Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara

Another photogenic castle — Dunguaire — was our next stop on today’s drive. This 16th century tower house, complete with an intact bawn surrounding the grounds, has a true castle ambiance. Situated atop a rocky outcrop on Galway Bay it called out to be photographed.

The castle’s location right off N67 makes it a popular stop. Seeing the number of people buying tickets for the tour of the tower house, we decided to skip it. Instead, we went up the steps near the front entrance and walked the path that circumnavigates the bawn, enjoying views of the bay and the village of Kinvara.

Since it was such a lovely day, we backtracked a bit from the castle to check out the village next. The streets were quiet; the pubs still closed. We spoke with a few locals, took in the views along the harbor, and enjoyed the colorful flowers before getting back in the car to continue our drive.Read more