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Ireland 2020
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Ireland 2020

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  • Trip start
    February 2, 2020
  • Ireland 2020

    Welcome to Dublin Ireland

    February 3, 2020, North Atlantic Ocean ⋅ 🌙 41 °F

    Smooth flight and a great day of sightseeing in Dublin via hop on hop off bus. 45 degrees.
    The Irish national election is a few days away and there is extensive coverage of Brexit as well as the Caucuses in Iowa.Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    The Camino starts here
    The Guiness factory employs 800 people in DublinThe arts including politics are celebratedThe famous Liffey RiverLeo Varadkar the taoiseach is pictured on this poster ; notice just his party's name is included.

    Dublin day one

    February 4, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 45 °F

    Churches, Guinness factory,Writers, musicians, artists and poets, architecture, Irish history and political election underway ...
    So much to see and enjoy from the hop on hop off bus ...

  • Ireland 2020
    Signs everywhere for the Irish National Election
    Dublin is the home of many charities and memorials to human tragedies and triumphs over tragedyDublin has a rich history of service to people in need ; it is part of the cultureWe often were the only passengers on the top deck

    Dublin day one

    February 4, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 46 °F

    The hop on hop off bus is a perfect way to adjust to the 6 hour time difference and scope out what we want to do on day two

  • Ireland 2020
    Dublin Castle
    Chapel at Dublin CastleChapel at Dublin CastleKing George's chair at Dublin CastleKayaks for rent on the LiffeyThe jjohnston was one of the only ships to America who lost no passengers during famine years

    Dublin day 2

    February 5, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    Today we visited the Jeannie Johnston ship which brought Irish people to North America to escape the 1840-50 famine...
    Also visited Dublin Castle and its Chapel.This is the place where the British resided when they ruled Ireland.Read more

  • Ireland 2020

    Day 2 Dublin

    February 5, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F

    More touring via the hop on hop off bus and a visit to Epic the Irish history and genealogy center.

  • Ireland 2020
    Bicycles !

    Beyond Dublin / first stop Glendalough

    February 6, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    We picked up the rental car today in Dublin for our next 24 days ahead of travel by car.Driving in Dublin is a challenge with lots of one way streets and construction and pedestrians who cross randomly and yes, now lots of bicycles.
    First stop;A quick visit to Glendalough,the home of Saint Kevin who lived here in the Wicklow Mtns in the 500’s. A favorite of Joerg’s.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020

    On the Road to Cork

    February 8, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 46 °F

    On the road again...Cork city and a visit with our dear cousins the Kelliher/ Callanan/Cronin’s
    who live nearby.
    The drive here via the freeway from Kildare was a pleasure on the excellent freeway system.
    We are meeting another cousin Paul Hessman who lives in Madison Wisconsin.
    Paul is our Chief family historian and a student of the Irish language.Many of our local cousins and friends are fluent in Irish and Paul’s language skills are greatly appreciated.
    He will be traveling with us to Ballyvourney tomorrow.
    We will be there for more visits with friends and family and Saint Gobnait festivities from Sunday the 9 through Thursday the 13.
    A big storm is expected to arrive later today so we are enjoying today’s calm bright day.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    The Isaacs Hotel has the most amazing waterfalls
    Irish sporting events are popular with everyoneA bit of whimsy

    Cork visit

    February 9, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 50 °F

    Today we rendezvoused with our cousin Paul Hessman from Madison.
    We had a lovely afternoon visiting with our favorite local cousins here in Cork and exchanging stories about Coolea and Ballyvourney.
    Big rugby games entertained everyone while Storm Ciara covered the country in rain and wind.
    And Ireland won the game over Wales so there was celebrating all around.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    Saint Gobnait's ShrineSaint Gobnait's shrineSaint Gobnait's Grave

    Ballyvourney

    February 10, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 39 °F

    We arrived in Ballyvourney for the celebration of Saint Gobnait’s feast day.
    We attended church services and met with new cousins discovered through DNA matches.Both new cousins Neilie and Maira live nearby and have done extensive family history so it was an inspiration to meet them and confirm many hunches about our family.
    We had great visits with friends Eileen and Peader and Suzanne at our little cozy nook at the Mills Inn.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    Maria at the holy well
    Local people visit the holy well regularlyPilgrims leave their intentions

