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Spring in Ireland 2022
  • Kathy Sweeney

Spring in Ireland 2022

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  • Trip start
    March 30, 2022
    Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    113Painterly view of Dublin and cloudsThe famous light spire on Dublin's O'Connell Street3If you dont have a history what do you have ? People can move forward because they can look backCloseup view of Dublin and clouds

    Travel to Dublin

    March 30, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

    Great send off by Maria in Milwaukee.
    Bus directly to O’Hare and perfect flight on Aer Lingus. Check in at Jury’s Inn on Parnell Street ; room ready which is heavenly after all night flight .
    Temperature 43 and cloudy .    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Bus tour of Dublin

    March 31, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 41 °F

    The hop on/ hop off bus remains a delightful way to reacquaint ourselves with Dublin. How heartening to see so many Ukrainean flags throughout the city today.
    It’s been fascinating to watch the Dublin Light Spire over the last day and to enjoy the beautiful light of today’s sunny day on the Spire.
    The Spire is a gift of the City to its citizenry to celebrate the changes to come in the new Millennium.    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Ballyvourney here we come

    April 1, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 43 °F

    Coffee is the great ally during jet lag recovery, (and fresh flowers )…❤️

    We are picking up our car in Dublin and driving to Ballyvourney today.

    Always look forward to our cab rides with the utterly charming cab driver/ traffic angels 😇.
    Today’s driver was no exception as he updated us on the current green government of Dublin City who has “turned half the feckin streets into bike lanes and one way’s.”

    The three and a half hour trip went very smoothly.
    Gas is 8 dollars a gallon and we are pleased to be driving a VW Polo which is perfect for 2 people.

    So happy to have dinner and Guiness at the Mills Inn in Ballyvourney and to be checked into our own little private cottage under the shadow of the Old Colthust Castle.And we even have an outdoor seating area to enjoy during our stay.

    Back in the colonial days, when the locals here had their land seized , the English family the Colthursts were granted most of what is now County Cork by the King and ruled from castles throughout the area.
    My Sweeney ancestors were tenants of the Colthursts before John Sweeney, my great great grandfather and his wife Mary Dineen and her parents left for homestead land in Wisconsin in the early 1850’s. By the way , the Colthursts still own and operate nearby Blarney Castle.
    Ps Jörg is raising a glass to you readers in gratitude for your wonderful comments ❤️🙏☘️🇮🇪    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Welcome April in Ballyvourney

    April 2, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    Today was our day to visit with our friends the Kelly’s; Joe and his daughters Deirdre and Neasa who have become dear friends on our visits here .We call Joe our Godfather as he has been instrumental in helping me to meet my cousins in the area and the Kelly’s have shown us such hospitality on our visits here .
    We originally met Joe when our B and B operator told us she’d like for us to meet him because he knows everyone here and introduced us.
    He does know every one and was keen to help me find my cousins and he did just that !

    We decided to meet up with them at Saint Gobnait’s shrine and to visit Joe’s wife and their Mom’s grave, and say hello to her too as is done here.
    Because the newest Covid variant is quite widespread here we won’t be able to visit the Kelly’s indoors .
    While we were at the shrine we met some visitors there who share the name Kelleher with my relatives of that name from the village of Coolea next to Ballyvourney.
    Of course, we had a lovely talk about various Kelleher’s and thanked Saint Gobnait for her continuing inspirations to all of us emigres from the area!
    We had a good visit sitting with Mrs.Kelly and tried to answer a few of the many questions our friends have about WHAT in the world is going on in the USA? ❤️☘️❤️
    After our visit we went to Gadaí Dubh Books and delivered Ronnie’s latest book as a gift from Ronnie for Conor the Owner.
    Cón was delighted to receive it ! He selected a book of local poetry and gave it to us for Ronnie ❤️.
    By the way Ronnie, Con loved the cover and was delighted with your illustrations even before he had a chance to begin reading it .    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Mills inn Saturday night

    April 2, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 48 °F

    The local brew here is from Nine White Deer brewery in honor of Herself of course; Saint Gobnait.
    The Mills is lively and the concert starts soon in the Upstairs room .
    Masks for us …

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    A tour of Coolea and tea party/ picnic

    April 3, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 48 °F

    It was a perfect spring day to tour the village of Coolea , just outside of Ballyvourney and home of Gobnait and my ancestors.
    The Kellys packed a tea picnic for us all and we finished the afternoon with another picnic table gathering at the highest pub in Ireland 🇮🇪: Top of Coom which is next door to Coolea and is in County Kerry .Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    A soft Monday

    April 4, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 52 °F

    The Irish name for what we might call an overcast drizzling day is a “soft day”. On a day like this the thousand shades of green in the landscape are gorgeous.
    And, the rain is warm and the air clean .
    We returned for another visit to Gobnait’s Holy Well where the ancient trees and spring wildflowers frame the
    Pilgrims prayer ribbons and remembrances .
    We collected holy water from the Holy Well to bring home with us .
    And, we made our way down long country lanes to the tiny local cheese factory that produces 30 tons annually of Coolea cheese now shipped around the world .
    Famous for its lovely flavour and made with two ingredients; milk from cows pasture grazed locally and whey.
    The owner was happy to tell us he had just sent a large shipment to his marketer in London where it would be resent to Ukraine as his gift to the Ukrainian people.

