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Ireland
  • Terry And Randy Clarke
  • Terry And Randy Clarke

Ireland

A 29-day adventure by Terry And Randy Read more
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  • Trip start
    September 10, 2024
    Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Tug was not pleased that our backpacks were out in the car and he was giving us the stink eye.
    Waiting for the Parknfly bus. Everything fit in our backpacks.Through security and ready to fly.Our partners in crime.Our first stop in Dublin for live music and good beer.Great place, great music, great beer.The actual Temple Bar in the Temple Bar area of Dublin.There were interesting murals around the city. This pigeon was outside our hotel.First breakfast in a cool little cafeWe walked along the north side of the river. So much to see.The Half Penny Bridge. Couldn't see over so we looked through it.1We really enjoyed the Jamieson tour. There are so many whiskeys.The Brazen Head Pub was the oldest in Dublin.I think the armor was as old as the pub.Christ Church Cathedral was beautiful.Another beautiful church we passed on our walk to the Guiness Warehouse tour.The end of the Guiness tour was the Gravety Bar and a pint.Randy enjoyed his complimentary pint.Having fun with the characters in Guiness Advertising areaMore fun with the advertising displays.

    Dublin Fair City

    Sep 11–14, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C

    Our flights were scheduled to leave late; 11:55, so we hung out with Tug until 3:00 before heading to the airport. The roads were great, and traffic was light until we got close to Toronto. We met Mike and Lori at Arizonas on Carlingview, and we enjoyed a nice dinner on the patio. We were less than a block from our parking spot, and we made it to the airport with three hours to spare. The flight was uneventful and we arrived in Dublin around 11:30 Wednesday morning. Immigration and Customs was a breeze, and we found the Dublin Express as soon as we walked out of the terminal. Our hotel was a short walk from the George Quay stop. The rooms were small but nicely appointed. We took a short break and then headed to the Temple Bar area to see the sights. We stopped at John Gogartys first, and they had great live music. We really felt we were in Ireland, and we enjoyed a couple of sets. We walked a little further down Fleet Street and found the actual Temple Bar. We met some fun people from Texas and really enjoyed our time there. We found a good traditional restaurant on the way back to our hotel and after that had an early night. The next morning, we found a nice restaurant for breakfast and then slowly made our way to the Jameson distillery. We walked along the north side of Liffey, enjoying the sights. We made a few side trips and even checked out a Mark's and Spencer's. The distillery tour was so cool. We really enjoyed it and met a nice young woman from Colorado who joined us for drinks at the Brazen Head afterward. We made our way slowly back towards our hotel and stopped for dinner. The next day, we had tickets for the Guiness Warehouse tour. We'd had so much fun the previous day we were moving a little slowly so we gave ourselves lots of time to walk the 3 kilometers to the warehouse. It was a little different than Jamieson in that it was a self-directed tour, but after we got started, it was pretty impressive. By the time we finished the tour and arrived at the top floor Gravity Bar, we were ready for our pint. Randy and Mike had a traditional pint, but Lori and I tried the Hop House 13. The views were beautiful, and the beers were good. It was really crowed so the people watching was really interesting. We stopped for dinner on the walk back to the hotel and did a little more exploring. The next morning, we caught the Dublin Express back to the airport and picked up our rental car. It was a fun three days, and we were looking forward to continuing our travels.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    When we first got off the motorway we did have two full lanes.
    Even heading into the Wicklow Mountains we still had a bit of room.The landscape was continually changing. It was really windy too.Many parts of the Old Military Road were very narrow. Meeting oncoming traffic was crazy.The colours were spectacular.Unfortunately there were few places to pull over so most of the pictures were through the window.The wooded areas were lush and green.So much beauty.Coming to the end of The Old Military Road.Back to civilizationThe first place we could pull over. We all enjoyed a short break.Glendalough was our next stop. There were some impressive ruins.This was the chapel. The roof was stone, it was amazing to think how long it has stood up.These ferns were growing out of the walls of the chapel.The monks who built this in 1200 AD used this tower for protection.On our final leg to Graiguenamanagh, still narrow winding roads for a long way.2We made it to our pretty little house, wow that was an incredible drive.

    The First Epic Drive

    September 14, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Our destination today was less than two hours if we took the motorways, but where's the fun in that. The Old Military Road wound through the Wicklow Mountains through Sally's Gap and was said to be one of the most scenic drives in Ireland. What could have been an hour and a half drive turned into four and a half hours, but oh, what a drive. Our compact SUV was really working hard to climb some of the inclines, but its compact size was a blessing on the narrow winding roads. The scenery ranged from fertile farmland to fields of heather to windswept barren land to green wild forests. We thought we saw all four sides of the Wicklow Mountains, and I was asked a few times if I was taking them in circles. We'll there was one time I did have us going the wrong way but only for about five minutes. Randy did an amazing job as always. Once we arrived in Glendalough, we thought the best of the drive was behind us, but definitely not so. We wandered around the ruins of the Church and Abbey, then headed southwest for our final destination, Graiguenamanagh. The roads were just as breathtaking for the rest of the journey. We were very happy when we met our host Mary out front of The Weavers Cottage on High St.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    This little shrine was across the street from our cottage.
    The river ran under the street, we passed this on our way to the shopsFirst stop O'Sheas pub.We spent a couple of hours touring the castle at Kilkenny.Over the bridge to O'Driscolls pub and beer garden. Great live music.View of the river from the Kilkenny castle.Interior of the castle.The ceiling of the portrait galley was so beautiful.Pedestrian mall in Kilkenny.Found the Hole In the Wall pub in Killkeny. Unfortunately it was closed.The roads to Kilkenny were small, winding and beautiful.We stopped at a lookout and the view was so beautiful.The church in Graiguenamanagh was old and very interesting.Doyles was a fun pub. It was also a hardware store.Small windy streets of Graiguenamanagh.These flowers on a restaurant were real. They were so beautiful.Our cottage in Graiguenamanagh.Open plan kitchen and sitting room.One of the bedrooms and bathrooms was in a loft.

