I turned around while on the walking trail, I realized I was seeing a view of Croagh Patrick in the distance. 

October 1st ~ The first full day in Westport started with a one-mile walk to downton.

The Westport Walking Trail was beautiful, and when I turned around after going through this tunnel, I realized that we could see Croagh Patrick in the distance.  Croagh Patrick (Holy Mountain) is 2,507 feet high and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland.  Many people take on the challenge of climbing Croagh Patrick as a way of growing closer to God.  Saint Patrick is said to have fasted on the mountain for 40 days in the fifth century AD.  It's also the site of pagan pilgrimage for the summer soltice.  Thousands of people climb the mountain every Reek Sunday, which is the last sunday in July.

The town of Westport is wonderful for walking around and looking for interesting shops to visit.  Liz and I decided to sit near the Westport Bridge and do some sketching.  It was a gorgeous day, around mid-sixties.  Jim took off to brouse through one of the book stores.  Later, we found an Internet Cafe where I was able to post some photos on Facebook.

Later that evening we took a walk down by the harbour and stopped by The Towers Pub for a Guinness.

Beautiful day sitting and sketching the Westport Bridge

That's Me in Ireland!

At The Towers Pub on the Westport Harbour

October 2nd ~ Achill island was, by far, the favorite of mine.  The scenic views of Ireland along the Atlantic Way were everything you could hope to see on your first visit to Ireland.  The Atlantic Ocean on the Ireland side will forever remain in my memory.  The force and ferocity of the sea was an invitation to get out of the car and walk up close to it.  The wind was whipping around us as we made our way across the beach.  Jim and Liz started collecting seashells and I was able to capture the moment.  (That small dot of to the right is a woman who braved a swim.)

The Shell Seekers

Magnificent!

Sheep on top of Achill Island.  I've heard two different reasons the backs of sheep are dyed.  One is that the local farmers mark them to identify their herd, and two, so they can tell which of the ewes are expected to lamb in the spring.

"For many years people lived in the village and then in 1845 Famine struck in Achill as it did in the rest of Ireland. Most of the families moved to the nearby village of Dooagh, which is beside the sea, while some others emigrated. Living beside the sea meant that fish and shellfish could be used for food. The village was completely abandoned which is where the name 'Deserted Village' came from."