It Was Time to Say Goodbye

It was Friday early morning, July 14, 2017.

It was time to leave this beautiful resort and the great people we met while touring together.

Everyone was moving on in different directions. We were being driven to Ennis to catch a train to Galway. 

This was our train, so we thought...

One direction goes to Galway the other to Limerick. 

We discovered about 15 to 20 minutes into the ride that we were going to Limerick instead of Galway. GEEZ!!!

We got off at the next stop which was just a minute further.

It wasn't a station.

It was the Nine Mile Bridge stop, a sheltered stop, but just a stop!

There was a shelter, a nice long bench and  a schedule. 

That schedule was not our friend for it was the bearer of bad news...two hours+ before the next train from Limerick to Ennis. And then another near two hour wait from Ennis to Galway!

There went our early arrival in Galway!

It was a bit chilly and my husband was just thrilled to be stuck, for what felt like, forever.

Here comes a train, but not ours.

It was also going to Limerick.

It occupied a few moments as a photo op!

The Gaelic language is amusing to me...this photo  amused me for a moment.

Flowers to photograph helped pass a few minutes!

No, I wasn't pulling off petals for each minute 🌺

We had fully flexible tickets so we only needed to purchase a ticket back to Ennis. The fully flexible tickets were good the rest of the way.

So, we bought the ticket from the machine on the platform. We used up a few minutes taking care of ticket business😊

Another distraction...I like signs!

What a glorious sight! Here comes our train! 

Right on time!

Yay! Back to Ennis!

Ennis!

We got a coffee and waited.

And, here comes our train!

We were finally on our way to Galway!

What a day but we laugh about it so all is well. 

Our first late afternoon and evening in Galway was perfect!

No more problems!

Preacher's Pub

We couldn't resist stopping in the "Preacher's Pub. After all, a Preacher's Pub isn't exactly found in every town!

 

It was quiet during the mid-afternoon.

Windows and Bottles

We walked in, looked around and walked out. We will definitely stay longer if ever we find ourselves in Ennis again.

I Stop to Shoot

Whiskey in the Window

Fidget Spinners

I'll have to bring a few home for my young grandsons. I'll think about that🤔

Barber Shop

Friendly Conversation

This is a large poster on a window but I haven't a clue what it means. It makes me smile, though! Cute kid!

Shades of Blue

I think of green when I think of Ireland until I look for blue...

River Fergus

The River Fergus is a river within the Shannon River Valley which flows in County Clare, Ireland. It rises in Loughnagowan which lies a few kilometers west of Corofin and flows into the Shannon Estuary. It is noted for its trout and salmon fishing. Trummer is an island in the river. There are six bridges crossing it in Ennis alone.

One of the six pretty bridges crossing the 

River Fergus.

Someone said the restaurant across the river was very nice for lunch. What's not to love about riverside dining!

The Ennis Friary towers above the rooftops beside the river.

A second bridge of six lead us to a very nice restaurant, the Rowan Tree Cafe Bar, on the other side of the river.

A view of some nice reflections from the bridge after lunch.

Street Art

We found an interesting wall of street art while walking around the streets of Ennis.

Weathered Woman

The "Weathered Woman" is my favorite sculpture on the Sculpture Trail through Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. To me, she is the epitome of the very hard times of Ireland's history.

The Weathered Woman sits on a bench large enough for a friend to visit.

Centurial Sphere

The Centurial Sphere 

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Uprising.

1916 - the Easter Uprising took place in Dublin in April of that year and was the beginning of the end of 750 years of British rule for most of Ireland.

The Sphere carries lines from poems and songs about and from different parts of County Clare celebrating the county's cultural tradition, a tradition cherished by the men and women of 1916.

My personal favorite is the line that reads, "It's a long long way from Clare to here."

The Centurial Sphere sits on the banks of the River Fergus and across the street from the Ennis Friary.

Ennis Friary

Ennis Friary is also known as Ennis Abbey. 

When you walk sroubd what is left of the Friary, it is hard to get a sense of its original scale. Records show that in 1375 it was the home and workplace of 350 friers and 600 students. Founded in 1241, this Franciscan Abbey was a famous seat of learning in medieval times, making Ennis a focal point of Western Europe for many years. It was finally forced to close in 1692, and thereafter fell into ruin. However, it has been partly restored and contains many beautifully sculpted medieval tombs, decorative fragments and carvings.

-Frommer's-

Ennis' Colors

Ennis' Colors in the Center City

(mostly O'Connell Street and Abbey Street)

Blue! O'Connell Square

Dan O'Connell's Pub

Dan O'Connell's Pub

Abbey Street

Abbey Street

The Daniel O'Connell Monument seems to be a perch for seagulls!

Ennis Buskers

Ennis, County Clare, Ireland
It was a beautiful sunny day for exploring Ennis and we found a few very talented street performers (buskers).

Bagpiper 

This young girl is a very talented harpist!

And, a friendly fiddle player!