    Graiguenamanagh

    Sep 14–16, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌬 17 °C

    We had absolutely no idea how to pronounce the name of this lovely little village until we arrived. Even after a couple of days there, it was still a challenge, but what a lovely place. We rented the Weavers Cottage, which was very comfortable. It was only a short walk to the shops, restaurants and pubs. Mary, the owner, gave us a warm welcome and some great recommendations on local spots. The cottage was well appointed, and the fridge and cupboards were stocked. We also had a convenience store right beside us. Since it was Saturday night, the town was busy. We stopped in at a couple of pubs and then had dinner at a nice restaurant. We found a pub with live music after dinner, it was packed and we stayed for a set of rock music. It was packed with a younger crowd so people watching was great. The next day, we drove into Kilkenny and visited the castle. We had a nice lunch on the river and picked up a few supplies before heading back to Graiguenamanagh. We visited the pubs again, then picked up takeout and spent the evening in the cottage. The drive to and from Kilkenny was a highlight of our time here. The country roads were just magical.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Seal Rescue was our 1st stop. We really enjoyed hearing their story and seeing the rescued seals.
    Courtown was a pretty seaside resort town.Lori wanted to get her feet wet. It wasn't as cold as she expected.I wasn't quite as brave. Also I didn't bring flip flopsWe walked to the pier and along the waterfront.A little further south we stopped at Cahore Beach and Mike went for a swim.It was a gorgeous beach and we walked for awhile. I found a few pieces of sea glass.It was warm and sunny. It felt so good to have our feet in the sandWe were on some crazy roads on our way to Wexford our stop for the night.This pub was outside our hotel. Had to get the picture for our own MaggieThis was Beggars Alley and led from a main street to the waterfront.This pub was very close to some really nice shoppingA Pub, an Undertaker and a Husband Day Care.Oldest shop in Wexford. Sadly it wasn't opened.Inside Maggie Mays. Really friendly staff and customers. It was really pretty with a beautiful barSuch a beautiful beach.

    Wexford

    Sep 16–17, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Our destination today was Wexford with a couple of stops along the way. We were on actually highways for part of the trip, and it felt so strange to be going fast. Our first stop was Seal Rescue Ireland, a volunteer organization that serves all of the country. Their goal is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release at risk seals. It is a very impressive organization with many dedicated individuals contributing to its success. You can find out more at https://www.sealrescueireland.org/
    We continued on to Courtown to explore this small resort town. There were many family focused attractions, a nice boardwalk, some pleasure boats, and a wharf. We walked down to the water, and Lori got her feet wet in the Irish Sea. We drove a little further south to Cahore Beach. The beaches were amazing and stretched before us for miles. Mike decided to go for a swim and then we walked for an hour or so. He said it wasn't as cold as expected, maybe the same as Lake Huron in early June. We found sea glass, some interesting shells, and even a mermaids purse. Back in the car and more crazy little roads until we reached Wexford in the late afternoon. We enjoyed exploring Wexford, visited a few pubs, and had dinner in a Thai restaurant.    Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    We stopped at Cobh on our way to Kinsale. The Heritage Center was really interesting.
    We wandered along the waterfront reading information about the Titanic and Lusitania.The coloured houses were called the deck of cards.Most of the immigration ships left from Cobh so there was lots of information and memorials.Kinsal was so pretty and very walkable.Lots of colourful shops and restaurants. Our weather was great so we enjoyed the outdoors.We couldn't believe the full moon when we headed home from the pub.Kitty O Sheas was a great pubOur second day started out cloudy.Really cool houses on our morning walk.Although the day started out cool and cloudy we still enjoyed our walks.The Yacht Club had a nice building and docks across the street.Our harbour tour boat. They handed out blankets for the seats on top.We had to have a pint to sit in the sun and plan our routes for next day.An other great outdoor spot to catch the sun.Great bartenderFort Charles from the boat tour.Sailboat heading out of the harbour.Chris and Paul, friends of Mike and Lori's from Sarnia.

