On June 11th, our group set out with a local from the island, Inishmore, for a bus tour of the area. We went over the vast farmlands and observed 3,000 miles worth of old stone walls built by farmers to mark their pastures. I spotted tourists biking along the winding roads and locals walking their children to school in the early morning. Our tour guide Gerald remarked that basically all the island’s 750 people population spoke the native language of Ireland, Irish Gaelic. Despite the small number of school children who live on the island year-round, (only 50 in the high school), Inishmore is a very popular spot to send children from the mainland to better learn the language. We stopped to see the Seven Churches, a monastic site with many ruins and ancient stone buildings. The site only contained two remaining church ruins. Later on our tour, we observed a rocky beach where two seals were resting on the shore. Someone spotted sharks just below the surface near the seals, but we were informed that the sharks were harmless against them and were not predators to the seals.
After our bus tour, the group drove to Dún Aonghasa which is an old stone fort which sits upon the edge of a cliffside overlooking the Atlantic. We had a bit of a walk up to the cliffside, but thoroughly enjoyed the sights as we went. After our walk we had some free time to explore the small shopping center and food trucks that sat right below the trail. Many students found small knick-knacks and even some wool items made on the Aran Islands. This trip mixed a perfect blend of beautiful landscapes and fun activities.
After our two excursions for the day the group had some free time in the afternoon. Some people chose to stay at the glamping site, taking advantage of the sauna or walking on the Blue Flag beaches. It allowed us to appreciate the beauty of the island up close during our final evening in the area.
We finished off the night all together with a dinner out at one of the few restaurants in Inishmore. Our last day on the island off Ireland was packed with activities in a wide range of fields. I especially appreciated this day because I was able to spend time doing all the activities I wanted to, taking a nature walk, learning about the rich culture of the island, and taking some time to shop. This was one of my favorite days on our trip so far and I hope to treasure the memories I made here for many years to come. The sights on this island are unforgettable and the closely held value of the Irish language is something I deeply respect about the people who live here.