We made a few stops on our way from Galway to Northern Ireland. Our first was the beach at Strandhill, which included a foray up some sand dunes for a great view of the ocean and golf-course below.
While exploring County Donegal, we took a detour to Beltany Stone Circle, which dates all the way back to the Bronze Age. The circle of stones sits high on a farm hill and offers lovely views of the sheep spotted countryside.
Our day ended in Derry, a town just inside the Northern Ireland border where emotion regarding The Troubles still runs strong. While standing at the Bloody Sunday memorial we encountered a very friendly gentleman out on his evening stroll who was happy to give us a first hand account of the events that transpired that day.
One of several poignant murals in the city of Derry, this one is titled “The Petrol Bomber” and depicts a young boy wearing a gas mask to protect himself from the CS gas, while holding a petrol bomb made from a milk bottle. The painting is based on “The Battle of the Bogside” in 1969.