    Kinsale

    Sep 17–19, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We took a side trip to Cobh on our way to Kinsale and really enjoyed exploring the waterfront. We started at the Heritage Center, where we learned about the Titanics' last stop and the sinking of the Lusitania. There were brightly coloured buildings, lots of statues and interesting little shops. Randy and I couldn't resist a sausage roll with hot mustard. Kinsale was only about an hour further west, and we arrived in the late afternoon. Parking was a challenge, but we found a spot at the library. Our rooms were above a cafe, they were really nice but really small. After checking in, we wandered around exploring the town. There was so much to see, and we really enjoyed exploring. The streets were narrow and wound up and down the hillside. Cars barely had room for one lane of traffic, and you had to keep watching out for them. We found a pub with live music to end our first evening. We took a harbour tour the following day and learned a little about the history of the area. We also had a good view of both Charles and James forts from the water. Both were very impressive. There was a farmers market by the harbour. Later that afternoon we were enjoying the sunshine at a little pub when Lori spotted friends from Sarnia walking by. What a coincidence, Chris and Paul Campbell were just finishing their two week tour with a few days in Cork. They were just in Kinsale for a couple of hours. It was fun comparing stories and hearing about their trip. We had a really nice dinner at a small but elegant restaurant across from our hotel. Overall, we really enjoyed our time in Kinsale.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    1Kenmore Stone Circle was an interesting stop
    We had a nice walk around the town of Kenmore.The view from the bridge in SneemThe view from our off road adventure was worth the scary drive.The wider part of the road where Randy was able to turn around.Very rugged and beautiful.Not even paved in parts.We couldn't get down to this beach unfortunately.The Skellig Ring was mostly single lane with lots of curves.We walked into town from our B&B and enjoyed dinner and drinks.The view from our B&B. We walked the beach in the morning.This cat joined us on our walk and insisted on lots of attention.Our B&B from the beach. The tree was impressive.Inch Beach.Perfect beach day.We didn't bring any summer clothes. Not even a pair of flip flops.One more picture of our scary driveThe view from our accommodations in KnightstownSt Mary's Cathedral in KilarneyInch Beach

    The Ring of Kerry

    Sep 19–20, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We had originally planned on driving the Ring of Kerry in one day, but after experiencing the Irish roads, we decided to take two days. We booked a B&B in Knights Town on Valentia Island to break up the day. Our first stop was Kenmore, where we checked out a stone circle that dates back to 2200 to 500 BC. It's one of the largest stone circles in southwest Ireland. Our next stop, after some beautiful scenery and many tour buses, was Sneem. We walked around the colorful little town and browsed in the gift shops. It's definitely busier on this drive. There were a couple of viewpoints we couldn't stop at since all the parking spots were taken. We decided to look for a WW2 historical marker that was what we thought a short side trip. At first the single lane wasn't too bad and we only passed one car. The road gradually got worse till I convinced Randy to turn around when there was a wider spot in the road. The views were spectacular, but the road was probably the worst we had been on. We continued on to the Skellig Ring and had great views of the Kerry Cliffs. We were all quite happy when we crossed the bridge to Valentia Island. It had been a long driving day. We had a bit of a surprise when we pulled into the driveway of our accommodations in Knightstown. I found it on Booking.com, the pictures looked great, the reviews were excellent, and it was rated 4.8 out of 5. Best of all, it was waterfront. However,I didn't even want to get out of the car when we arrived. The gardens were overgrown, and there was an assortment of strange items in amongst the tall grass and weeds. Our host was sitting outside waiting for us and told us a bit about the house. It was over 200 years old, his family bought it in the 1960s, and he grew up there with his 8 siblings. He and two of his brothers still lived in the home, and he ran it as a Bed and Breakfast. The house was huge and very old. We both had our own bathrooms, but they were across the hall. It was a little creepy, but we lived to talk about it. The view from the property was so beautiful, and it turned out OK in the end. The next morning, after a full Irish breakfast, we took a small ferry off the island and completed the Ring of Kerry drive in Kilarney. Randy had his t-shirt on from Kilarney Ontario, and we found him one from the original Kilarney. Our final stop before arriving in Dingle was Inch Beach. What a beautiful spot. We first walked the beach and then went back for the car and drove on the beach. The sun was shining and it was really warm, so it was a perfect beach day.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Tigh Furlow our apartment in Dingle. Beautiful accommodation.
    Two ensuite bedrooms, a nice great room and lots of outdoor space.We met the owner of this beauty while wandering the waterfront.Pub in Dingle enjoying trad music.The musicians we were enjoying.Later that night in the Dingle Pub, great music and great people.Our beach walk on Slea Head.It was low tide on a beautiful sand beach. The seaweed left amazing patterns in the sandThis whole building is made of stone even the roof.4000 year old stone huts.Pretty Dingle at night.The Blasket IslandsBeautiful scenery on the Slea Head drive.The most westerly pub in Ireland.Slea Head drive.

    The Dingle Peninsula

    Sep 20–22, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ 🌙 16 °C

    Dingle was such a great stop on our trip. Our accommodations. Tigh Furlow exceeded our expectations. The owners did a wonderful job building this apartment at the back of their property. It was a bit of a walk into town, but that meant it was so peaceful, and we even heard the sheep. Our first night, Moira drove us into town and pointed out the best places. She dropped us off at the waterfront, and we started exploring. We had a nice dinner and then hit the pubs. We heard some great music and met some interesting people. We decided to walk the 1.5 kilometers home along the dark country road, and it was an adventure on its own. We did the Slea Head drive the following day, and the scenery was unbelievable. We stopped at Carhoo Bay Beach for a long beach walk and then checked out Dunbeg Fort. We wandered around Cashel Murphy, a collection of stone beehive huts that is thought to be over 4000 years old. We dropped into the most westerly pub in Ireland, Kruegars of Dunquin, for a late lunch. There were two Hen Parties and one Stag there, so great people watching. All three parties were on buses so they were free to really enjoy themselves. We wandered around Dingle that evening, and all the pubs and restaurants were packed. It really is a wonderful place.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Randy are you sure this is a road? Short cut in Listowel
    Listowel was a lovely town and we enjoyed a few hours exploring. Tidy Towns is a big deal here.The ruins of Listowel Castle, the racetrack was just behind it.Beautiful hotel with gorgeous flowers. It was furnished with period pieces, guests were dressed up.The view from the patio was amazing. We'd walked that bridge to the track.The town square was busy when services let out from both churches.Bunratty Folk Park was interesting. There were displays of country life from historical times.There was a village and rural displays and people in period dress. 2024 tourists.The castle was impressive. We had to climb steep winding staircases to see each level.Lots of climbing stairs so it was nice to sit.1Sheaf tossing competition. Randy told someone it was sheep tossing.Our hotel was beautiful and the gardens so colourful

    Are We In Listowel?

