Sounds a bit like one of those obscure dishes in fancy restaurants that you hope is worth it (e.g. the “Chocolate, olive oil, salt” at Dehesa, or the anchovy and butter pintxo I had tonight), but no: here’s a photodump of where we went August 16-28.

Lough Gur, the Grange stone circle, and our friendly local fox in Bunratty. Grange is the largest stone circle in Ireland, and its entrance is aligned with the rising sun at the summer solstice. People apparently leave small tokens (offerings, perhaps?) on one of the stones. The nearby tree with ribbons and string tied around its branches looks like a hawthorn, to me.

More amazing weather, on both days - I got mildly sunburnt at the Cliffs. We went to The Burren to break up the journey after leaving Bunratty (and because heading straight up the motorway to Galway would have got us there far before we were supposed to check in. Google Maps led us down what was probably the most direct route, although it involved some of the smallest roads I’ve ever driven on, with big hedges and dry-stone walls on each side so that it’s impossible to see whether there’s somebody hurtling towards you just around the next bend. It did, however, lead us through beautiful scenery and straight to the place where the walking trail leaves the road. There’s enough space there for a few cars to park, which saves a good 1 km or so of walking each way from the official car park.