Our Travelers' Diaries
Writers, Myths, and Legends - A Journey to Ireland
Submitted by Lois
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We also visited the Down County Museum and Gaol (jail).
The museum itself was closed for renovations, but we did visit the prison. I did not
take pictures there; it was very sad. Prisoners were executed at the front of the gaol,
facing the street. There were also political prisoners kept here. They did have a little
room for the children of female convicts.
http://www.downcountymuseum.com/
We then drove on to our next hotel.
The castle was built in 1625...ironically when we arrived, there was a wedding
reception going on! Another wedding at a castle! They have one room they do not
rent out; supposedly, a ghost resides there. Her last name was Shaw, and she
supposedly was pushed out of an upper-story window after giving birth to son
(all very flimsy). We didn't see Ms. Shaw.
http://www.hotels-of-ireland.com/ballygally/ballygally-castle-hotel.html
Ballygally Castle is on the beautiful Antrim Coast, halfway between Larne and Glenarm on
this map:
http://www.12travel.com/goto/map_detail.html?map=K02
On one side of the coast is Ballygally Bay, giving way to the Irish Sea; on the
other side are rolling pastures with sheep, cattle, and occasionally, horses. Absolutely gorgeous!
We are now in Northern Ireland, still part of the U.K. Many people here are of Scottish heritage,
and their speech sounds Scottish. Most are Protestant. Currency here is the British pound
sterling, whereas in the Republic, it is the Euro. The photos today are all taken just outside our hotel,
across the little lane. Some look southward, and one looks northward. What beautiful cloud formations!
Notice the woman with her dog on the beach...sigh... I am also including 2 pictures of the little
garden at the castle. This was our view during dinner and breakfast.
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