FUN-travel Ireland: Galway Day 3 & 4
October 3, 2011 by Susan Clarke
Day 12 – Saturday, September 24 – Galway – Oyster Festival – windy, cloudy, cool, turning warm & sunny
- 1st stop – 10:45 Meyrick hotel – (told by Michael to be there by 11:00 as there will be a surprise)
- 11:30 Festivities start & surprise is Michael is Emcee of the event – WRTC2BSL!
- Oyster Queen & her court of 2 young girls open the event w/mayor of Galway
- 11:45 – parade start & consists of – N. Ireland Friendship band – local school band of children playing flutes & drums and shaking pom poms – too cute! – oyster shucking contenders carrying their country flags, stilt walkers in colorful dragon like costumes & 2 very old cars
- Delightful walk thru town with parade to Oyster Festival (feels like the good old days, no barricades, no police)
- Arrive Oyster Festival Tent – Included in 80 Euro pp – a Guinness, half dozen oysters, cold seafood platter
- Festivities include an Irish band on stage – then Irish dancers perform – then the 16 countries vying for Oyster Shucker Champion tape up their hands
- After 3 qualifying rounds winners are announced & Xavier from Belgium wins the triple crown! Best in time, best in plated presentation, & overall winner (shucks 30 oysters in 3:45 minutes)
- Best weather we’ve had so far (or I’m just getting used to it) so go outside – at picnic table meet woman from Scotland, woman from Belfast & man from UK – have lovely chat – approached by German TV newswoman who wants to film us – asks why we are here & if we like oysters – #1 answer is “we’re here for the craic” & don’t really like oysters
- Take break at 5 pm – walk in town & have Pub stop for Guinness & Bailey’s/coffee
- FUN-food – Martine’s – Thai style mussels w/lemongrass, rack of lamb w/au gratin potatoes, more Bailey’s & Coffee & Irish Coffee
FF (FUN-fact) – The Irish are addicted to their Craic – pronounced “crack” a term meaning fun, entertainment, and enjoyable conversation
Day 13 – Sunday, September 25 – Galway to Connemara – windy, breezy, partly sunny (feels warmer)
- After breakfast take short drive up to Connemara
- 1st stop – Quiet Man Bridge (1951 John Wayne & Maureen O’hara filmed here)
- 2nd stop – Oughterard for cappuccino @ The Bistro
- Back to room for nice nap
- Walk to dinner at Galway Country Club (fish & chips, stuffed mushrooms, baked brie – mediocre) because it’s on the way to see Trad on the Prom – 2 hour Riverdance show – VG!
- Shortly before leaving feeling very hot & sick
- Walk home in cool breeze & still feel ill
Not so FF – have never been so sick in my entire adult life! Best guess is tartar sauce! We ate the exact same thing (since we always share) and Chris didn’t eat that