Fishing at Tang

Wanted to go for some activities this time instead of just seeing some places. Found out a place for fishing after a lot of searches and phone calls. It was at a place called Tang, around 20KM from Athlone. One day before we went there to check the place and booked two boats. Next day with all preparations we six reached there in the morning. An old man was running it as a part time business there. He gave as two boats, life jackets, gears & prey for fishing. With lot of excitement & thrill we started our fishing. Till evening we spent there with the boats, had the food in between,which we were carrying. But didnt get even a single fish :) none of us were neither experts in fishing nor has the patience. So we just enjoyed the boating and it was a great fun.

The weather was good, it was getting cloudy at times but did not rain. Overall it was a good experience and a must go.

Cliffs of Moher

The second time I am seeing this place (first visit). This time the weather was too good, it was a sunny day and the sky was very clear & blue. Cliffs of Moher is listed in the top 28 in the global online campaign for the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Final list will be selected on 11.11.11.

Morning 9.30 we started and by evening 5.30 we came back. It was about 150KM drive one way.

Cliffs of Moher. 

we can walk all the way till the end, its a good experience

Wicklow

I will call it as Irish Vagamon, wicklow is a hilly area near Dublin City. Many roads & places are very similar to Vagamon in Kerala (well somewhat...). On the way we visited Bray beach and Powerscourt waterfall, which is considered as the tallest waterfall in Ireland. But I found its very small compared to Hogenakkal waterfalls & Athirapally waterfalls.

It was a very sunny day and so we could see lot of tourists all over places. We spent the night in Dublin city and visited Kildare village while returning on the next day. It is a shopping area where you can find many factory outlets and the prices are very cheap too.

                         Bray Beach

 

                                                        Powerscourt waterfall

Wicklow National Park

Starting from Athlone (A) our Route map...

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Donegal & Sligo

Was wondering where to go this time and finally selected Donegal. As usual this too was a weekend trip with some of my friends & in a car. Donegal is the north most part of Republic Ireland and is a wonderful county (County~State in India). You can say its the end of Europe, cross the Atlantic and you will reach USA. Donegal is around 200Km from Athlone. On the way we visited Sligo too.

Driven a Volkswagen Golf for the first time, its an amazing car. Though its a hatchback I could see 9 airbags in it, only when I started feeling the power of the engine I understood why its required :)

In Ireland not you or your camera can produce great photos unless the weather allows you to do so, in this trip I was lucky with the weather for 50% of the time. Here are some photos,

Pebble beach, Donegal

 

Arranmore island, they say in 1980s many Irish have left this shore for US. 

Driving is an Art, so is Parking.

Paddy's Day

Again this year for St.Patrick's day we travelled 120km to Dublin to see the parade. This time the parade was short compare to last year's. It started around 12.45 and lasts for about an hour. Almost a million people is said to be visiting Dublin city to see the parade. Here are some of photos from the crowded Dublin city on paddy's day...

    

   

Welcome 2011

Walked around the Shanon river again (previous walk), this time in the evening.
Shanon is a famous river in Ireland, flows through Athlone...

St. Patrick's Day

Its one of the biggest celebration in Ireland, we went to Dublin the capital to see the parade. Here are some photos....