Spring in Ireland 2022

“ Highlights

Kathy Sweeney

Follow this trip?Follow this trip?

Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 21, 2022, 3:53pm · ☁️ 54 °F Altitude: 413 ft
  Munster Cork Ballyvourney 51.9398, -9.159451°56’23” N 9°9’34” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day23
Back in the USA
April 21 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
Back in the USA/ yes that is Chicago and we are now on a bus heading to Milwaukee where Maria will pick us up and we will spend the night.
The last few days were very busy and I will go back and fill in but thanks everyone for being “ on the bus” with us over the trip to Ireland 🇮🇪.
The travel day back was such a reminder of what my number one impression of why I love being in Ireland 🇮🇪. After two years of no air travel I was reminded of just how challenging it can be and adding the complexities of Covid testing, customs regulations and phones that are challenged to work well outside their service area were reminders of how many people need help navigating all of it .
I observed countless acts of kindness in the face of difficulty that touched me by people at the airport in Dublin and on the way to Milwaukee via bus from Chicago .
What I want most to bring home from this trip is more kindness .Read more
Kathy Zavala
I love this.
4/22/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
The bus driver between Milwaukee and Chicago poured out his heart about what he observes every day and how he feels about seeing so many vulnerable people traveling alone .We were his only passengers on the last bit of the trip .
4/22/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
I do want to hear more
4/27/22Reply
3 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 19, 2022, 2:59pm · ⛅ 46 °F Altitude: 702 ft
  Wisconsin Town of Pepin Lakeport Deer Island 44.466991, -92.20575144°28’1” N 92°12’21” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day21
Brigid Center Kildare
April 19 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
1 like
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 18, 2022 · 🌧 36 °F Altitude: 712 ft
  Wisconsin Glendale Brantwood Lake 43.149693, -87.94200943°8’59” N 87°56’31” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day20
Eureka ! Its the old Sweeney farm
April 18 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 36 °F
3
1
Since 2010 when we first visited Ballyvourney, we have loved Saint Gobnait’s shrine, holy well and cemetery and felt the pull of the ancestors who came from this beautiful rugged land on the border of Cork and Kerry.
Finding the specific location of John and Mary Dineen Sweeney’s land has been an epic journey with many twists and turns.Finding that my great great grandparents, John and Mary,lived next door to Gobnait’s and the holy well and along the Old Road that leads Over the mountains to the sea before they left for homesteading in Wisconsin, is such a gift .
We were having lunch with our long time friends Eileen and Peader on our final day of this visit and brought them up to date on all that we’ve learned about over the last two years about John and Mary Sweeney and his brother Cornelius Sweeney.
Peader realized that he knew from local oral history and a quick review of the map,exactly where John and Mary Sweeney’s farm was.
(Peader grew up just down the road from The farm on the other side of Gobnait’s shrine).
We finished lunch and headed out and Peader gave us the history only a local historian can have while his wife Eileen , a librarian offered more background on the old road that passes by Gobnait’s shrine and the Sweeney farm.
The old road dates back at least to the 1700’s, follows the passes over the rugged mountains to the sea in Bantry and was the road used for all transport and travel .Read more
Ronald Smith
The homestead of homesteads 😊
4/22/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
Through the trees you can see the steeple at St.Gobnait’s Shrine . The ancestral farm of our family is next to Gobnait's Shrine
4/22/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
Travel down this road to the dip, turn left and you are at St.Gobnait’s Shrine. The photo was taken from just up the old road at the Sweeney farm .
4/22/22Reply
Ronald Smith
So incredibly wonderful… It’s like a fairytale except it’s real history.
4/22/22Reply
1 like
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 17, 2022, 4:15pm · 🌧 50 °F Altitude: 594 ft
  Munster Cork Ballyvourney 51.938187, -9.16775551°56’17” N 9°10’4” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day19
Beara Pennisula and Neilie Dunne
April 17 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 50 °F
1
3 1 2 1 2 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 1
My cousin Neilie Dunne and I connected 2 years ago through AncestryDNA. Our great great grandads were brothers. Apparently, when he left Ireland , my GG John Sweeney left the family farm to his brother, Cornelius Sweeney.
My cousin Neilie Dunne invited us to his home for a meal and gave us a tour of Kinsale including the memorial tree garden for fire fighters killed in 9/ 11 attacks.
Today Joerg and I enjoyed the drive back to Ballyvourney over the Caher Mountains pass and ended the day at Gobnait’s shrine .Read more
Ronald Smith
Sounds like a memorable, wonderful day! And the driving skills are being honed!
4/17/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
❤️
4/17/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
Beautiful
4/17/22Reply
21 more comments
3 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 15, 2022, 8:00am · ⛅ 50 °F Altitude: 23 ft
  Munster Cork Bantry Reenrour Point 51.680168, -9.45799951°40’49” N 9°27’29” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day17
Bantry by the sea
April 15 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F
1 1
Bantry is a charming West Cork seaside village and home of cousin Maire and our friend Kristin .
We are enjoying the sea air and sea gulls songs
Happy Easter weekend everyone.🐣
Ronald Smith
Happy Easter to you too!!🐣🐣✝️🙏
4/15/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
Happy Easter!
4/15/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
Wow!
4/17/22Reply
Tamsie Ray
Breathtaking
4/17/22Reply
3 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 13, 2022 · ⛅ 54 °F Altitude: 46 ft
  Munster Cork Bantry Reenrour Point 51.68166, -9.45792951°40’54” N 9°27’29” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day15
Bantry ahead …
April 13 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F
1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
161 miles today from Galway to Bantry.At home that’s very do able, but in Ireland it can be a longish trip .
The Google maps navigator seems to always include no name / no number roads that are not on the paper detailed map .
These are mysterious roads that link the named and numbered roads and are basically cow or sheep paths just wide enough for one small car.
Every time I see that our route directions include these mystery roads, I try to figure out another way using the map.Sometimes I succeed🙏

Jörg honestly likes the driving challenges❤️ .One more reason I am forever grateful to have a life partner like him.

