2023: Sunset in Lahinch

A holiday which started on the shores of the South Pacific Ocean in Australia, continues with a stop at the North Atlantic Ocean. Fran and Conal visited Lahinch when the Wild Atlantic Way was having a day off.

**NEXT STOP AMERICA:** Conal and Fran pictured in Lahinch, Ireland, with the Atlantic in the background.

Wednesday, October 11, 2023 (Evening): Fran and I got to Lahinch, County Clare, just after 5.30pm. Found our Airbnb, dropped off our luggage.

(We also found a rubbish bin and a recycling bin … and used them to get rid of the bags we had taken from Dublin that morning. We left the windows open to vent the slight smell.)

We drove down to the Lahinch esplanade for a long walk and to take in the magnificent sunset over the Atlantic.

Was there a drink in hand? No, not unless you regard the slice of whiskey cake bought in Athlone as a drink.

We shared the cake on the walk by the beach, swatting away the midges that descended on us. Midges in October in Ireland, who would have thought?

We had woken in Dublin that morning on the east coast of Ireland and at sunset we were on the Wild West Way looking at the Atlantic Ocean.

We had stopped at Athlone in the centre of Ireland, crossed into Connaught (from Leinster) and had explored a 1000 year-old monastery along the way.

As the sun set into the ocean we marvelled as the light changed from a golden yellow to darkening blue.

The Atlantic lay peacefully before us. This was the gentle side of the Wild Atlantic – there were no howling gales, no monster waves and no vertical rain.

I looked across the peaceful water and remembered that America was just out there … somewhere over the horizon.

FOOTNOTE: And yes, there were a few surfers getting their heads wet in Lahinch.

FACTS ABOUT LAHINCH

Lahinch is a popular picturesque village situated at the head of Liscannor Bay in County Clare.

It is located on a 2 km stretch of golden sands on the west coast of Ireland. Golfers are attracted to this lively tourist spot with two 18 hole renowned championship courses.

The town was used as a film location for the TV series Smother.

SUNSET OVER THE ATLANTIC