Irish Gap Year on the Road Along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Irish Gap Year are at it again! Another week and another amazing trip around the Emerald Isle. First stop Croagh Patrick in County Mayo. Croagh Patrick is a 2,507 ft Mountain and an important site of pilgrimage in Ireland. It is climbed by pilgrims on Reek Sunday every year, which is the last Sunday in July and most will attempt the ascent barefoot!! Not surprisingly our adventurous gappers were not so inclined!!
The weather was also another deciding factor, with it snowing on the ascent, much to the delight of our Californian, Katherine, who once kept a snowball in her freezer for 6 years!! Needless to say it was a tough day at the office for our gappers, but definitely worth every minute.
Cliffs of Moher
After a cosy night in the Doolin Hostel our gappers got on the trail again and hiked to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher. Standing 214m (702 feet) at their highest point they stretch for 8 kilometres (5 miles) along the Atlantic coast of County Clare. From the Cliffs of Moher on a clear day you can see the Aran 
Islands and Galway Bay, as well as the Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk mountains in Connemara. You can also see Loop Head to the south and the Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Islands in Kerry. What a panoramic view!! The magnificent views were a great place to stop for a spot of lunch.
Although getting too 
close to the edge saw us nearly lose Liam, but the gang worked together to pull him to safety! 😉
O’Brien’s Tower built 1835 but the descendants of Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, stands near the highest point and has served as a viewing point for visitors for hundreds of years.
Aillwee Caves
Next on our list of things to do and places to see…… The Aillwee Caves and while we were at it a little Birds of Prey flying, sure why not?!?
The oldest cave system in Ireland consists of over a kilometre of passages leading into the heart of the mountain. It includes an underground river and a waterfall as well as some large stalactites and stalagmites. 
The remains of bears can also be seen inside the caves and allusions have been made to it being the last bear den in Ireland. Lucky for our gappers bears are extinct!!
After this amazing tour our gappers emerged into the blinding daylight to the excitement of flying birds of prey. What a way to end another amazing adventure!
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