Even from those who have been here, the scenery is more reminiscent of tropical locales such as the Serengeti in Tanzania.
It is common enough even today to see old forge buildings with horseshoe shaped doorways but nowhere else have I seen windows in this style.
It's a tree that Monty Python rightly described as the Mighty Scots Pine in their famous Lumberjack Song performed by Michael Palin.
Unfortunately, Ireland's state electricity utility ESB have decided to plaster this fine landscape with electricity poles and cables that pass across the lake via the island.
Dublin and Limerick are experiencing large increases of cases, more so than the three counties of Laois, Offaly and Kildare that had restrictions of movement placed on them for several weeks in August.
It seems like the Irish government are still working on a county by county basis rather than a municipal basis. Restricting movement at a town or district level would make much more sense for those who know Ireland.
For instance, should an outbreak occur in Portumna, County Galway the current policy would involve restrictions on movement in the whole of that large county, Ireland's second largest. That means a 2.5-hour drive away in Clifden, there would also be restrictions yet in this majestic small town, pictured, nestled behind the Twelve Bens beside the Atlantic Ocean there may no increase, even a decrease in cases or none at all. To put this in context, Portumna is only a 2 hour 10 minutes drive from Dublin, the Irish capital and the same journey time to Cork.
So it is obvious to many that a county by county basis is not a workable option for lockdowns or restrictions on movement in Ireland as schools and the economy, pubs and international travel reopens.
What the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has shown is that travel is certainly now more difficult even to standard, normal, safe destinations. It is possible to be faced with cancellations, delays and restrictions without warning.
It's a place that I know well, a place that I have photographed many times. Often I have stood in the rain, capturing the misty scenes of this part of Ireland, many times I have captured fine sunsets and explored the region's beauty.
Here a scene of fast moving clouds and ruffled water zooms past a tree-laden island and barren mountainside, a riot of colour.
After my post yesterday showing the beauty of the lake and mountain on which Kylemore Abbey is situated here is a more focused image of the building, once the home of a wealthy London Doctor called Mitchell Henry.
Kylemore was built in the late 1860s and Mitchell Henry later went on to become MP for the area, in 1875 after the death of his wife who was from County Down he spent less time in Connemara. He built a memorial church for her which is still there today hidden amongst the woods.
In fact, Kylemore comes from the Irish Coille Móire meaning large or big wood - an unusual sight around these parts.
One of Ireland's most famous buildings, Kylemore Abbey is situated in a scenic position at the foot of a mountain surrounded by lakes.
More to come on the abbey and its history in my next post - see here: https://panoramicireland.com/photo-tours-blog/kylemore-abbey-connemara-galway, for now enjoy the fine landscapes and reflections from Connemara.
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