Christina's Equestrian Vacation in Ireland
June 29 - July 5, 2009
Connemara Region
(Atlantic coast of Ireland)
Bertraghboy Bay - near the start of
riding adventure
Views along the coastal trail near the small town of Carna, where we stayed three nights. The Connemara region is a wild and barren region northwest of Galway City. It's a
stunning patchwork of horse-swallowing bogs (more on that later), lonely valleys, green grassy mountains that appear pale gray in the distance by the prolific amount of rocks ,
and small lakes that shimmer when the sun shines. We rode where the coast meets the sea in a maze of rocky islands and  inlets. Riding along the coast and through water
from small island to small island, our group was completely alone for miles and miles. The water was emerald green and incredibly clear.
At the beach just beyond
our bed & breakfast (we had
12 people in our group
including me - 2 others from  
the US, 4 from Italy, 2 from
England, and 3 from Ireland
(2 of which were transplants
- 1 from England and 1 from
Germany). The dogs are the
B&B owner's dogs.
Random signs that caught my interest...
I stayed the first two nights and last night of my trip at Hotel Meyrick in Galway City Centre, pictured top left. It borders a
large park called Eyre Square. The hotel has a hot tub on the top floor overlooking Galway Bay (middle picture). Top
right is a view of a small marina.
Long Walk Road, lined with very colorful painted buildings, River Corrib through centre, and bustling streets - pedestrians
only.
Galway Cathedral Church on River Corrib. And here I am with Galway Bay in the background.
Spanish Arches that Christopher Columbus had made a stop at during his voyage. A diving beach - watch out for the rocks -
the cold water - and maybe the current? The scene at Salthill - a fun family - oriented community west of Galway City. Salthill
has swimming beaches, the diving beach, and an amusement park.
The horses have to be rounded up from a large pasture.
Getting the tack from the "tack room". My horse for the majority of the trip - Gillidad. I suspect he's a thoroughbred cross. A
ruin/tack room used for the first day.
More riding along the coast!
We stayed at the Teach na Tra B&B (Beach House B&B) in Carna on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights, Peacock's Hotel in Maam Cross on
Thursday night, Wellfield House B&B in Oughterard on Friday night, and Hotel Meyrick in Galway City Centre on Saturday night.
Pictures of me. Left and middle - riding along the coast. Far right is the last day at the Equestrian Center, before going
cross-country riding.
More scenery. Photo on the right in one of our guides, Jackie, closing the "gate" - yes, the "fences" and "gates" are
rocks.
Cows and sheep are everywhere! Terrain is the more difficult I have ever ridden. Large boulders, slippery rock slabs,
small rock clusters, all with hoof sucking bog in between. Always up and down a mountain. There is no path. Our guide
just finds a way through. This is the owner/main guide's 40 year - he knows what he is doing...
Another "tack room"...
Because of the rock/bog combinations, horses were constantly losing shoes.
My horse lost 3 shoes during the week, that had to be replaced. Willie
Leahy, our guide and owner of the trekking company was also a farrier. I'm
pretty sure my horse Gillidad's shoes were sucked off his feet entirely
because of the bog. One of which was when he was swallowed up to his belly
and flung himself backwards to get his front-end up. I pushed myself off so I
wouldn't get hurt by him flaying about.. Luckily I didn't get hurt. But It was a
miserable day for me - I wanted to go home! I was stuck out in the wilderness
for hours not knowing if or my horse would make it out alive. I can add it to
the top three of my list of times that I felt I was truly in danger. This one was
on top for the longest period of time that I feared for my safety! One of the
Italian gentleman's horses got sucked in also and he fell off as well. I was so
distraught though that Willie had me ride his trusty Connemara pony, which
did calm my nerves. Willie said at the end that the bog had never been so
bad.
Our guide Jackie preparing lunch
on the trail - which consisted on
ham on white or wheat bread,
lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese,
oranges, bananas, cookies called
"digestives" - the name freaked
me out a bit, but they were good -
they also came covered in
chocolate, rice cakes, water, tea,
instant coffee, and, oh yes,
moonshine that you mixed with
hot water and sugar. I didn't drink
that but on the last day we did
have hot port wine, which was
very good.
My roommate Nicola. There are three
horses (in the two horse trailer). It's
pulled by a land-rover.
Starting a day of riding by crossing a
large creek and climbing up a hill.
Complete Ireland Photo Album (92 pictures) is located on Christina's Facebook site
(go to public view link)