Féile na GCurach – The Currach Festival

August 10th – 12th, Inis Oírr (Inisheer)

There will be many more than one set of footprints on the beach of Inis Oírr this weekend as it’s the annual Féile na gCurach and Children’s Sports day on the island. Children young and old will be participating in various sporting events such as high jumping, weight lifting, tug of war, and currach racing. Take a break from the big leagues and come out to see Inis Oírr’s own Olympics!
Children’s sporting events will take place on Saturday. Adult sporting events will take place on Sunday followed by Currach racing on the beach.

Featured Photograph of this blog is the artistry of the late Bill Doyle. Why not stop into the Áras Éanna’s Summer Exhibition on Inis Oírr while your there to learn more about the award winning photographer. Áras Éanna Summer Exhibition, Bill Doyle.

To book a journey to Inis Oírr see here

Special Sailing to Inishmore

Aran Islands, Inis Mór

August 4^th 2012

This August Bank Holiday Weekend should be an exciting one on The Aran Islands.  The Cliff Diving Competition is taking place on Saturday, August 4th on Inis Mór.  To accommodate the fans who will be heading out to see this thrill seeking challenge or  those who just want to soak in the atmosphere, we will have special sailings to/from Inis Mór.

The Serpents Lair (Poil na Peist) is the Challenge set out for the divers.  The Serpents lair is a “blowhole” or outlet for the numerous subterranean caverns below the rocky surfaces of Inis Mór.  As high tides approach Poil na Peist propels water out of its almost-perfect rectangular shape, which in itself is another example of the fascinating and inexplicable wonders of nature that are found on The Aran Islands.

As for the brave (or mad depending on how you see your pint glass) 14 Divers who are taking the 27 Metre Dive, they will have about 3 seconds in the air to perfect their form while falling at about 100km/hr.  Best of luck to them!

See here for more information & bookings

  Special Sailings

 

Departs Doolin @
9:30am, 10:00am, 1:00pm

Departs Inis Mór @ 4:00pm
& 7:30pm

Dusty the Doolin Dolphin

Dusty is a female bottle nosed dolphin believed to be about 13 years of age.  She recently frolicked her way to Doolin Pier and has been fascinating visitors and villagers alike.  She especially loves to race along side the ferries to the Cliffs of Moher, often winning.

Dusty is an extremely sociable dolphin and is highly interactive with people.  If you are one of the lucky one’s you can step down Doolin Pier and she may allow you to give her a pet!

These children are enjoying a swim on a lovely summer’s day along side Dusty.  Lucky Kids!

The Arrival of the Volvo Ocean Race 2012



Photo Courtesy of Irelands Hidden Gems

The crowds were out in full swing in the wee hours of the morning to welcome the Volvo Ocean Race vessels into the Galway Doc’s.  We were honoured to have the Press aboard the M.V. Queen of Aran to get front row views!

Tranquility

Boreen's on Inisheer

No matter how many visitors are on the island on any particular day you can always manage to find a place where you are ostensibly alone.  It could be on a charming boreen between two carefully raised stone walls, or on a stretch of beach covered in oval stones that have been shaped by the seas where the Atlantic meets Galway Bay.
But rest assured when you turn the corner of that boreen, reach the end of that stony shore, or poke your head over that stone wall, you will realize you were never really alone at all.

Dusk at Doolin Pier

 

After an arduous day of passengers being ferried to and fro the Aran Islands you can finally enjoy a quiet moment on Doolin Pier.  It is a much different scene in comparison to the hustle & tussle of the morning as passengers scramble in for their tickets.  Watching the sun sink behind Inis Oírr is a welcomed and rewarding sight after some very long summer days in Doolin.