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Ireland
  • Eileen OSteen
June 2022

Ireland

A 22-day adventure by Eileen Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 2, 2022
    Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler

    Flying across the Atlantic

    June 3, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    Made it to Dublin! Plane was not full so we had an empty seat between us. It was a very modern 787 jet with great seat entertainment screens, plugs and USB ports. Been a while since we have flown internationally but it’s still hard to get sleep! Staying one night in Dublin, heading to Belfast tomorrow. Hop on and hop off bus tour, a visit to Guinness, a quick nap, dinner and chill.Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Long Hall in Trinity LibraryThe Alphabet1Titanic Museum

    Northern Ireland

    June 4, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    A visit to The Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin to start the day. It’s an amazing place and a must visit. One of the pictures shows the alphabet in the book. So ornate! Met up with our driver for the next 7 days, Pat O’Brien. What a lovely gentleman. Styling in our Mercedes sedan! Why can’t airline seats be as comfortable as these? He spent some time growing up in Howard Beach, NY and has a son who worked in Ocean City for a summer. A stop at the Slane Castle and Distillery and then heading to Belfast. Overnight at Europa Hotel, dinner (scallops with crab risotto! - amazing) and some music to round out the evening. Looking forward to Giants Causeway tomorrow!Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Bobbie Sands Tribute1Dark Hedges2Carrick-a-rede Rope BridgeGiant's Causeway1Giant's CausewayGiant's CausewayPeace Bridge, Derry

    Myths and Legends

    June 5, 2022 in Northern Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 52 °F

    Another packed day. Sunshine has prevailed all day, so we have been taking advantage of that. A drive through the Catholic neighborhood in Belfast. Saw the Sinn Fein headquarters and a tribute to Bobbie Sands before heading out of town. The Dark Hedges were impressive beech trees with winding branches, made famous in The Game of Thrones. Next was Carrick a Rede Rope bridge. Long hike down to the bridge and long line to wait to cross but worth it - one of our bucket list items. Weather was perfect so no excuse! Rounded out the afternoon with a hike at Giant’s Causeway. Crazy crowded but our driver, Pat, got us in the parking area. Several hundred people joined us, learning the legend of Finn MacCool. Pictures can’t capture the beauty. Ended the day at our next stop in Donegal. The Mill Park Hotel after a drive around Derry and a walk across the Peace Bridge.Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Slieve League
    Slieve League Cliffs, DonegalRidge of Slieve LeagueOverlook from top of Slieve LeagueEddie's CapPeat!Doe CastleGweedor beachA Session

    The most beautiful beaches!

    June 6, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    The benefits of having a driver is we can changed what was planned. Another day of sunshine so we made the best of it by heading to the coast. Donegal is the start of the Wild Atlantic Way. Most popular in the south (where we are heading next week) this part of the WAW is very isolated and sparsely inhabited. With that being said, this is truly God’s country with views and vistas that are some of the most amazing. Pictures can’t capture the true beauty. We started the day early to avoid the crowds at Sleive League Cliffs. A steep hike up to the ridge provided the most amazing views. For a while we were almost alone up on the ridge but headed back to the car for the drive back to civilization- sharp turns on one lane roads with no guard rails. Glad we aren’t driving. As we headed back down the mountain, we saw a farmer cutting and drying his peat. Peat is still used to heat many homes. Watching two old men stacking peat to dry was humbling! Has to be backbreaking process but they do what they have to do to heat their homes. The rest of the day was visiting some of the hundreds of isolated beaches. Wide, hard packed sand, driving on it is quite common, we saw a few trucks with families on holiday. Speaking of holidays, this weekend has been a “bank holiday”. This is similar to our federal holiday schedule (side note: St. Patrick’s Day weekend is a bank holiday here). So it’s been unusually crowded on the roads and restaurants. Rounded out the evening with a stroll through the diamond center of Donegal, dinner and a little pub for some traditional music. Walking back to the hotel at 11pm and the sun was just setting. Great day.
    Tomorrow we head into Sligo and Mayo and to Westport for next two days. Grace OMalley’s home - here we come!
    Almost forgot - a stop in Donegal at Eddie Dougherty’s weaving shop resulted in a few purchases. Eddie was the cutest LOM (little old man) ever! Showed us his set up and we were able to purchase things in his shop. Pretty special to know who made your hat and lap throw.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    2One of many!

