Dublin and Vicinity Sights

Rather than give lots of verbiage, we have provided the following photos from Louise's eye.

Georgian Doorway

St. Stephen's Green Shopping Arcade (Front)

St. Stephen's Green Shopping Arcade (Inside Clock)












DART Train Station

Lighthouse at Howth

Seal at Lunch in Howth Harbour

Street in Dalkay

Glendalough

Avoca Weaving

Pouring a pint at the table at “The Bleeding Horse”

Wexford to Dublin

We traveled a national motorway, arriving in the city of Dublin by noon. After a short orientation bus tour, we had a photo stop at St. Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral. This was followed by our own visit to Trinity College of Dublin. The highlights here were the Book of Kells and the the Long Room. The latter was a magnificent library of ancient manuscripts and busts of famous authors, philosophers, physicians, politicians, etc.  Unfortunately, no pictures or videos were allowed.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Sphere within a Sphere - Sculpture at Trinity College

Campanile on the original foundation of Trinity College

Trinity College Quadrangle Building

Trinity College Archway

Molly Malone w/ cart & baskets of cockles, mussels and friend

Cork through Wexford

The rain and cold finally arrived. Unfortunately, we did not get good photos on our trip from Cork to Wexford. However, our walk around the town of Wexford the following morning was excellent. Later in the day, we visited the Irish Heritage Park where it was very warm. We actually did a little perspiring.

Walk around Wexford

Ancient Wall

Remnant of a Church

More Wall

Irish Heritage Park


Stone Circle similar to Stonehenge

Monastery Replica

Turning the Boiling Bacon

Viking Sailing Vessel w/ Crew

At the Wexford Quay

Killarney through Cork

En route to Cork we took a diversion for a sheep-dog demonstration. Very interesting presentation of how the dogs are trained and the attachment of the farmer to his hard working animal. After a short ride, we made a pit stop in a small village (Macroom) and also had a scone and coffee before heading to the Blarney Castle experience. We managed the extremely narrow & slow-moving spiral staircase to the top of the castle for a view of the famous stone. We opted to forgo the twisting, bending, backbreaking upside-down “kissing” of the stone. Of course, the Blarney Stone is reputed to have more germs than anything else in the world. An uneventful trip to Cork, a pleasant vicinity walk and dinner at the modern Clarion Hotel. The last 3 photos were taken in the village of Cobh (pronounced, Cove) famous as an emigration point for America, Australia and other places accepting the Irish.

Hugh with dog, Rose, & flock

Blarney Castle

Annie Moore, first ever immigrant through Ellis Island, w/ brothers.  (Statue in Cobh)

Home hosted lunch w/ Larken (4 y.o.) & pearl poodle

Row houses in Cobh

 
 
 
 
 
 
Although the day in Cobh was cold and rainy we enjoyed all of the activities including our final walk in the Cork pedestrian area.

Galway through Killarney

A long scenic ride from Galway to Killarney. The most interesting sights were the Burren, a “moonscape” of glacial rock, and the Cliffs of Moher. The most important feature of this segment is easily discerned. No clues at this point.

Along the Drive

Burren

Cliffs of Moher

Ring of Kerry

Abandoned narrow gauge RR bridge

Playing w/ Peat

Another Famine House

Family Affair

Our First “Cheers!”

More “Cheers!”

Dinner in Killarney

Dingle Experience

On Dingle Peninsula

Dingle Street

Dingle Harbor

Dingle Shores

Lunch in Dingle

Conclusion: An absolutely wonderful time and experience with Gary. We are so lucky to have had this 24 hours together.

Derry through Galway

An amazing inland scenic journey through farmlands of Strabane, Donegal Ballyshannon and a stop at the Belleek Pottery factory. We crossed the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic several times without noticing differences or interferences. The farms are mainly sheep and cattle with multiple beautiful greens of early barley, wheat and corn. The grazing pastures are demarcated by centuries' old dry stone fences, most of which stand without benefit of mortar. The Belleek factory has a museum and we toured the interior where workers painstakingly made the intricate woven baskets and other hand-painted items. We could not avoid making purchases of a pair of mugs, vases and some jewelry.

Belleek

Samples of the weaving patterns

W.B. Yeats' Grave w/ wife, George

A combination of modern and medieval, Galway is a charming and comfortable city. Spent a lot of time roaming the pedestrian streets, checking out shops and restaurants along Shop Street. Visited two in-town museums and participated in two optional excursions. Able to purchase 4 pieces of marble core from the non-negotiating owner, Mr. Joyce.

Galway

Shop St. Facade

Connemara Marble Factory – Ambros Joyce

New Friends

Fish & Chips Lunch

Pub Night Entertainment w/ singing & dancing

Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Gothic Church

Kylemore Tulips

Killary Fjord Lunch Cruise w/ Irish coffee

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abandoned farms & houses from “The Famine” (ca. 1847)