Sunday, June 25, 2023

We’re exhausted after our big Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher tour yesterday, but we manage to get ourselves up at a decent time. We pack up, enjoy another delicious breakfast prepared by Ronnie (but I opt for tea instead of coffee this time), and set out for a few last hours of exploring Galway before our train to Dublin.

There are a few markets going on today, so of course we explore those. Then we peruse and make some purchases from one of the many sweater and weavers’ shops and and get matching Claddagh rings. It’s cheesy and touristy, but I am cheesy and touristy, I can’t help it. Also, if you’re going to get a Claddagh ring, I figure Galway is the best place to do it. It’s where they originated—well, technically, they’re from the Claddagh neighborhood south of the River Corrib, which used to be its own town.

There are many legends and stories around the Claddagh symbol—two hands holding a heart with a crown on top—but apparently the clearest one has to do with a man named Richard Joyce, who was captured and enslaved on a trip to the West Indies in the 1600s. His enslaver, a goldsmith, trained him in the craft, and Joyce eventually returned to Galway with this Claddagh design he had cooked up while in captivity. Apparently, according to Jerry during the tour yesterday, Joyce’s captor had a daughter that he wanted Joyce to marry, but Joyce already had a sweetheart back in Ireland. When he returned, he made and gave her the ring, and they married. Joyce then became successful in his business and, along with others in the area, started selling the rings that became known as “Claddagh rings,” and eventually they achieved popularity across Ireland and with people of Irish descent all over the world.

We make it to the train station early (early!) and get settled into our seats. We depart, and Galway slowly fades behind us. Slán, Gaillimh!

The train ride is smooth and quick, with lots of green fields and sheep visible out the windows. We arrive in Dublin and chaotically make our way to the office where we pick up keys for our little apartment near St. Stephen’s Green. It’s small, but it has everything we need, including instant coffee. Yes. Simple. I like it. I lie down for a quick nap and absolutely pass out. I decide to call the day over, basically, except for dinner at a lovely little restaurant called Sussex and a trip to Spar for some groceries. Another big day tour tomorrow for a bucket list item: kissing the Blarney Stone!