Ireland Crawl

A 16-day adventure by Joyce Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

Trip start
May 25, 2016
Ireland Crawl Traveler
it begins!!!!
May 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Super Shuttle
Love birds!!!!
5/25/16Reply
Mallory PridyLove Birds!
5/25/16Reply
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
DIA
May 25, 2016 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Breezed through check-in and security only to find our flight is delayed. Looks like it's time for a beer!
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Layover in London
May 26, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Maldron Hotel
May 26, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Just got here and figured out how to turn on the lights! Took a picture out of the window.
Awesome looks WAY different
5/26/16Reply
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
1st Night in Dublin
May 26, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C
Headed out for our first night on the town. Vistited Trinity College, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle and walked along the river Liffey. Had our first official Irish beer and Irish dinner. Learned that a BlackSmith in the States is Irelands official Black and Tan. Met up with a fellow US bartenderr who validated that you don't really tip here. Saw a street bagpiper and some pan handlers that were trying to avoid the Garda. Haha!Read more
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
St Patrick's Cathedral
May 27, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
First stop we made on the City Bus Tour, hop on - hop off. We did not find the dead cat and mouse...? There was some amazing architecture and history in this place.
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Teeling distillery and Guinness
May 27, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Finally found some local alcohol production! We enjoyed an awesome Ruben at Teeling along with a shot and then a pint at Guinness Gravity Bar. Someone might be getting a a t shirt!
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Jeanie Johnston
May 28, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Found our transportation home, just like our acestors! We should be back in a month or so.
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Sea Dew, Tullamore
May 29, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Needed to rest before heading to the distillery, nice stay in the B&B. Jon is having a wonderful time driving on the wrong side of the road, and from the passenger seat as well.
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery
May 29, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We started off the day today with a beautiful day blue sky and a visit to the Tullamore Distillery, one of Jon's favorite whiskeys. As we've toured many distilleries, nothing out of the ordinary per say, but a must stop. Next we hit the road and found a local graveyard to explore. Found a marker with the name Lawton, as so many names changed in immigration, could this be where Lawson originated? Next up came the Charlesville Castle. It is currently be renovated, but that's what Jon like about it. You could still see it in a state of some ruin. Antonio was our guide and still learning English, but did a great job. At the entrance to the castle was a 900 year old Oak, pretty amazing. I had forgotten from my time in England that things either don't open or close early on Sundays. Finding food for dinner became a challenge. We finally moved onto Althone, where Jon's ancestors were baptised and found it to be a very booming city. We came upon Murphy's Law (pub) and got pizza and a beer. I noticed a man at the bar that in my opinion resembled Jon so I asked him his name. Low and behold it was Thomas Curley. What are the chances? A distant relative only God knows, but it was nice talking to him. Found a last minute B&B to stay at so turned in for the day.Read more
Wow that is crazy about the guy! So cool!
5/31/16Reply
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
1
Charlesville Castle
May 29, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
The secret door in the bookcase of the library!
Whoa!
6/6/16Reply
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Birr for beer
May 29, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Stopped for a pint and pictures
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Arrived in Athlone
May 29, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Found Murphys Law bar and then a room above a bistro.
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
In search of Curley Island
May 30, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
We headed south in search of ancestral clues. Finding proof of the Curley name in Ireland was the best that we could really expect. We were trying to find Cloonark, without much sucess, but it was on the map, just no signs anywhere proving is location. On a whim, we decide to stop at the Garda station on the side of the road and they turned out to be really helpful tour guides! We were in Cloonark, which apparently, according to the Garda, even some of the people that live there don't know where it is. So with a Garda escort they took us to the first clue and we met some more Curleys. Then off to Drum and we met an overly helpful cemetary historian/currator/guide and found some actual Curley headstones. Then we were in search of Moore cemetary (didn't find it) and Curley Island (didn't find it either). We stopped at Shannon bridge had a pint and a bite to eat at Kileen pub. Off to Clonmacnoise and a stop at the Monastary ruins. Many people had heard of Curley Island but no one knew what or where it was other than likely a land mass in the River Shannon near Shannon Bridge.Read more
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Beware of the "locals" in Athlone
May 31, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
We managed to get sucked into a local gathering at Seans Bar, on the west bank, last night and into this morning. Nice bunch of guys (and gal) but they didn't want to let us leave. We managed to escape when they let their guard down so all is well now. I hope Oshie is ok, as I was his pillow for a while, it was for the best since he couldn't help control his singing and upsetting the bar owner.Read more
Robbie Van WinkleDid they live up to the stereotype irish lol. Looks like you guys are having a freaking blast!!!