    Sep 22–23, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We left Dingle heading to Bunratty and drove the stunning Connor Pass. It was another of those winding narrow roads with sheer drops a few feet from the car. We didn't get to see those views, though, as we were driving through thick fog. It was not a fun drive, but Randy did a great job. Once we were back on level ground, the fog lifted, and the sun even came out. We'd noticed on the map that there was a town called Listowel, so we decided to stop on the way to our destination, Bunratty. Randy grew up in the Listowell Ontario area, so we couldn't resist. It was a pretty town with lots to see. It was the first day of Race Week and the Harvest Festival, so there was so much going on. We saw the race track, the Writers Museum, and the castle. I wish we had more time here. We went on to Bunratty Castle and Folkpark for their Harvest Festival, and the rain held off long enough for us to visit. Randy had caught a bug and wasn't feeling good, so he was happy to check into our hotel. He did a great job today on a challenging drive, even feeling bad.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Crab Island from the Doolin Pier. Grey, cool day but not much rain
    1Mike and Lori waiting for our boat trip.I think this was called the Hags HeadA different view of the Hags HeadThe Cliffs of Moher from the water on a cold windy day.Warming up at Fitz's Pub. A few doors down from our cottage.The Cliffs of Moher by land on a warm sunny day.OBrians Tower at the Cliffs of Moher.We dressed for the previous days weather. Coat off, then hoodie offThe Cliffs of Moher are a must see.1Obrians Tower behind us.Lahinch Beach. Although it was calm there were surf lessons taking placeCornerstone Pub.Our walk from the cottage to Gus OConnors Pub. The cows on the right were hanging over the wall.Our entertainment at Fitz's. Great singer even with a cold.Beautiful Cliffs of Moher and my handsome husband.Gorgeous day.The water was calm and no wind at all.The cattle and sheep in this pasture had their own ruins. Our walk to old town.We had a 3 bedroom cottage in New Doolin for 2 nights.

    Cliffs of Moher

    Sep 23–25, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    The drive to Doolin was a little easier, most of the way was on national roads and even some time on a motorway. Randy was still not 100%, so we were grateful for a bit of a break for him. We booked a 45-minute cruise to see the cliffs from the water, but Randy stayed behind and tried to nap in the car. It was cold, grey, and windy, so a boat ride didn't appeal to him. It was really interesting to see the cliffs from the water, and Lori, Mike, and I enjoyed the cruise. Afterward, we warmed up in Fitz's Pub while we waited for our cottage to be ready. We went back there for dinner and to listen to music later that night. The cottage worked well. It had 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, so there was plenty of room. It had a washer and a drying rack, so we were able to catch up on our laundry. Day two, we went to the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Center and spent a couple of hours exploring. There were at least 20 tour buses and hordes of people, but we still were able to enjoy the beautiful views. We drove a little further south to a pretty little surf town called Lahinch for lunch. Cornerstone Pub was a quaint old spot with a friendly and entertaining bartender who kept us laughing. Dylan was a native of Lahinch, and he thinks it's the best spot in all of Ireland. Surfing is his passion, and it's a great place to surf. Later that day, we walked into Old Doolin to Gus OConnors Pub for traditional music. It was a nice walk there and back. We passed a friendly donkey and a pasture with cows and horses. We had cows behind our cottage, too. We woke up to them calling for their breakfast. We really enjoyed our stay in Doolin.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Our drive from Doolin to Galway via The Burren
    Roads were two lane but tiny two lanes. These busses are huge.Just spectacular views.We stopped at the Aillwee Burren Experience to see this area up closeLori is still in flip-flops even in the Burren.Wild areaI'm always the short one.Salthill area of Galway. Check out the right side of the building. Randy loved this.Ducked in to The Office to get out of the rain and spent the afternoon betting on the horsesWe were at the Listowel race track on Sunday. We were too early for the races so we enjoyed on tvThe winning ticketsSalthill GalwayWe had dinner at The GalleonOur little hotel. Small but very nice.The pub we spent the afternoon watching and betting on races.Crazy pub Randy called Crackerbarrel on drugsWaterfront in SalthillO'Connors pub in Salthill. The fire was wonderful.So much stuff.