    When we returned to the Mills we found that we had Irish Census forms waiting for us to complete because today is the day across Ireland to identify every person in the country including visitors.
    The experience was quite different than our US census because it included almost exclusively questions about our care for others and work and volunteer lives and nothing at all about our property.    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    1The Paps
    1Bus station in KillarneyBus EirranAnother friendly IrishmanHelping is the cultureOur friend John the bus driver of 49 yearsA soft day drive to DingleWe arrive in DingleView of Dingle Harbor from our room1Good night from Dingle

    The road to Dingle via Killarney

    April 5, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F

    We are changing up our itinerary to reflect the need to reschedule some of our local visits due to Covid quarantines.( Not for us thank God ) .
    We will return to Ballyvourney on Easter and stay 2 nights before we head to Kildare’s Bridget Center and Dublin at the end of the trip.
    Today we have a lunch date in Killarney with our favorite Irish bus driver John O’Keefe , then we head to Dingle for a few days stay.
    I don’t think I could bear to leave Ballyvourney if we were not returning soon .❤️🙏🇮🇪    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    2View of Harbor
    Love the cattle grazing right in townLibrary viewCozy fireplace in libraryThe grazing cattle are huddled together for warmthMorning viewGlory beThere is something very soothing about the presence of cattle.2122Sheep grazing just across the road

    Ah, Dingle

    April 6, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 46 °F

    The view changes every few minutes as we watch our lovely view of the Dingle harbor.

    50 degrees and windy.
    Yes, those are palm trees 🌴! Because it never freezes here and the Atlantic Gulf Stream is just off shore, the wind has a warmth to it that is quite surprising. That said , today’s rain is what the Irish refer to as “lashing rain” and is formidable.
    Latitude here is 52 degrees north, for context Calgary Alberta is 51 degrees north.

    The library here at the Greenmount called my name and I stayed here while Jörg went roaming and scouting , took care of our laundry and brought home pizza .

    We successfully changed our reservations for the rest of the trip to accommodate the changes necessary because some of our friends and family are in quarantine this week .

    P.s. Ronnie ; We did see Tom Crean’s
    South Pole Bar in Anascoul on our way here and will try and find some of his brew.There is also a Tom Crean pub in Kenmare which would be lovely to visit .

    The Dingle Peninsula is in County Kerry and is the most western location of Europe .

    We saw our first rainbow / from its appearance to its disappearance/ 2 minutes and every second stunning.
    Breakfast/ the food, the view, the staff …❤️    Read more

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    4Dingle to Ballincollig In Detail
    Tom Crean's hometown and his local place the SOUTH POLE BARInch BeachInch Beach1221221

    It’s Friday so it must be County Cork

    April 8, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 43 °F

    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 SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    Mural at the Ballinora school where Keara and her husband had their first teaching jobs
    Nora McCarthy, like Saint Gobnait founded a monastery for women Ballinora is named after herHugh O'Neill stopped here on his way from Donegal to Battle of KinsaleA famine cemeteryWilding signs everywhere to promote native plantsBallinora landscape reminds us of the Sweeney farm near Blue Mounds WisconsinDarina's GardenGlorious CamelliasThe native wild primroseThe mild climate promotes Mediterranean plantsWhat a cedar !Scots Pines / ancientA fernDarina with her favorite Alberta hatThe cousins ; Keara, Kathy and DarinaLove the outdoor living spaces

    Ballinora and the Irish Cousins

    April 9, 2022 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

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    Jennie Beale , founder of Brigits Garden , presented with Ronnie's latest book
    Brigits Garden is a nonprofit founded in 2004 by Jennie Beale and still led by herThe walk through Celtic seasons is lovely2Gadens designed by Mary Reynolds, local plants and materialsCurving organic designs2Glorious cherry tree3Irish robins are so lovablePrimroses !!❤️Crannog refers to prehistoric houses ; this one built in 2008Thatched roofs and standing stones / wowFrittilaria are special1Different types of Brigids Crosses on displayJennie Beale's gift for Ronnie1I love this iconic creature ( the wood sculpture! )

    Brigits Garden

    April 12, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F

    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

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Bantry ahead …

    April 13, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    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 SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    Bantry by the sea

    April 15, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    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.🐣

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
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    3121211313111On the upper right you can see the location of Ballyvourney in this map of West Cork

    Beara Pennisula and Neilie Dunne

    April 17, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 50 °F

    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

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler
    3The Old Road passes by Gobnait's shrine and holy well and the old Sweeney farm
    Look who lives on the old farm nowView of the Kerry and Cork landscapeA long beautiful viewSheep ! Everywhere ...1The steeple of the Church at Gobnait's shrine is visible through the trees from the Old farmView of the Sacred Paps of Anu from the old farm ,an ancient holy place in KerryEileen and Peader / our friends and guides

    Eureka ! Its the old Sweeney farm

    April 18, 2022 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 36 °F

    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

  • Kathy SweeneySpring in Ireland 2022Traveler

    Back in the USA

    April 21, 2022 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

    Trip end
    April 21, 2022
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