In the comments section on Laura’s latest book giveaway , Kar mentioned that she would love to see the Burren in Ireland. It seems Kar’s mother speaks of it in an almost mystical way. And well she should.
The Burren National Park is nestled in the northwest corner of County Clare, Republic of Ireland. Clare itself is located on the west coast of Ireland and, like its namesake our own Clare2e, is renowned for its sheer beauty and dramatic appeal. Clare is surrounded by Galway Bay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river, to the east.
The haunting landscape of the Burren is a rare karst limestone surface where alpine and Mediterranean plants rare to Ireland grow side by side. You can read all about it here.
Since we’re in the neighborhood, I thought you’d like to visit the Cliffs of Moher. This thirty
second You Tube posted by mgk84 offers a clear vision of the continuous grandeur of the Cliffs. A few years ago, I walked the Cliffs of Moher on a cold and rainy day. As the wind pushed me to and fro, I decided that none of my ancestors came to America on the coffin ships. They had only to stand atop the Cliffs of Moher and the wind would blow them straight across the Atlantic Ocean to New York harbor.
For more My Town Monday posts, please check in with Clair Dickson over at My Town Monday central.
***********************NEWS FLASH**************************
If you entered to win The Semantics of Murder by Aifric Campbell and Thursday NightWidows by Claudia Pineiro on Laura’s post earlier this week, she will be announcing the winner here later today, so come on back.
Terrie
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12 comments:
Oh how beautiful. I'll check out the linkies later, but for now I'm content with your description.
df Leah,
I am glad you appreciate the beauty. I hope you enjoy the links when you have the time to view them.
Terrie
Oh wow, I would so love to walk that ground.
Lovely pictures and links, Terrie, and aw shux, too.
The last time I spoke with my cousin, she was in the process of buying a house in Ireland. I intend to visit her, as well as this beautiful spot you've described.
Without a doubt, haunting landscape.
I'm back after visiting all the links, and feel like I really got my Irish on for the week! Great stuff. It's neat to see (as my friends said) that as popular as the Cliffs of Moher are, they haven't Disneyfied them a bit. Your safety is your problem, and they're so beautifully wild.
Charles,
There is a bit of the mystical about the Burren.
David,
I chose the word haunting because it was either that or "lunar" and haunting is more suited.
Clare,
Most of Ireland's cliffs have been left without rails of any kind. Dun Aengus in the Aran Islands is a terrifying straight drop, and when I was clinging to a rock wall along side the drop, I asked the lone young woman stationed there to answer any questions that a tourist might have, why there were no guard rails and she said, "Aye, not to worry. We haven't lost one yet, now have we?"
Not having learned my lesson, I climbed Dun Angus a second time a few years later and the drop was still formidable.
Elaine,
How nice to have a cousin with a house in Ireland.
Terrie
Outstanding post, Terrie! I've had the pleasure of visiting Ireland, and I stood at the same spot admiring the Cliffs of Moher. I can't wait to visit again. My great grandmother left there in late 1800s -- it was like I was being welcomed home.
Kathy,
Every time I go to Ireland it is like coming home. I know just what you mean.
Just lovely. Wish I were there right now.
Patti.
Someday!
Terrie
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