    Salthill

    Sep 25–26, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We drove through the Burren on our way from Doolin to Galway. It is a very unique part of County Clare with stunning views of a very diverse landscape. We stopped for a walk to see the landscape up close. It was so beautiful. The drive was interesting, too. We were on a road called Corkscrew Hill passing tour buses and tractors. We would pull over into the bushes as far as we could and wait for them to pass. As we got closer to Galway, it started to pour. Our hotel was in Salthill, a beachfront area of Galway, and about a 15-minute walk to the historical center of the city. We parked by the beach and tried to get into our hotel early, but no luck. We were waiting for a cab to go into the city center and it started raining really hard. We were cold and wet, so we headed into the pub beside our hotel. What a good decision. Friendly bartenders and patrons made us welcome. Horse racing was on the big screen, and several patrons were betting. We were surprised to see the races were in Listowel. Randy and Mike ran down to the closest bookie, and each placed bets. Mike won in the first race and Randy in the second. We cashed in and blew the money on pints. The weather didn't improve so we decided to stay in the neighborhood. We had a nice dinner across from our hotel and then visited OConnors Pub for traditional music. The pub was very unique. It was old and very quirky, filled with so many weird things. Randy said it was like Crackerbarrel on drugs. There were several fireplaces, and our table was a sewing machine. It was our last night with Mike and Lori. We are taking them to the train station tomorrow. We've been calling Randy Rip for all you Yellowstone fans. We met some fellow Canadians and other people from Maryland. We didn't get to see much of Galway, but we did enjoy our visit.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    There were ruins of several churches and many grave markers.
    The original crosses were protected indoors.The site was very large and impressive. I was surprised at its violent history.This arch was called the Whispering Arch. It was so wet and cold I didn't really appreciate it.Randy looking for shelter, Oops no roof.Original church on the site.We pulled over to let faster traffic go by and saw this pretty forest road.Stopped for lunch to warm up and loved the Strathroy butter.1Our room at the Shamrock Lodge.I wasn't joking we really did have the Princess suite.Sitting at the end of the bar watching all the action. The bartenders were hilarious.1They had live music but it didn't start till 10, way too late.This is part of the original wall which was dated to the 9th century.From the outside it's very plain but inside it's awesome.

    Clonmacnoise and Seans Bar

    Sep 26–27, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    It was rainy and cold as we drove inland to Athlone. We stopped at Clonmacnoise a monastery that was founded in the 6th century. We watched a video presentation and then had a guided tour. Some of the original Celtic crosses have been moved into a museum to safeguard them, and models were erected outside. We enjoyed the inside tour more than the outside as the rain was coming sideways. Our guide tried to keep us to sheltered areas, but it was wild. He also told us that the bar we were going to tonight was almost as old as the monastery. We had a nice surprise when we checked into the Shamrock Lodge, they put us in the Princess Grace Suite. She was at the hotel in the 60s, and they had all kinds of memorabilia. It was a beautiful room and we really enjoyed our stay. We spent a few hours at Seans Bar, and we were totally entertained by the bar staff as they scrambled to take care of bus loads of thirsty customers. The bar dates back to the 9th century. It was definitely worth the drive to Athlone to experience Seans Bar.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    There is a neighborhood in Galway called Terry Land. Had to take a picture.
    Sweeping vistas as we entered the Connemara area.The bens in the distanceThe Giant of Connemara a carving on the roadside.Along with the statue of the giant is this plaque. Love the humour.Getting closer to the bens. The road ran between them so views on both sides.The start of the Sky Road. We followed a dump truck for a bit.More Sky Road1The highest point was really windy and the view was terrific.Top of the Sky Road.The heather was in bloom, this was outside my car window close enough to touch.On our way down, passed walkers, cyclists and oncoming traffic. The blind corners, wow.Getting close to town and the road is widening.ClifdenA well earned pint of Guiness after a long drive.1Fresh local oysters in the town square.1Breakfast room in our B,&B. This was before we were served a full breakfast. So much stuff.The sitting roomFrom the outside it looks like two stories but it's built into a hill so at least 3 sets of stairs.Charity shop across the street. Backpacks a little full so donations welcomed.

    Clifden and Connemara

    Sep 27–28, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    We had to back track a bit to get to our next destination, Clifden. It was all national roads until we took a short detour to drive The Sky Road. Once we were west of Galway, the landscape became so dramatic as we entered the Connemara area. There were miles of peat meadows with majestic mountains or bens in the distance. As we got closer to Clifden, the Twelve Bens took our breath away. It was a nice change to have such beautiful scenery and a wide two lane road at the same time. That changed when we took the Sky Road. The views were amazing, but the road was narrow with blind corners and shear drops. Well worth the white knuckles, though. We arrived in Clifden in the middle of their annual art festival so it was busy and there were some lovely paintings and drawings on display around town. Our B &B was very interesting. It was in an old building that seemed to go on for half the block. The brother and sister who owned it loved their antiques and had quite the collection. However, the bed was comfy, and the breakfast was plentiful and delicious. We wandered the town, visited a few pubs, and heard some great traditional music. Clifden really is a lovely little town.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    The roads were wider and nicely paved. The scenery was still so beautiful.
    Kylemore Abbey, was a private home but now a satellite campus of Notre Dam CollegeOur first of many sheep encounters. They were not in a hurry so neither were we.The beautiful Killary FjordThe Mariner Hotel in Westport.A tribute to St Patrick in the town square of Westport.Randy got a kick out of the supports for this old fishing boat. Empty guiness kegs.First glimpse of Achill Sound.Stopped for fuel in Newport. It was the lowest price so far, €1.69 per litre.The road to Keem Beach.More sheep.This was a challenging road but so worth it.A small stream by the parking lot at Keem Beach.Keem Beach. It was cold and really windy but still people swimming.We love our beaches.Our pretty room at Greystone House.Greystone House on Achill Island.The swing bridge back to the mainland.1Dinner and a drink at the Achill Island Hotel.1The view from the pub.