That’s how we got these gorgeous photos of the Burren national park area and of driving over the Cork Mountains to Bantry.
That’s true in many parts of life, right ? (Taking the unknown path ? ) Cue the song ;
( God Bless the Broken
Road )

The Perfumery in The Burren was as stellar as usual with all of their scented products made with 100 percent organic floral essences, and their lovely gardens are a favorite .
We both love the stark glory of the Burren.

Glad to arrive a few minutes ago , almost 7 pm local time.
The Maritime Hotel in Bantry has huge windows that open to the street so you have a glimpse of the sea and the scent of the salt air .
Lovely .
Ps I am having difficulty posting this so I keep trying ..
Meanwhile Facebook posts are up …Read more
Kathy Sweeney
Tribute to Joerg and Ronnie and all drivers who pass through this parking ramp at Jury’s Inn in Galway after navigating the ancient streets of Galway to this site .
4/18/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
The Burren
4/18/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
In the Burren ..
4/18/22Reply
17 more comments
4 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 12, 2022, 11:00am · ☁️ 54 °F Altitude: 39 ft
  Connaught Galway Killannin 53.3848, -9.208653°23’5” N 9°12’31” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day14
Brigits Garden
April 12 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
2 2 3 1 1
11 acres of wildflower meadows and native woodlands surrounding Celtic themed gardens designed by Mary Reynolds famous wild garden / native garden designer.
Created and operated by Jennie Beale
The perfect place to bring a copy of Ronnie’s newest book.
It was great fun presenting the book to Jennie Beale for Ronnie .Read more
Ronald Smith
So grateful for your ambassadorial energy and diplomacy. It’s not easy getting a book from American origin through the Gaelic portal. ☘️🇮🇪🇺🇸☘️💚
4/12/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
Enjoying ambassador to the Ronnie Smith brand very much .
4/12/22Reply
Ronald Smith
And I can’t wait to visit Brigit’s Centre and Garden.
4/12/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
I can’t say enough about this amazing place .
4/12/22Reply
10 more comments
4 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 9, 2022, 12:00am · 🌙 36 °F Altitude: 105 ft
  Munster Cork Ballincollig 51.88818, -8.60124351°53’17” N 8°36’4” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day11
Ballinora and the Irish Cousins
April 9 in Ireland ⋅ 🌙 36 °F
You have all heard about my “ cousin adoption”by the Kelleher family of Coolea/ Cork ? Our local friend in common,Joe Kelly of Coolea, was sure we must be related based on his knowledge of the families of the area. Now, 10 years after their “adoption”,DNA tests show we are, in fact cousins.
It’s been an eye opening experience to learn how many people here never lost hope they would eventually reconnect with their relatives who left Ireland as refugees .

On Friday night , we had a lovely evening celebrating and enjoying a meal hosted by Keara with about 20 members of the family.

In a few minutes, Darina is picking us up for a visit to her country home in nearby Ballinora where she and Keara and family grew up ; we love the cousin’s tours.
Keara , local historian extraordinaire, previewed her amazing new tour of the area with us. And Darina hosted a tour of her incredible country garden, made a lovely buffet and we celebrated her birthday too.Read more
N Kessler
So fantastic!
4/9/22Reply
4 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 8, 2022, 9:37am · ⛅ 43 °F Altitude: 102 ft
  Munster Co Kerry Dingle 52.138039, -10.2628452°8’17” N 10°15’46” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day10
It’s Friday so it must be County Cork
April 8 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F
4
1 2 2 1 2 2 1
A perfect day for a road trip with sunny skies and light traffic .
We enjoyed the scenery along the sea coast and stopped at the amazing Inch Beach.
The road through Macroom is under construction as a bypass around the town is underway so we took this opportunity to show you the look of a typical small town. You can see how the carriage paths were paved over to make the roads so the buildings are literally on the street with no sidewalks or front yards.
Watching the ambulance make its way through was amazing.

We arrived in Ballincollig just in time to get changed and head out to “ the cousins” for a gathering.
Cousin Darina offered to pick us up and drive us to Cousin Keara’s and we happily accepted her offer.
9 adult cousins and many of their kids and grandkids too so a swirl of family that is amazing.
We were happy to gift this family with one of Ronnie’s newest books and they were thrilled .
The family are avid readers and Keara is writing a history of Ballinora, where she and Darina grew up .Read more
Kathy Sweeney
Leaving Dingle for Ballincollig and cousins gathering there this evening just a couple of hours drive
4/8/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
Feels like a kinder and connected nation. Don’t want to stereotype but?
4/8/22Reply
Kathy Sweeney
It would not be a stereotype to say that Irish ☘️ culture is very people and relationships based and it is almost what I’d call reverent about treating each other well .
4/8/22Reply
18 more comments
3 likes
Kathy Sweeney
- Apr 7, 2022 · ⛅ 45 °F Altitude: 102 ft
  Munster Co Kerry Dingle 52.138081, -10.26272852°8’17” N 10°15’46” W
- Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
- Show on map
- Share
Day9
It’s Dingle Thursday
April 7 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
1 1 1 1 1
The sun came out and we enjoyed a day of exploring the area and soaking in the sun and sea .
Kathy Zavala
Wow! Gorgeous!
4/7/22Reply
Kathy Zavala
You two look happy.
4/7/22Reply
Ronald Smith
Love all these!
4/7/22Reply
3 more comments
2 likes