• Joyce Ripple-Curley
  • Joyce Ripple-Curley

Ireland Crawl

Een 16-daags avontuur van Joyce Meer informatie
  • Het begin van de reis
    25 mei 2016
  • 1st Night in Dublin

    26 mei 2016, Ierland ⋅ ⛅ 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!Meer informatie

  • Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery

    29 mei 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • In search of Curley Island

    30 mei 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Beware of the "locals" in Athlone

    31 mei 2016, Ierland ⋅ 🌙 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.Meer informatie

  • Irish chicken in Sligo

    31 mei 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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!?Meer informatie

  • Arrived in Galway

    1 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Salt Hill

    2 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Merlin's Forest Park

    2 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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....Meer informatie

  • Pint at Kilkieran

    3 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Ballynahinch Castle

    3 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Joyce's Bar

    4 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie

  • Dunguaire Castle

    4 juni 2016, Ierland ⋅ ☀️ 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.Meer informatie