Here is a short slide show elebrating the Emerald Isle
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, October 15, 2007
Irish Traffic Jam
Driving from the Dingle Peninsula to the Rock of Cashel we got stopped in a small village by a typical Irish traffic jam. Cows in the road! Check it out...
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Driving in Ireland
Yes, driving in Ireland is all its cracked up to be. Day 1 found me running up on the left side curb numerous times. Day 2 gave me a bit more confidence after driving through the old Burren Road in County Clare. By Day 3, I was ready to overtake those slower than me!
Here is a video of driving through Ireland.
Here is a video of driving through Ireland.
Friday, October 12, 2007
It's Good to be Home !
After a 4am wake-up call in Dublin (11pm on Thursday in Chesapeake) we trudged to the airport and caught our flight home. Short delays in Dublin and Newark made the day a little longer than needed, but everyone was home by 7pm Friday night. Thanks for everyone's prayers and encouragement! It was truly a blessed trip and we will be posting more photos and videos over the next week or so. Stay tuned!
Here is our last view of Ireland, and our first view back home!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Around Dublin
We spent our last full day in Ireland checking out Dublin, listening to traditional Irish music in Temple Bar, and visiting the Guinness brewery. Friday morning we will be winging our way home.
It has been a wonderful trip! We'll try to post some more photos, and some videos, after we return.
St. Mary’s Church, Drogheda
On March 15, 1890, Thomas Bedford Clancy married Margaret Reay in St. Mary’s Church, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. One hundred seventeen years later, their great grandson (Robbie O’Bruner) took these photos.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Kilkenny Castle
After visiting the Rock of Cashel we headed over to Kilkenny, to visit the Kilkenny Castle.
The Rock of Cashel
Yesterday we toured the Rock of Cashel, where St. Patrick evangelized the Irish King of Munster.
Monday, October 8, 2007
On the Road to Cashel
We left Dingle this morning and have made it up to Cashel where we are in a great B&B. We'll tour the Rock of Cashel in the morning, and then head down to Kilkenny, which is supposed to have the best medieval architecture in Ireland. Here a re a few pics of the Gap of Dunloe, Dan Foley's pub, and a traffic jam we ran into this afternoon.
Views of Sleaa Head and the Blaskett Isles
The connection is super slow, but here are a view shots of the Slea Head Drive and the Blaskett Iskands, on the end of the Dingle Peninsula. More to come later...
Monday Morning in the Irish Rain
Well it has finally started to rain. Drizzle actually. We're leaving Dingle this morning and heading over to the Rock of Cashel. Here are some photos from our trip over the Connor Pass.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
The Dingle Peninsula
Sunday was our cruise out to the Dingle Peninsula. Another perfect weather day! Sunny, warm, small puffy white clouds in a Carolina blue sky. We headed up and over the Connor Pass and only one word can describe it – awesome! Actually, it was stupendous. No, wait, a better word would be inspiring. Of course, fantastic would describe it as well.
Every turn of the road brought new views, oohs and aahs, and yet another stop for pictures. Many places the road was only wide enough for one car, yet it was a two lane road.
After crossing through the pass we descended down into Dingle town and a trip around the Slea Head drive, the western most part of the Irish mainland. Words really cannot describe the views. We took tons of pictures, and mountains of video, all which we hope to post to the blog if we can only find a decent connection to the Internet. We found a great little café on the very end of the peninsula for chowder and toasted sandwiches.
(thanks for the tip Joanne). Then we headed back into Dingle town where we found a great B&B, and are now continuing our search of the best fish & chips in Ireland.
We're going to post lots of photos as soon as we find a decent connection.
Every turn of the road brought new views, oohs and aahs, and yet another stop for pictures. Many places the road was only wide enough for one car, yet it was a two lane road.
After crossing through the pass we descended down into Dingle town and a trip around the Slea Head drive, the western most part of the Irish mainland. Words really cannot describe the views. We took tons of pictures, and mountains of video, all which we hope to post to the blog if we can only find a decent connection to the Internet. We found a great little café on the very end of the peninsula for chowder and toasted sandwiches.
(thanks for the tip Joanne). Then we headed back into Dingle town where we found a great B&B, and are now continuing our search of the best fish & chips in Ireland.
We're going to post lots of photos as soon as we find a decent connection.
Saturday Night Pub Crawl
Saturday found us driving from Galway down to Tralee, at the top of the Dingle Peninsula, via the Tarbert Ferry across the Shannon river. We found a B&B on the main drag of the City Centre and then left to scope of the town. Things seemed to be closing down for the day so we popped into the Grand Hotel for a pint and had a blast with the bar staff, especially our bar man Reg.
After a godly number of pints we headed to Turner’s for dinner, and then back to the Grand Hotel. Maggie & Lori appeared to be the bells of the ball as they were certainly the most popular ladies of the pub. We were hoping to hear some traditional Irish music but the singer was doing old Roy Orbison and Everly Bothers tunes. Not what was advertised! So it was back to Turner’s where the musicians were good, but the selection was not entirely Irish, i.e. we heard the Irish version of Kenny Rodgers’ “The Gambler”. The lead singer could only be described as a dirty old man, who seemed to try and catch the eye of every lady in the pub. We’ll post videos of the performance if we can get a good connection.
