its large carpark is just across the road from the National Famine Memorial:
With its views out across Clew Bay, leading to the open sea of the North Atlantic:
www.mayo-ireland.ie
Then on to Westport, picking up a section of the Wild Atlantic Way:
To be continued…..
As ChasMill and I were staying through to Monday, we thought we might as well go for a Wander around the countryside, so I hacked one into MyRoute. At 92 miles, with some small roads, it isn’t too bad.
With a good bit of local knowledge from Charlie, we stopped for a coffee at the Acushlafoods cafe at Murrisk, which sits beneath Ireland’s famous Croagh Patrick mountain, itself a pilgrim destination:
Croagh Patrick - Ireland's Holy Mountain
Information on Croagh Patrick - Ireland's Holy Mountain
www.mayo.ie
The cafe and its large carpark is just across the road from the National Famine Memorial:
With its views out across Clew Bay, leading to the open sea of the North Atlantic:
Famine Memorial, Murrisk Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland | mayo-ireland.ie
The National Famine Memorial commemorates the people of Ireland who died in the Great Irish Famine and is situated in Murrisk, County Mayo.
www.mayo-ireland.ie
Then on to Westport, picking up a section of the Wild Atlantic Way:
To be continued…..
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I hope you enjoyed the ride down by the Doo Lough Richard. The view after you round the left hand bend then crest the rise is one of the best on the island.
Is this the one you mean Aidan?
Day five, Wapping’s fánaíocht continued….
Westport behind us, we continued on, including some small roads, but all of which were in good nick.
One thing I do like on any Wander, is to see something out of the ordinary or just plain, different. We stopped, so that I could take a picture of a store-cum-bar-cum-petrol station:
Nothing so odd about that, you might think.
What it was though that caught my attention, was the very ‘brushed up’ church, in a small village:
I thought to myself, there has to be a reason for this and all the iconography:
Along with the pretty old graveyard and what appeared to be an old stone tower.
I wasn’t too far wrong. The village of Aghagower is very much connected with its religious past:
www.mayo-ireland.ie
Westport behind us, we continued on, including some small roads, but all of which were in good nick.
One thing I do like on any Wander, is to see something out of the ordinary or just plain, different. We stopped, so that I could take a picture of a store-cum-bar-cum-petrol station:
Nothing so odd about that, you might think.
What it was though that caught my attention, was the very ‘brushed up’ church, in a small village:
I thought to myself, there has to be a reason for this and all the iconography:
Along with the pretty old graveyard and what appeared to be an old stone tower.
I wasn’t too far wrong. The village of Aghagower is very much connected with its religious past:
Aughagower Co. Mayo, in the West of Ireland | mayo-ireland.ie
Overview of Aughagower Co. Mayo in the West of Ireland.
www.mayo-ireland.ie
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Day five, Wapping’s fánaíocht continued….
Our next and final stop was overlooking Lough Nafooey:
and from there back to the hotel.
A good day out and ending (naturally enough) with:
Our next and final stop was overlooking Lough Nafooey:
and from there back to the hotel.
A good day out and ending (naturally enough) with:
Last edited by a moderator:
Days six and seven
Time to go home in what was the best weather we’d seen since arriving:
Nothing too much to report from the two days, beyond a straight run to Dublin. Then getting snarled up getting off the ferry, along with some sort of traffic problem, meaning we were obliged to skip our booked hotel and instead check ourselves into a Travelodge. From there, motorways all the way back to London for me and Essex for Charlie.
All over.
A great week away!
Richard
Time to go home in what was the best weather we’d seen since arriving:
Nothing too much to report from the two days, beyond a straight run to Dublin. Then getting snarled up getting off the ferry, along with some sort of traffic problem, meaning we were obliged to skip our booked hotel and instead check ourselves into a Travelodge. From there, motorways all the way back to London for me and Essex for Charlie.
All over.
A great week away!
Richard
Glad you enjoyed our little Emerald rock in the Atlantic.
One and the same Marcus.
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