    Achill Island

    Sep 28–29, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    We had a lovely B&B booked on Achill Island. The drive from Clifden to Achill Island was amazing. We were on a national road , so well marked lanes, even when it wound up and down hills and around the Killary Fjord, we had room for oncoming traffic. It was a good thing because the tour busses were out in force. The only negative to the tour buses was it didn't leave many parking spots for us. We stopped for a walk through both Westport and Newport. It was nice to stretch our legs and see the sights. We drove past our B&B to drive to the end of Achill Island. There was a huge kite surfing festival taking place with so many campervans and caravans. And sheep, oh my goodness, sheep everywhere. The last part of the drive to Keem Beach was breathtaking, and the beach itself was beautiful. The B&B was so nice, I sat in the sunroom looking out at Achill Sound and caught up on my footprints. We walked over the swing bridge to the Achill Island Hotel for dinner and some people watching. We were Fionas' last guests of the season. She was a wonderful host, and her home was lovely.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    1Strangest laundry ever.
    Oops one sock didn't make it too the dryer cycle. The heat vent did the trick.The road to the beach was interesting.Very long beach and sand dunes in the distance. Even though it was rainy people were walking dogs.BeautifulThis one is for the Berkleys. We didn't go in.Made it to two pubs in Crossmolina.Hineys Pub in CrossmolinaWaiting for dinner.1Sunday roast, turkey, ham, potatoes, stuffing, gravy and three different veg. Enough for 2

    Crossmolina

    Sep 29–30, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C

    It was rainy, windy, and cold when we left Achill Island heading to our next destination. Crossmolina was a small town in County Mayo and was not too far away. There was a long way with great scenery, but our colds were getting the best of us, and we had laundry to do so we took the more direct route. The laundry was in the parking lot of a very busy gas station, and it was pouring. What a different experience doing laundry in a parking lot. The machines were large, and the price included detergent and drying. The most challenging part was getting the clean dry laundry to the back seat of the car to fold. After we finished the laundry, we went for a drive to Ross Beach. It was another windy, narrow road, but the beach at the end was worth it. Our hotel for the night The Dolphin Hotel was interesting. The hallway and stairs were so dirty we were afraid to see the room. Surprisingly, it was updated and clean, but it was so small we had to push on the mattress to open and close the door. There was an antique car show in town and we saw some pretty cool old cars. We stopped in a pub and met a nice young local couple, and they recommended a spot for dinner. We had a huge Sunday roast in a busy pub full of families enjoying a night out.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Our one town in Leitrim County.
    These townhouses may not have been there when Randy's great grandparents left.This cross could have been there it appeared to be very old.The Gills family donated space for a park in the town center.On to Donegal town in County Donegal. We had a quick visit.Donegal was a really nice town.We toured the castle.These spiral staircases in the castles are not my favorites. Only three floors here.This was the toilet, round holes that went down to a pit below the castle.1The main room was pretty impressive.Waterfront in Dungloe from our room.Old abandoned buildings at the harbour in DungloeWe walked to the end of the jetty.This store was so cute, unfortunately it wasn't open but we enjoyed trying to peek in the window.Another really cute store front.We had a nice dinner at a Chinese restaurant based on a recommendation from locals. Pretty placeView of the water from an alley on main streetOur walk homeLeaving Dungloe the scenery was beautifulHard to believe we are on the same latitude as northern Labrador

    Dungloe

    Sep 30–Oct 1, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Randy recently found out that his great grandparents on his father's side had emigrated from County Leitrim, and we were going to be traveling through a very small part of this county today. We passed through one seaside village, Tullaghan, so we had to stop and take a walk. He is interested in finding out more when we return home, but at least he can say he did spend some time in Leitrim County. We also stopped in Donegal and toured the castle. It is a pretty town and we enjoyed our visit. Dungloe was our stop for the night, and our room in the Midway Inn was tiny but had a sea view. We met a few locals who introduced us to Canadians who purchased a home outside of town and visited several times a year. We also found out that Dungloe is the hometown of Daniel ODonnel, a singer my mom absolutely loved. Mom dragged dad on a few bus trips to places like Branson Missouri to see him perform. Oh my, she would have loved to visit here. He still performs a couple of times a year in the area.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Letterkenny was a quick stop but we enjoyed the pretty old part of town.
    There were many murals but this one was our favorite.The cathedral was pretty impressive1We were allowed access and a couple of maintenance people even encouraged us to go onto the alter.The cross walks were really funny. Almost thought we would time travel.We made it to Derry not at all like the show except for kids in uniforms everywhere.The pigeons were wild. Every few minutes,hundreds would fly overhead anthen return to the same spot.The Guildhall was a gathering place for people and pigeons. It was outside the walls.Iconic Free Derry graffiti. When they tore the building down, they saved this wall.Second Derry Girls mural from the top of the walls.Street view from the top of the wall.First pint after 13000 steps.Music from young performers.Morning walk along the river.Riverside1The Peace Bridge is a pedestrian and cycle bridge. Lots of dogs out for a walk.View from the bridge.