After a godly number of pints we headed to Turner’s for dinner, and then back to the Grand Hotel. Maggie & Lori appeared to be the bells of the ball as they were certainly the most popular ladies of the pub. We were hoping to hear some traditional Irish music but the singer was doing old Roy Orbison and Everly Bothers tunes. Not what was advertised! So it was back to Turner’s where the musicians were good, but the selection was not entirely Irish, i.e. we heard the Irish version of Kenny Rodgers’ “The Gambler”. The lead singer could only be described as a dirty old man, who seemed to try and catch the eye of every lady in the pub. We’ll post videos of the performance if we can get a good connection.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Moher Fun in Ireland
Day 2 was amazing, from castles to cliffs, from cows to pubs! We saw the Cliffs of Moher, some mystery castle in the bay on the way to Galway, and a little old ruined church somewhere off of route N-6. We think Scooby Doo and Shaggy solved some mystery there, but who knows!
Margaret took a spill in Doolin, on the way into a pub… not out of the pub. But she recovered in time for shopping in Galway. A wool sweater and a couple of pieces of jewelry later and she was ready for more!
We ended the day with the best fish and chips ever, and are now relaxing in a beautiful B&B. We’re trying to get more photos posted but having difficulty getting a good connection. Here are a few more from the day!
Margaret took a spill in Doolin, on the way into a pub… not out of the pub. But she recovered in time for shopping in Galway. A wool sweater and a couple of pieces of jewelry later and she was ready for more!
We ended the day with the best fish and chips ever, and are now relaxing in a beautiful B&B. We’re trying to get more photos posted but having difficulty getting a good connection. Here are a few more from the day!
Seeing the Sights
Well, we are here, and having a blast! After leaving the airport we cruised over to Bunratty Castle for a little sightseeing. It took a little while to get used to driving on the left side of the road, but after hitting the curb a few times, almost brushing up against a stone wall, and toodling around the round-abouts, I think I almost have it licked. Our rear-ends started dragging about midday so we headed over to Ennis where we spent our first night. We had a quick nap, then went to Poet’s Corner for a great dinner.
This morning we went to the Cliffs of Moher where the views were spectacular!!! Then we headed up the Burren Highway to the village of Doolin. It was a very tiny, twisting, two lane road that had speed limit signs of 100 kilometers per hour. We probably hit 50 kph at best. I think those who reach 100 kph have a very short life span.
After lunch in Doolin (great seafood chowder) it was off to Galway at our snail’s past along the back roads. It was a great drive, with great views of the coast, old castles, and lots of cows. Someone tell BJ we had the fish & chips at McDonough’s tonight. Truly the best! Add a cold Guinness and you’re living like a king!
The ruined abbey is a view from the window of our first B&B, plus hopefully a video of the country road will make it up as well.
This morning we went to the Cliffs of Moher where the views were spectacular!!! Then we headed up the Burren Highway to the village of Doolin. It was a very tiny, twisting, two lane road that had speed limit signs of 100 kilometers per hour. We probably hit 50 kph at best. I think those who reach 100 kph have a very short life span.
After lunch in Doolin (great seafood chowder) it was off to Galway at our snail’s past along the back roads. It was a great drive, with great views of the coast, old castles, and lots of cows. Someone tell BJ we had the fish & chips at McDonough’s tonight. Truly the best! Add a cold Guinness and you’re living like a king!
The ruined abbey is a view from the window of our first B&B, plus hopefully a video of the country road will make it up as well.
We Have Arrived !
After just making our flight in Newark, we have arrived. Rob & Margaret arrived at the boarding gate for the Shannon flight about 5 minutes before boarding began. Lori and Tom arrived about 10 minutes after we started boarding. Late flights from Norfolk and Charlotte were to blame. Lori had to do her best OJ / Hertz rental car impersonation to make it on time, and when we laughed about it later, nobody knew what we were talking about! Oh well!
An all-night flight got us into Shannon at 6:30am local time and after getting through customs, and getting our rental car, we saw this beautiful Irish sunrise. Then, we were off to Bunratty Castle for some sightseeing. We made it safely through all the round-abouts we encountered, and after only running up on the left-hand side curb 2 or 3 times, Rob was a minor master at driving like an Irishman! The car is even gracious enough to remind you to stay on the left!
An all-night flight got us into Shannon at 6:30am local time and after getting through customs, and getting our rental car, we saw this beautiful Irish sunrise. Then, we were off to Bunratty Castle for some sightseeing. We made it safely through all the round-abouts we encountered, and after only running up on the left-hand side curb 2 or 3 times, Rob was a minor master at driving like an Irishman! The car is even gracious enough to remind you to stay on the left!
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