5/31/16Reply
TravelerThey did and more...lol
6/1/16Reply
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Strandhill
May 31, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Beach and beer
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
1
Irish chicken in Sligo
May 31, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
I guess this is the chicken you get when you don't pump them full of hormones and steroids? What a disappointment. America will have to set this country straight. The weather has been wonderful, another disappointment, as we were prepared for typical Irish weather. The beach was beautiful, and I'm sure the golfing nearby is superb, however the wind was a bit brisk. Off to Galway!?Read more
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Arrived in Galway
June 1, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
We immediately got lost and then in our usual fashion, figured out where we were and got lost again. We did a little shopping in the main part of Galway's tourist bars and stores, then stopped for a pint at Finnegan's, Galway's oldest mideival building. Joyce marveled at the size of the beer bottle, small chicken, big beer. This trip has been at the very least a food fest, I don't know what we are going to do if we ever get home. We are now camped out at Salt Hill, just feet from Galway Bay and home to Oslo Bar. They were very excited for the brewery stickers that we brought from home as they are starting a collection on the ceiling above the bar.Read more
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Salt Hill
June 2, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C
We touched the west coast Atlantic! We found Oslo's Bar that actually serves local craft beer and is home to Galway Bay Brewery. Managed to find a nice quiet B&B and as usual, good food from the local restaurants and pubs. We scored a couple of beers from a guy walking his dogs, one of which was an Irish Wolf hound.Read more
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Merlin's Forest Park
June 2, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We had an awesome time exploring the park. It is hard to believe that they let you walk around freely in these ancient ruins and remains. We found a castle, many rock walls, cottage ruin, bridges, canals, grave stones, stone steps, and lots of nature. You have to do some work to see all of it but it was a great time. Actually touching these unrestored and unpreserved stones where people once lived and worked, and trying to imagine how it was back then....Read more
1 like
Ireland Crawl Traveler
1
Pint at Kilkieran
June 3, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
We found another pub serving a couple of local craft beers, so we skidded to a stop and relaxed in the ocean breeze. We could smell seafood cooking and the food looked amazing, but we managed to resist the temptation as we wanted to get to the castle as soon as we could. We spotted Samba's healthier twin and snapped a shot.Read more
Almost looks like Hawaii! Weird
6/6/16Reply
2 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Ballynahinch Castle
June 3, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We arrived at the castle today. One of the things I've been anticipating most. It did not disappoint. It's famous for it's Salmon fishing, but it absolutely georgous! I wish we could have stayed longer, but it was a bank Holiday weekend and so they were booked up the rest of the weekend. We will have to plan out next trip with better timing..lol There are several walks aroung the grounds you can do. The one we did today was a couple of hours. There are two others we will give a go at tomorrow. This part of the country almost felt like we were back in Colorado. I think I found the identiy of my ghost here. :) We also got to meet some locals. Our room is below and was on the lower corner.Read more
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
1
Leaving Ballynahinch
June 4, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
Took a hike before leaving the castle. Saw the old train depot, baby fish in the river and the sheep that Joyce swore would stomp us to death and eat us if we got to close.
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Joyce's Bar
June 4, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
We had to stop. We had to. Actually we had to turn around and then stop. This was a blink on the road leaving the Castle. Ate WAY too much. Huge fish n chips and chicken goujons. Off we go with our destination set a somewhere near the cliffs.Read more
0 likes
Ireland Crawl Traveler
Dunguaire Castle
June 4, 2016 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Another "CRAP! PULL OVER....THERE!" moment. Awesome castle, amazingly set on a tiny speck of land. On top you get to squeeze between the walls in order to look out and over to see some amazing views. There was an actual dining area inside that was being used, an awesome stone spiral staircase, and of course a gift shop.Read more
0 likes