    Exploring Donegal

    June 7, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    We check out of Mill Park Hotel and heading to Glencar Waterfall! It’s become a joke with our guide and driver, Pat, is it an Irish “short walk” or is it truly just a short walk? Many attractions are tucked away and requires a fair amount of walking, some more challenging than others. As many of you know, Larry has had walking challenges over the last few years after tearing his Achilles. The waterfall was truly a short walk, a circle of stairs. Beautiful and serene, tucked in Ben Bulmen mountain area. Visited the remote area of Achill Island. Stunning natural vistas. Had a quick lunch at Kelly’s diner by Dominick Kelly’s Butcher shop in Newport, County Mayo. A quick visit to William Yates gravestone and checked into the Westport Hotel for the next two nights. Westport House, Ashford Castle and Falconry on the schedule tomorrow with lunch at the castle. We are both tired!!!!Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    1Westport House
    Angel of WelcomeFalconry1Ashford Castle1

    Not as We Planned

    June 8, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 55 °F

    Started our day off with pouring rain! It was bound to happen…..Walked to the Westport House near our hotel and got the tour about the manor house, originally built by Grace O’Malley. Beautiful, restored house, including dungeon and wine cellar. We were supposed to go to Ashford Castle for lunch but a little GI bug kinda sidetracked that. Larry had it earlier in the week, we were hoping it was something he had eaten. Eileen was the next victim. So Larry went off to the Falconry at the castle with our driver and had a great time. We walked into town, hoping to grab a bite at O’Malleys pub but it was closed. Looks like they are dealing with the same staffing issues we have in the US. Passed a Lidl grocery store on our walk, found diet 7up, some little biscuit cookies and potato sticks. A little TV and early bedtime.
    We were last here in Ireland 15 years ago, so we wanted to highlight the things that are still the same and things that have changed or improved. Certainly the roads are the most dramatic improvement. We were educated by Pat that the more numbers on a road, the smaller, more narrow and possibly unfinished the road is. M and N roads are the highways. The little ones are L for local. So a challenging road would be L34521. About the worse you can get. Major areas are now connected by M and N roads and they are great. Roundabouts and driving on the left are still the way of the land, so next 2 weeks should be interesting as we take the wheel.
    Lordy, ice for a drink is still hard to find. Had major issues with this on last trip, most of the hotel bars will get for you but they give you a funny look, like, “why?”.
    A big difference so far for us is that we have been staying in some very nice hotels with many modern conveniences, including USB ports, but suspect as we transition to B and Bs by Friday, we will see a varied level of modern conveniences.
    Of course, the people are warm and welcoming everywhere we go. They are happy to have tourist back. Many towns were devastated by Covid closures and 1 out of every 2 pubs in neighborhoods closed. It is sad to see boarded up pubs and other businesses. Interesting that 85% of Irish population is vaccinated. We see some mask wearing among locals and tourists. Nothing has been so crowded that we felt uncomfortable. So we hope that continues.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Kylemore Abbey
    Galway GirlCliffs of Moher

    Last Day with Pat!

