Day 15 - Donegal to Derry

 

We left Donegal and headed west toward Sliagh Ligh (pronounced like schleeve leag). The name is basically Irish for "rock cliff". The main cliff is actually higher and more rugged looking than the Cliffs of Moher, but they are less extensive. We were bused up to the cliffs, since the parking lot was a considerable ways away. It was a bit cloudy, so not much sun, but the cliffs and surrounding hills were visible. As usual, the views were great and will make wonderful pictures, even though they just don’t capture the beauty. 

Below is a photo from a random scenic viewpoint as we were driving. Everywhere we turn we see the beauty of God’s creation. And below that is another Irish traffic jam. This one took awhile as the sheep were being moved from one field to another. It was fun to watch. 

We then continued our drive north and stopped at a town called Dunfanaghy. The town has a museum that describes the work houses that sprang up during the famine. Many people during the famine were forced off their farms, and with no place to go, they ended up in state created houses. It's estimated that 300,000 people died in the work houses (compared to 1,000,000 starvation deaths). So not a pleasant place.

This would not have been a very hearty soup. 

Famine mass grave where those
from the workhouse were buried. 

Our final stop was a stone fort called Grianán of Aileach (rocky place). Situated on the top of a hill with great views of the surrounding countryside. It was built late 8th/early 9th century by a local Ulster king. It was sacked several times by Vikings, and again by one of the kings of Munster.  Eventually it was abandoned at that point, and was restored in 1870.

We stayed the night in Derry where we will have a Free Derry tour in the morning before heading to Giants Causeway. As we neared Derry we crossed into the United Kingdom.