When last we saw my mother, Louise, she was in front of the Marless House B&B with Galway Bay as her backdrop. Well, as we’re working our way into Connemara Louise moved west with me into Spiddal, keeping beautiful Galway Bay as her backdrop.
On our way from Galway City to the area known as Connemara, we always stop in Spiddal, home to the marvelous 3rd generation family owned and managed Standun Department Store. Standun’s, my favorite Department Store in Ireland, is large enough to have almost everything I could want to purchase, small enough to be cozy and a beautiful store to boot. Standun’s wares are expertly curated and a delight to behold as they are of good quality and lovingly displayed. I usually find the Irish knit goods in the back of the store and I always check out the Sale Bin for treasures. The men’s and women’s clothing sections often have something to catch my eye and the decorative home goods section is perfect for locating a hostess gift. While in Standun’s, I recommend taking time out from shopping to stop in their little tea room, conveniently located inside the store, where you’ll find tasty cakes, scones and of course “a cuppa.”
It was 2012 when I first met Donal, son of the original owner, and his daughter Cliona; in later years I met his daughter Laragh. Donal informed me that Standun’s was founded in 1946 and was the first Irish store to sell Irish made goods to Saks 5th Ave and Nordstrom’s in the USA. Cliona, Laragh, the now retired Donal and staff are all gracious folks and always willing to assist their customers make the perfect selection. Over the years I’ve purchased several Irish knit sweaters from Standun’s as has Louise. Recently they expanded and opened a shop in Oughterard which is home to my favorite Irish Castle, Aughnanure.
Aughnanure Castle lies just outside Oughterard off the N59 road and although hidden from view while you’re on the N59 it is definitely worth making the effort to visit. The castle has a complicated (to me at least!) history but I gather that a castle was built on this land in 1256 by the first Earl of Ulster around the time when the O’Flaherty clan was forced from the area into the then “wilds” of Connemara. An Irish Tower House was built on the land in the 16th century and when the O’Flahertys regained control of the area it moved into the hands of the O’Flahertys. Upon touring Aughnanure you may learn the story of a trap door in the floor of the Banqueting Hall; woe to any visitor not behaving as they will find themselves dropped into the river below. Visiting Aughnanure Castle is a dreamlike step back in time and I often think … a Knight in shining armour is just around the corner!
More great shopping can be had in Moycullen, a short drive from Oughterard, where the Connemara Marble Visitor Centre is located. The center was opened in 1965 by Ambrose Joyce of the Joyces, one of the Fourteen Tribes of Galway. Here you can learn about the beautiful Connemara marble which is thought to be about 500-600 million years old (give or take a 100 million years or so), get a guided tour of the small factory and purchase some unique gifts. My most recent purchase was the pretty silver and Connemara marble ring in the photo above.
Next up … join us for our travels further into Connemara where we’ll find the Twelve Bens and the Maumturk Mountains among other jewels.
Very good, brings back memories.
Thank you. I have lovely memories of our time together in Ireland! Teresa