Monday
First off, Elaine thanks everybody for the birthday wishes. We celebrated over wine Sunday night sitting on the balcony. She got a lovely card (in Irish, of course) and a nice pair of earrings that I purchased from Gráinne at the Coach House before we left Dingle.
Weather forecast: lots of rain. Actual weather: mostly dry, quite a bit of sun, and the occasional shower. No complaints. In the morning we walked around the Salthill Promenade on Galway Bay. It was teeming with people yesterday, but, being a Monday, it was pretty quiet.
Click on the galleries below to bring up scrollable windows with full size pictures – the gallery previews may show just thumbnails of the pictures.
We have walked by an unimposing garden entrance along the way many times in the past. This time we wandered in. It’s called the Circle of Life Garden and is dedicated to organ donors from around the world. Behind the unimposing entrance gate lies a beautiful garden. Pictures describe it better than me. The link above explains the history better than me.
Then we walked along the shore into downtown Galway, about a 40 minute stroll. You enter downtown Galway near the famous Spanish Arch (where I forgot to take a picture). We walked around, popped in at St Augustine’s Church, and had lunch at McDonagh’s (famous for fish and chips – we had cod). Weary after the long walk in and fearing a heavy shower (that didn’t happen), we took a cab back to Salthill. We got another delightful Irishman with a good sense of humor for a driver. We had a beer at Killoran’s Pub and picked up a bottle of wine for dinner at Centra.
For dinner we decided to get pizzas to go from Da Roberta’s Restaurant right around the corner from the apartment. Then we changed our minds and instead went there to dine in. Excellent decision! Garlic bread and duck spring rolls to start. Elaine had vegetarian penne for her main, and I had a pepperoni pizza. I have low expectations for pizza in Europe. This one was truly excellent, and Elaine loved her main course. Some pictures in the restaurant and of the appetizers (I forgot to snap pictures of the mains). What looks like a pizza in the photos is the garlic bread (which was excellent too). Note the Sistine Chapel type ceiling.
Then it was home for a good-night wine on a chilly but dry balcony. And off to bed. Tomorrow we will be moving on to Tuam to meet some people who are potentially related to me. They will definitely NOT be Geoghegan’s. They are somehow connected to my grandmother, born in Tuam, whose maiden name was Flynn. We’ll see.
Me maternal Irish grandpa, Thomas Grady, was born in Tuam. Joe, we might be long lost cousins! We visited the little town when we stayed in Galway. I especially remember the magnificent St Mary’s Cathedral. I look forward to your Tuam newsletter.
Enjoy your Galway travels.
Nice stroll on the Salthill Promenade and what a beautiful tribute to organ donors at the Circle of Life Garden.
I think Elaine should have been in the “Hey Gorgeous” pic, but the Galway Girl looks a bit smitten with you! Are those Elaine’s very nice birthday earrings?
Very fancy ceiling at Da Roberta’s. The garlic bread looks delish. Pepperoni pizza, in Ireland? Again?
Can’t wait to hear about Nana Geoghegan’s connection to the folks in Tuam.
No, she wasn’t wearing the new earrings.
What a lovely place to enjoy a birthday! We will be at the Galway Bay Hotel in October for 2 nights, I just checked our itinerary!! LOL
Good luck checking out the Flynns, exciting for sure.
Beautiful tribute to organ donors and always love seeing the stained glass in the Irish churches. You certainly had a good birthday Elaine. Great thinking getting the earrings Joe. I agree with Sue, we think she is wearing them in the pic holding her wine glass, right?
Love this post gardens, good, church – cannot wait to hear how our Joey’s relatives treat their newfound cousin!!!
Enjoy all uour