    Derry Northern Ireland

    Oct 1–2, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    We crossed into Northern Ireland today after a quick visit to Letterkenny. Google Maps didn't let us know, but since my phone stopped working, we figured it out. It never occurred to me that I would need two plans, but it is a different country. The drive was every bit as pretty the people just as friendly. Our B&B on William St was one block from where Bloody Sunday took place, and our host Kevin remembers it well. He was 8, and his parents came home from what was supposed to be a peaceful rally and locked them in the house for almost a week. We visited the memorials and murals in that area. It's hard to imagine how recent it was. We totally loved Derry. It's such a nice blend of old and new. People are friendly and there is music everywhere. The original walls from the 15th and 16th centuries are still in tact, and it's about a mile walk around the top. There were tributes to the Derry Girls alongside tributes to revolutionary heroes. Quite unexpected, but it works. We walked for hours and then found a pub with traditional music. Initially, it was a group of young people with someone who appeared to be their music teacher. The pub was full of their families as well as tourists and regulars. It reminded me a bit of Song Farmers as each performer took turns leading a song. At 8:00, the lights flashed, and everyone under 18 had to leave. A young couple from Ottawa with a baby had joined us at our table, and they had to go too. Quite a coincidence as the young father races at our yacht club at least once a year with our dock neighbor. After the kids left, some other musicians sat down, and the music continued. A couple from Owen Sound sat with us, too. They were traveling the opposite direction to us, so we shared suggestions based on both our experiences. The next morning, we walked across the Peace Bridge and explored some other parts of the city.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    The drive from Derry to Port Rush was beautiful.
    We drove a little further along A2 to see some of the cliffs.This is from the road, so beautiful and so close.Dunluce Castle looking east. We watched the sailboat and we're surprised to get it in the shot.The castle from the west.This was our townhouse, we really enjoyed it. We had the main floorA really cozy sitting room with an electric fireplace.The bed was comfy.Even a turntable and collection of LPs. We used Google but still loved the old school touch.Just outside our townhouse. This was just ahead of the east beach or strand.The east strand.This little cafe is surrounded by water in high tide. Oh it was windyThe west stand.The west strand with the harbour in the distance.The third floor balcony at the yacht club. They welcomed us to their bar.It was cool to visit the Port Rush Yacht Club.

    No Rush in Port Rush

    Oct 2–4, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌙 12 °C

    It's been a wonderful trip to date, and we have covered a lot of the country. We both have colds, and we felt we needed to slow down and catch our breath. We booked a small townhouse for two days in Port Rush, and it was a perfect spot to do that. Port Rush is a Victorian beach town, only a short drive from Derry. It's low season, so the pace is slower than the summer, but still lots to see and do. We drove along the coast and visited Bushmills before checking into our accommodations. Unfortunately, our timing was off, so we didn't take the tour, but it was still interesting to see the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland. We parked the car in front of our townhouse and decided that's where it would stay until we checked out. We'd picked up a few groceries so we could use the kitchen and settled into our little home. It was lovely. Michelle, our host, had thought of everything. From a wonderful electric fireplace, to comfy furniture, to a bottle of Bushmills and an assortment of treats. The decor was eclectic, and we kept finding cool little touches. We slept in, explored Port Rush by foot, watched movies, and cooked our meals. It was a lovely break. The views were pretty, we fronted on a park and could see the water. Port Rush has two beautiful beaches, a harbour and even an amusement park. We stopped in at the Port Rush Yacht Club and met an interesting local with her two dogs. We loved that dogs were welcome in many places. It was a wonderful two days in this pretty vacation town.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    The Dark Hedge was planted to create an imposing entrance to this manor house.
    There were a couple of tour buses so lots of people wandering.The trees were several hundred years old and some have died. It wasn't as dark as we'd imaginedMet a nice young Spanish couple and we took turns taking couples pictures.Next stop Giants CausewayPicture from the top. The walk down was easy, the walk back up a little more challenging.Randy climbing on the rocks.We climbed down the west side and wandered around the bottom.Absolutely beautiful walk even though it was rainy and windy.1On our way back up we stopped for a selfie.The diamond in Ballycastle. Another name for town square.The beach at BallycastleThe drive to Torr Head. We are only 12 miles from Scotland on this point.The view looking south from halfway up the hill.Randy coming back down from the abandoned coast guard station at the top.Here come the cattle. They were quite large up close. Even the calves.This was an absolutely stunning beach at Carnlough.First of 12 pieces of sea glass at Carnlaugh beach.We watched the dolphins for about 12 minutes. They came quite close to shore.Random cool things on the A2 from Ballycastle to Larne. Epic coastal drive.Love these cows.

