On the northeast tip of the island of Ireland lies a geologic formation so unique, so astonishing, that legends were created to explain its existence. The Giant’s Causeway, as it is known, was formed when a volcanic eruption was covered with newer layers of lava, placing the underlying material under extreme pressure. The trapped Basaltic … Read more
Over the centuries, strong surf has eaten into the cliffs at Whiterocks Coastal Park, carving myriad caves and arches into the jagged white limestone. Where land has prevailed over ocean, stunning headlands like Shelagh’s Head, the Wishing Arch, Elephant Rock, and the Lion’s Paw, thrust out into the ocean. The exposed white cliffs are home … Read more
Mussenden Temple at Downhill Palace in Northern Ireland was built by Fredrick Hervey, who was both the 4th Earl of Bristol and the Bishop of Derry. Hervey was extremely close to his young niece, Frideswide Bruce, leading people to suspect that the relationship was inappropriate. When these rumors reached the young woman’s father, he quickly … Read more
The stunning scenery along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is so forcefully etched on my memory that I can close my eyes and see it still. Unshorn sheep, fat like giant cotton balls, meander across green-carpeted bluffs. Waves smash at the feet of precipitous cliffs, while thousands of seabirds whirl and screech above. I can almost … Read more
The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland, are home to an estimated 30,000 nesting birds, including the elusive Puffin, with its bright orange beak. The 702-foot high cliffs are the most visited tourist site in Ireland, attracting more than a million visitors each year. The cliffs are best viewed from above at the Cliffs … Read more