    Saint Gobnait

    February 12, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    The site of Gobnait’s shrine and holy well dates back to when she lived nearby as the Abbess of a religious community in the 500’s.There is incredible earth and water energy peace and calmness there. Our ancestors lived less than a mile away and would have worshipped here.
    Many are buried in the cemetery.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    A local hareLocal hedgehog

    Local book store Con Kelleher

    February 12, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    Con Kelleher is a local man who lived away for many years working in England. He has returned home to Ballyvourney to open a book store Gadai Dubh which specializes in local writers.
    He enjoys having a place to keep his collection of his local animal specimens and to host local players of chess and checkers.
    I love the place .    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    Helen Gordon did a brilliant job teaching
    Maira Maria and her creationTouring Joe Kelly's art exhibit of carved bog wood and paintingsThe one and only dear friend Joe Kelly with his UW Badger hat

    Kelly Family visit /Brigid’s crosses

    February 12, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    Tonight we were invited for a meal with the Kelly family ( delicious) and a local friend Helen Gordon picked rushes and showed us how to weave our own Brigid’s cross.
    We also had a personal tour of the local cultural center with Joe Kelly as our guide.
    Joe is currently exhibiting some of his sculptures made of local bog wood some of it thousands of years old. He is also exhibiting paintings.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    1Flowers ....

    On the road again to Clare

    February 13, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F

    Left Ballyvourney and headed to Shannon Airport to drop cousin Paul there for his flight back to the US. We will miss Paul and his great enthusiasm for our Irish ancestors and cousins and our hometown.
    On our way to Galway and Connemara for the next few days.Along the way we will see the Cliffs of Moher and get our first glimpse of the west coast of Ireland.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020

    Galway

    February 14, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 48 °F

    Our room in Galway overlooks the Corrib River which is flowing very mightily today. I’ve heard it’s the fastest flowing river in Ireland.
    Today we are taking a bus tour to Kylemore Abbey and Connemara.
    Storm Dennis is with us.    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    1

    Connemara

    February 14, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 48 °F

    The bus tour is taking us on the back back roads and it ‘tis lovely beyond description.

  • Ireland 2020
    Our friend Danny has helped us set up a tour of the ancestral castle Doe where the Sweeneys lived
    The dogwood glow with their spring redThe elegant Arnold's Hotel where we stayedMaira and Mario

    Dunfanaghy and Donegal

    February 16, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 43 °F

    Heading out for a day of touring via wee bus .
    We will see more of the Wild Atlantic Way and Doe Castle where the Sweeney Chiefs lived

  • Ireland 2020
    The day was filled with rainbowsPhoto at Doe by James O'Donnell

    Doe Castle

    February 17, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 43 °F

    It was a windy and wet day and we enjoyed many rainbows during our visit to the ancestral home of the Sweeney’s at Doe castle.The Sweeney’s lived at Doe between 1300 and 1600.
    In 1601 life changed drastically when the English Kings began regranting Irish family lands to English owners. Like so many others,our family became tenant farmers on land they once owned.Our branch of the family migrated to Cork to fight in battles with the English on behalf of the remaining Irish Chiefs including the McCarthy’s of Blarney who built their still famous castle Blarney.Read more

  • Ireland 2020

    On the road to Dingle

    February 19, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    We stopped for coffee in Moneygall where there is a fine local tribute to President Obama whose 2nd great grandparents are from there.
    President Obama’s visit to Moneygall is well chronicled and he and President Kennedy and
    President Clinton who helped with the peace talks to end the Irish Troubles, are highly liked here.
    This time of year is road
    construction and repair before the tourism season starts up again in late April.
    We continue to marvel at how well people navigate on roads that can be challenging. Joerg loves driving here !    Read more

  • Ireland 2020
    1Imagine a hot water bottle delivered to your room at bed time

    Dingle day one

    February 20, 2020 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 41 °F

    A day of rest and reflection and reading in the incredible library in front of a peat fire here at Greenmount House for me. Jörg went adventure seeking outdoors and did errands.The weather is stormy with rain and hail and
    temperature is mid to high 40’s. We are enjoying the dramatic weather which changes constantly.    Read more

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