    Game of Thrones and Ballycastle

    Oct 4–5, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    We started the day with a drive to the Dark Hedges. They were located on a small country road that used to be the entrance to a private estate. The current owners opened a parking lot, a cafe, and a walk through their land to avoid congestion on the roadway. The gardens and woods were beautiful but muddy from the many visitors. The old beech trees were remarkable, and I could understand why they have been used in films. There were quite a few visitors, and we watched a serious photographer set up his equipment to try and get shots without people. He was still trying as we walked back to our car. We then back tracked a bit to the Giants Causeway. We'd heard so much about this walk and weren't disappointed by the beautiful vistas. What surprised us was how developed it was. There was a huge visitor center built into the cliffside. It offered audio devices, a gift shop, modern toilets, and even a bus to take people to the bottom of the cliff and, more importantly, back to the top. This made the Causeway more accessible but also took away from the remote beauty. Inadvertently, we passed the visitors' center and wound up at an old inn. They offered to let us park for £10 and they had access to the walking trails. We weren't interested in the visitors center, so we took them up on it. The walk was easier than anticipated, even on the way up. We only did the walk to the bottom and back. There was also a west cliff and east cliff walk that you could do as well. Once at the bottom, you could climb around on the rocks. After leaving the Giants Causeway, the drive along A2, the Coastal Route, was spectacular. We spent the night at Ballycastle and then continued along A2 the next morning to Belfast. We took a quick detour to Torr Head on some pretty sketchy roads, but the short hike and views were totally worth it. On our way back to the A2, a farmer pulled us over and asked us to park on the side of the single track road while he moved some cattle. He said they were a bit crazy and didn't want them to cause any havoc. We gladly obliged and sat back to watch. First, a vehicle came by pulling a trailer with a big bull inside, and then about 5 minutes later, the rest came by. It was so fun to watch except for the last one. It had a crazed expression, and it headed right for the front of our car. It stood there staring at us until the farmer chased it down the road. Quite an experience. The rest of A2 was so beautiful. We stopped at Carnlough for a beach walk. It was a gorgeous beach and I found about 12 pieces of sea glass. South of Glen Glenarm Castle, we saw a school of dolphins swimming close to shore. We pulled over and watched. They even did a few jumps. We stopped in Larne for lunch and then in Carrickfergus to check out their castle. We had an interesting chat with a local in his campervan who shared some great insight into the area. It really was one of our favorite drives of the trip, and the road was almost all two lanes.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    A2 was such a great road to drive along.
    The water on one side and crazy landscapes on the other.Our first view of Carrickfergus Castle. They were rebuilding sections of it.Carrickfergus Castle from the waterfront.Our walk from our apartment in Belfast to city center took us over the Albertbridge Road bridge.The River Lagan from Belfast east.Once we were closer to city center there were beautiful buildings.Belfast City CenterInside Kelly's bar was crazy so we sat in their beer gardenEnjoying the music and crowds.Kelly's BarStreet art everywhere.These sheep reminded we of ones in Toronto.Third class passenger cabin on the Titanic. 75% of people in these cabins were lost.Second class stateroom from Titanic, 59% of these passengers were lost.

    Belfast

    Oct 5–7, 2024 in Northern Ireland ⋅ 🌬 14 °C

    Belfast was a little overwhelming. After spending so much time in the countryside or in very walkable towns, a big city was a real change. Our apartment was great on the inside but not so much on the outside. It was in East Belfast on a very busy road. Across the street was a mural calling for justice for someone who was murdered 5 years ago. Lots of graffiti and many closed storefronts. We walked into the city center, about a 45-minute walk, and found Kelly's Bar. It was a really great spot with live music and tons of people. We really enjoyed ourselves but left early to get most of the walk done before it got too late. Sunday it poured so we took the car and visited the Titanic Museum. What an amazing spot we spent the full afternoon wandering through it. We didn't take many pictures, there was so much to take in. The rain kept up all afternoon and evening, so we had a night in.Read more

  • Terry And Randy ClarkeIrelandTraveler
    Randy looking through the tax roles in the Armagh Town archives
    These were a few of the documents we were given to look throughThere were two St Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh. One was Church of Ireland and one was Catholic.This was the Scottish Presbyterian Church. A little newer than the cathedralsThe gardens at the Church of Ireland cathedral were beautifulI don't think we were supposed to be in the gardens but the gate was unlocked for grass cutting.Another church in ArmaghThe catholic St Patrick's in the distance.Our quirky room in BallbriggenThe couch was even too small for me.This book of sheet music was by the little couch.The Lark Music Center. The Bedford House is at the end of the music theater.The beach at Ballbriggen.The harbour at Ballbriggen. There were two seals watching us from the middle of the harbour.Beautiful morning for a drive into Dublin. Looks early but it was 9:00.This is an overview of our full trip starting and ending inDublin.

    Ballbriggen to Brights Grove

    Oct 7–8, 2024 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    While we were in Belfast Randy's, brother Rick shared some information about their mother's ancestors. Their great great grandfather left County Armagh in around 1846 to come to Canada. We would be passing close by Armagh town on our way to Ballbriggen, so we decided to make a stop. What a great decision, the town of Armagh is so pretty. Very old with many historical sites. The local museum was our first stop. Here we met John Pierson, who worked at the museum and loved his job. He shared so much great information with us, and he connected us with the manager of the museum Sean. Sean brought out the tax roles for the full county from the 1830s to the 1870s. We went through them looking for any mention of the family name Willoughby, but we didn’t find any. It was still so cool to be looking at documents that old. We spent our last night at a very interesting old manor house in Ballbriggen. It was part of The Lark Concert Hall and Music School. Our room was very quirky and included a loft with a tiny little couch. It looked just the right size for a ghost. Breakfast was included at the LaLa Cafe on-site, and it was delicious. Our server shared some great stories about the venue. That day, they were expecting 75 teenage girls for a two day retreat . It was only 40 minutes to the Dublin Airport. Our drive was great until we tried to locate the drop off for the rental car. We entered the lot on the wrong side, so we had to do a complete circle to get to the correct entrance. It was not my best navigation, but Randy stayed calm throughout the confusion. When we dropped the car off, the young man was so laid back, and he didn't give us any paperwork. In fact, we didn't get any paperwork when we picked up the car either. Everything was electronic, and it felt a little strange. We were a little concerned, but our deposit came back on our card, so I guess all was good. It was quite the hike from there to Terminal 1 and further again to our gate. Definitely got our exercise. Our flight was uneventful, and our drive home from Toronto during rush hour was not as crazy as expected. We loved Ireland but are happy to be back home.Read more

    Trip end
    October 8, 2024
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