Killybegs, Ireland
After our adventure yesterday our Expedition Leader, Tom Ritchie, decided that a change in the itinerary might be in order. During the night we made our way to the fishing port of Killybegs just west of Donegal and docked along side.
The morning was relaxing with free time to walk around the small town and do a little shopping or just take in a small quiet Irish town. After lunch two busses with local guides took us to the town center of Donegal for a tour of the 15th-century Donegal castle and grounds, after which, there was time to shop for everything Irish from name crest stickers to Donegal tweed to Waterford crystal. There was a little rain, but that just gave us another excuse to find a warm and cozy pub.
As we returned to the ship, which was docked next to the fishing fleet of Killybegs we saw even more fishing boats coming in to offload their catch or just reprovision for another trip into the very productive North Sea. One of the largest fishing ships in the world calls Killybegs home. There is a great deal of capitalization in the fishing fleets of Ireland. We could see that in the number, size and variety of the vessels. The Endeavour started her sea life as a North Seas trawler. She was so efficient that there was no market left for her to work in so she was converted to a passenger vessel.
After dinner we sailed the ship to just off Slieve League, which is the highest sea cliff in Europe, to gaze up at the almost 2,000-foot cliffs and marvel at our last sight of Ireland.
After our adventure yesterday our Expedition Leader, Tom Ritchie, decided that a change in the itinerary might be in order. During the night we made our way to the fishing port of Killybegs just west of Donegal and docked along side.
The morning was relaxing with free time to walk around the small town and do a little shopping or just take in a small quiet Irish town. After lunch two busses with local guides took us to the town center of Donegal for a tour of the 15th-century Donegal castle and grounds, after which, there was time to shop for everything Irish from name crest stickers to Donegal tweed to Waterford crystal. There was a little rain, but that just gave us another excuse to find a warm and cozy pub.
As we returned to the ship, which was docked next to the fishing fleet of Killybegs we saw even more fishing boats coming in to offload their catch or just reprovision for another trip into the very productive North Sea. One of the largest fishing ships in the world calls Killybegs home. There is a great deal of capitalization in the fishing fleets of Ireland. We could see that in the number, size and variety of the vessels. The Endeavour started her sea life as a North Seas trawler. She was so efficient that there was no market left for her to work in so she was converted to a passenger vessel.
After dinner we sailed the ship to just off Slieve League, which is the highest sea cliff in Europe, to gaze up at the almost 2,000-foot cliffs and marvel at our last sight of Ireland.
