A plus of our carriage rental was the round-trip fare. Upon arrival, our driver waited for us with no time restrictions.
At the foot of the hill-top ruin was a pleasant gravel paved courtyard with low slung, metal roofed venues. The cafe serving local fare and shops of local handcrafts.
We stopped for lunch and a present for my son, a sweather purchased from the woman who knitted it.
We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, shopped for presents, and began our approach to Dun Aonghus, a half mile of gentle incline on a well maintained foot path.
The view is looking southwest from the path leading to Dun Aonghasa in springtime. We see here dry stone wall of limestone laid in a pattern suggestive of herringbone, splotches of orange lichen mark the stones. Against the wall is growing a variety of plants. The prominent white flowers are Greater Burnet saxifrage (Scientific Name: Pimpinella major) (Irish Name: Coll an dromáin). Beneath are leaves of Wild Strawberry (Scientific Name: Fragaria vesca) (Irish Name: Sú talún fiáin) as well as fern and grass. Beyond the wall is karst landscape rising to the ridge. Above the ridge, storm clouds gather. Inishmore, Aran Islands, County Galway, Ireland.
I think I read somewhere that half of the fort has fallen into the sea, or maybe its another ancient fort on a Gallway island. Coastal erosion is not a new thing!
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 
Was this a recent trip?
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May/June 2013
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Sounds like a relaxing day.
Plus you received all the knowledge from your carriage person.
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Yes, so true.
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I think I read somewhere that half of the fort has fallen into the sea, or maybe its another ancient fort on a Gallway island. Coastal erosion is not a new thing!
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At least half….in antiquity the fort was intact, 1,000 feet from the cliff. Atlantic storms punish the southern coast.
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Love this photo of your approach to this historical site, Michael.
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thanks!!
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Big Michael you strike again
i hope you will spent a lovely week end see ya soon
Gianmarco 🖐
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Happy Sunday, Gianmarco
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Happy sunday to you my dear friend I stay in Hospital right now i’ll back at home next week see ya my dear friend 🙋
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Michael, thank you for sharing your memories from this trip. It looks like the weather cooperated as well.
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Dear BigSkyBuckeye,
Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad the shared memories resonated, and yes, the weather was indeed on our side.
Best, Michael
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