Just home from Ireland. It is a beautiful country, the people are amazing – the weather – not so much! But we made the best of it. I left a day early and flew into Shannon instead of Dublin. My Dublin flight fell apart – for those of you who don’t pass ride that means it filled up!! Everyone else (our god children, their Mom and their Aunt Joan) were flying into Dublin so I spent the night in Limerick and boarded a bus for Dublin the next day – arriving at the hotel just as everyone else was checking in! Perfect timing! Joan has been to Ireland several times and did a perfect job planning our trip – from places to stay, sights to see and food to eat! We spent one day in Dublin – walking the Liffey, visiting the sights (Christchurch, St. Patrick’s, Kilmainham Gaol, Temple Bar and of course having a Guinness and eating fish and chips! From Dublin we headed south in our rental van with Ross doing the driving. He did a superb job! We saw the horse races at Leopard’s Town and then spent the night just south of Kilkenney at a private home, the beautiful B&B, Ballyduff House, owned by the lovely Bred. Rooms filled with antiques, lovely grounds and a cozy chat in the fireplace room with Bred and her Jack Russell, Jack! After a beautiful breakfast and a tour of the grounds we headed South to Kinsale and from there began the turn up the West coast staying in Kilarney, Dingle (oh what a drive around the Dingle Peninsula!). Doolin for 2 nights and then a night at Bunratty prior to departure from Shannon. The photos will give you a small insight into the wonders of this country – so green in the Spring, with lambs, horses and cattle dotting the countryside. Every Irish person we encountered was joyful, smiling, helpful, warm-hearted and eager to visit with us! And when we complemented them they returned that they indeed felt as welcome in America when they visited. That was happy news! Cead Mil Failte – Gaelic for a thousand welcomes! That’s how we felt! And, Slainte – of course we learned how to say cheers in Irish!!
Christchurch
The River Liffey and the Ha’penney Bridge
Kilmainham Gaol – an early prison in Dublin significant in the history of the Irish fight for independence and the Easter Rising.
A lamb welcoming us to Bally Duff House!
Bally Duff House
And Bally Duff’s beautiful grounds!
Horse racing at Leopard’s Town
Powerscourt Gardens
Huge rhododendrons!
One of many headstones in the pet cemetery!
A picture of a random ruin along the road. The Irish countryside is literally filled with ruins of castles and towers and cemeteries.
This is Jerpoint Abbey on the River Nore. It’s an extraordinary Cistercian ruin.
The best example of an Elizabethan manor house in Ireland, built in the 1560’s.
Next our visit to Killarney National Park began with a tour of Muckross Castle and a buggy ride (the Irish call them jaunting carts!) to some of the most spectacular nature in the park.
Dawn looking for leprechauns or fairies
Happy kids!
Christmas card!
The waterwheel and still at the Jameson factory!
Tasting the Jameson!
Ferry ride across the River Shannon
Surf at Lahinch
Ross went surfing….brrrrr
One of many forts in Ireland – 40,000 of them!
The Cliffs of Moher – stunning!
Dawn and Ross went horseback riding in Doolin
Spontaneous gathering of musicians outside a pub on a sunny day!
The Burren
Holly loving the hike!
Our last lodging – a beautiful manor house next to the ruins of Ballinalacken Castle. A magical place! Kind and interesting hosts, superb dining and a tour of the castle at dusk!
We loved you, Ireland! Slan go foill – goodbye for now!
