When I started this vacation, one of the first things Des told me was, "Don't count on the weather but don't ever give up on it either."  Today was one of those days.   Months and months of reading, studying, and planning were finally coming into fruition.  Today was a very special day.  Today was the day I would finally see Europe's tallest sea cliffs, Slieve League.  But there was one little catch:  I needed the weather to be clear with no wind.  On the northwestern coast of this island, that was a tall order and odds were against me.   The four of us ~~ me, Catherine, Leigh Ann, and Des ~~ were to drive to the village of Carrick and take Teelin Road down to the Teelin Harbour.   There we would meet up with Paddy (Des had called ahead) and his small fishing boat for a ride out of the harbour and into the Atlantic Ocean.  We were to follow the rugged coastline until we reached the windswept cliffs known as Slieve League for an up-close and personal look.   So now you can understand why I was fervently praying for no rain and wind puhleez!!

As is so common in Ireland, the morning started off overcast with drizzling rain, but I wasn't "giving up" on the weather and continued to be optimistic.  This was going to be a busy, busy day with much to see.   Our first stop was to be Killybegs, the most productive fishing port in the entire country.  After about an hour of traveling along the country roads, the low-hanging clouds began to lift and the blue sky came shining through.   Thank you, Jesus.  It was going to be a glorious day!   Upon arrival in Killybegs, I wanted to know, "Where are the fish?"  No one in our group had thought to phone ahead to find out the arrival and departure schedule of these boats ~ excuse me ~ not just fishing boats but rather ships with every high-tech gadget and first-class piece of equipment available to the modern fisherman.   I am familiar with large recreational fishing boats that are used in the Gulf of Mexico, but I have never seen anything like this.   I am guessing there were probably fifty or more of these Irish-registered fishing trawlers in the harbour on this particular day.  Someone has some money, I can tell you that!   Not a one of them would sell for less than a million dollars and many were probably in the five-million-dollar range.  Interesting.  This is surely one spot in Ireland that is actually in the 21st century, for sure!   Although there were no deckhands in waders, no smelly, flopping fish, and no fishguts being slung every which way,  I still enjoyed walking around the harbour area, admiring the first-class fishing trawlers.  Each ship was clean and scrubbed to a shiny finish and in perfect repair, just waiting her turn at the unforgiving Atlantic Ocean.  As I milled in and out and around the different boat docks and piers, I thought to myself, "Jerry (my husband) sure would enjoy seeing this.  He just thinks he's seen a fishing boat!"

After leaving Killybegs, we had several hours until our scheduled boat ride to the cliffs.  Des decided we should take the short ride down to the beautiful sea-side village of Glencolumbkille.   Sounds good to me ~ let's go!

Exhaustion hit us today(maybe to do with a night of drinking), and we all over slept and held the bus up.  I think the older people were getting tired of us always being late..  but they left so early!  We drove through the Finn Valley and stopped for a look at the river.  The next stop was Donegal Tweeds.  They gave us some time to look around and shop.  I wasn't that interested..  

Our next stop was in Killybegs.  It is a quaint fishing village with the largest port in Ireland.  We took some pictures and got some snacks.. and of course got back on the bus...

     Today was the day I had been dreading; the day I had to put the car back on the ferry. It was a normal ferry day, I made everyone get up super early so I could be first in line at the dock. Evidently everyone who was leaving that day had the same plan though cause when we got there we were the third car in line. I swear it was a  different ferry because I didn't have nearly as much trouble getting the car on this day as I had the previous day. I mean I had the car on the ferry in like 10-15 minutes as oposessed to 45 AND I had to back in amongst 2 other cars!! I was tough to leave the lighthouse; it was so peaceful and isolated there. I would stay there again in a heartbeat.

     We did a ton of driving and stopping for picture taking today and again the scenery was breathtaking. I know I say that all the time but if you've ever been to Ireland you know what I mean and if you're planning on going you will. We drove past Rosses Bay, Tory Sound, Foreland Heights and the Bloody Foreland. We found a little dirt road down to Rosses Sound. We spent alot of time there and when you see the pictures you'll know why. Next it was on to Magheraroarty Beach. I guess I can add beaches to the list of our obsessions of sunsets, castles, and lighthouses cause if we saw any sign that said beach or mar we were there.

     Our next stop was Glenveagh Castle and National Park, what a great place. The castle was originally owend by John Adair; the notorious landlord who evicted many Irish families after the famine. It was built in 1807, and it's last owner was an art dealer from Pennsylvania, which we found to be pretty cool. After we toured the castle we walked around the gardens and surprisingly the floweres were still in bloom.

     We drove thru the Burren on our way to Killybegs and it felt like we were on another planet. There were big areas of limestone everywhere; it was an oddly beautiful place. We made it into Killybegs to the Oceanview B and B, which will forever remain in our memories for a reason that will be discussed later, just in time to see sunset!