Sightseeing and Rest on Wednesday/ Fitness Training Thursday at Huntley

After a demanding full day of soccer on Tuesday, our Wednesday was a scheduled respite, which gave us a chance to do some serious sightseeing.  In the morning, we jumped onto our coach with our old friend Eric and headed North by Northwest along the shore of Lough Corrib (the second largest lake in Ireland) to Aughnanure Castle, burly by the O'Flaherty clan family in 1500. Standing on what is virtually a rocky island, the castle is a particularly well-preserved example of an Irish tower house. We climbed up to the top of the tower and had a brief lecture from a docent about the history of the families who owned it during a turbulent time in Irish history.  We jumped back on the coach and motored over the high hills that took us back toward Galway Bay, passing through Ireland's largest commercial wind farm, which was surrounded by peat bogs.  Turf is still harvested and burned for fuel in this most Irish part of Ireland.  We worked our way SxSE back along the coast and through the resort town of Salthill, where they have an ocean-side diving tower that is used all year long.  It's crazy cold in the summer, so use your imagination.  Perhaps later this week some of us will get back and try the tower. We made it back in time for lunch, and then walked to the oldest part of the University, The Quad (dating from 1864) to meet our tour guide Connor, a distinguished archeologist, who has done many digs in and around Galway.  He took us on a wonderful walking tour of the city that hit all of the high points:  The magnificent Cathedral, the river walk along the Corrib, St. Patrick's church, 800 year old, the Lynch window (where the term "lynching" was said to have originated), Lynch's castle, the old Medieval wall, enclosed by a shopping mall, the Spanish Arch, the Claddagh settlement on the banks of the Corrib as it empties into the harbor, and finally the Galway Museum. Connor was too modest to mention how much he has contribute to this institution.  At that point (4:00 or so), we released the boys in small groups, gave them each 15 euros, and gave then the next four hours to eat supper, walk through Galway, and meet us back at the dorm for film study.  Everyone made it back safely, and thanks to Brian Dougher's superb editing we enjoyed the film of the Tuesday game.  Although there were some interesting spots (nice rainbow, Latham), it was a valuable team training exercise, and it got our mind back on soccer.  We train tomorrow morning and then play a night game at Mervue on their turf field, under the lights (and in the rain according to the forecast).  It was an excellent humpday.  Goodnight!

p.s.  For the folks back home, don'r forget the fitness sessions available Thursday ay 6:00 at Dresden (and next Tuesday and Thursday as well) offered by Jared Walked of Amped Fitness.  We had a good turnout Tuesday, and hope as many players as possible take advantage.  Sessions are $10 each.