Day 5 - Coole Park and Gort

Lahinch to Coole Park in Gort

I thought I had better start doing some tourist stuff today, so I consulted my family here, and Marie suggested Coole Park in Gort. It was about an hour away and not too hard, so that was on the agenda for today.

Just as well I enjoyed a bit of a sleep in today, as I will be up very early tomorrow for the big game.

I eventually got on the road about 11am. Pat had warned me about the traffic in Ennistymon across the bridge, as school got out at 1.30pm. And the traffic would bank up about 4pm again, and sure enough, when I came home today, the traffic was banked up for over a kilometer, just trying to get around that dodgy corner in Ennistymon.

Anyway, I left early enough and luckily avoided the traffic. I had a careful look at my route and decided which times I would ignore the GPS and stay on the main roads. Pat gave me a bit of local advice, and I basically stayed where I wanted to, and avoided the dinky little lanes - until the way home!!!  But that's another story!!

One little drama that coloured my day a bit, happened when I went in to fill up with petrol. Found a service station along the way and the price was 169.9  - that's Euros, and they are roughly twice the AUD, Our petrol when I left Perth was about $1.72, so petrol over here is nearly double what we pay in Oz!!!

Apart from the economics though....when I went to pay with the card that I thought I had sorted yesterday, my card was declined!!! I didn't even get to the pin number stage!! Since I've come home and checked the website, it seems there is nothing wrong with my card!!!! All a bit too hard for me! I'll try using it again tomorrow.....

So, after those little dramas, I navigated successfully to Coole Park. 

Apart from it's natural beauty, it is famous for its association with Lady Gregory, who in turn was associated with many famous writers and poets, including WB Yeats. She also co-founded the Abbey theatre in Dublin. 

Lady Gregory

There was a tea rooms and  visitor's centre on site and the woods were lovely.

Tea rooms

Coole Park

Coole Park

WB Yeats

The display was quite interesting and told the story quite well. On the way home I listened to a video with Miriam Margoyles and someone else (can't remember) and they filled in all the gossipy bits about Lady Gregory - seems she was quite a girl!!! It's on RTE so I'm not sure if you can watch in Oz???

Anyway, I went for a walk outside, where you could see the autograph tree, where she used to get all the writers to leave their autographs in a special tree.

Replica of the autograph tree

Walled Garden

The Woods

Coole House

So that was my excursion for the day.

On the way that devilish little GMaps got me again and took me on a bypass of Ennis, but I ended up going through these little narrow lanes where a car had to back up so we could pass....

All part of the adventure I suppose!!

Stopped in Lahinch on the way home to soothe my soul...

First a look at the ocean - how beautiful it was

Wild Atlantic Way

Wild Atlantic Way

Then I managed to get my coffee at Val's...which was really enjoyable after my thrilling drive home!!!

So, it's been an eventful day... but me no complain. Sometimes I just look around and can't believe I'm in Ireland again.

How blessed I am!