    June 9, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    We plan to see Connemara, Galway and Cliffs of Moher today. Tomorrow will begin the self driving portion of our trip. To say that we have been spoiled is an understatement. Pat has been a wealth of information and if he doesn’t know something, he finds out. He has been flexible and altered our itinerary to add and delete things, knowing us and our preferences. We plan to have lunch together and then he will leave us at the hotel near Shannon airport. Another driver is to pick us up in the morning and take us to the airport for our rental car. Should be another adventure! Eileen driving and Larry at the map! So plans are forever changing. Car trouble this morning, so we headed to Galway to exchange cars, had a stroll down Quay St. and finally made it to Cliffs of Moher in the later afternoon. As always, it’s a breathtaking place. It’s now very touristy with a shopping area and visitor center. All of that is new since we were last there. Also new is a slate, flagstone like wall that prevents people from getting too close to the edge and discourages people from taking their own lives by jumping. Apparently this has become enough of an issue, that they have a Serenity Room available for anyone who might need it. The wall is obviously a good thing but the views are definitely affected. I’ll go back and look at our pics from 15 yrs ago when it was simply a viewing area instead of this major attraction. Late check in and early check out of hotel in Ennis. Will need to spend more time in this cute little town. On to the next adventure of driving ourselves!Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Dungarvan Harbor
    In case you forget what you are drinking!The chowder chunks!!

    Adventures Part 2 - Find Your Way

    June 10, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    After a smooth transition to Shannon Airport, we drove off in an Audi, because they had nothing else to give us! Oh well! It’s very nice but somewhat unique in some of its controls. Certainly takes some getting used to. Oh, and about getting used to things? Eileen starting driving and did fairly well with the left sided driving thing, entering roundabouts. Larry only had the occasional near death experience with a stone wall or two. All was pretty good until we got to our destination for the next 4 days, the town of Dungarvan on the southern coast of the Celtic Sea. What a spectacular gem! It was recommended to us several years ago as a lovely town and great touring spot. HOWEVER, the streets are narrow and we arrived in the middle of the day and we had trouble finding our hotel. Said a few prayers, took a break by the water before plunging back into the street. With some direction from the hotel (Larry actually walked a block to it - we could see it but couldn’t get there!), we found the car park (parking lot). The hotel is restored, very quaint. Met the owner when we checked in. He was delighted that someone had recommended it to us (a travel agent - pre Covid. Thanks Becky) and asked about our home in US. This town reminds us a little of Annapolis. Harbor town. Sailing club. Lots of pubs and restaurants. Lively town center. Then he informs us that we are very lucky to be visiting this weekend - it’s the West Waterford Festival of Food! If you know Larry, you know he was quite pleased. Town will be closed to traffic (yeah) and tents and vendors and food samples galore.
    Spent the afternoon exploring. Toured the Dungarvan Castle (seems every area has one!), visited a few pubs and continue the challenge for best seafood chowder. Seems it is a staple on every menu everywhere you go, from pubs to fancy places, served with brown bread. A contender for best so far was at The Local - a tiny hole in the wall pub with fabulous staff. Larry plans to continue his quest throughout the next few weeks! Side note - we both have recovered from our GI issues and thankful that a pint tastes good! Hoping our driver has stayed well.
    Finished our evening at the hotel pub, some music. Still struggling with the sunset not happening until after 10pm! The last picture was added to highlight another reason this country is wonderful! - please note choice of cream, ice cream or custard with all desserts. What?? That will be happening tomorrow - too full to enjoy it tonight.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    The Greenway
    The Abbey

    The Waterford Greenway

    June 12, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    Saturday ended up being a lazy day (we deserved it!) so we walked around town, had a few pints, got a few groceries and ate! Nothing special, just a chill day. Went to evening Mass at the Friary because we made plans to bike ride the next day. In our stroll, we met a local couple who recommended the Greenway by bike. So off to the bike shop, and decided on an E assist bike, recommended by the guy at shop. He told us we should have no problem doing the 46 kilometers round trip from Dungarvan to Kilmacthomas. That’s half of the trail, we definitely were not going to do 92 kilometers! Mission accomplished! Took us 4 1/2 hrs with one long stop to eat and drink. 46 kilometers! Pretty proud of ourselves. It’s was an incredible trip and a must do for anyone near any of the many Greenways in Ireland. Most were constructed 5-10 years ago, using the old railroad access to creat these bike and walking paths. This one took us along the coast and then into the mountains (thank God for the assist bike!), through farm lands and unspoiled spaces. Ended our bike trip with a ride through the Abbeyside, an upscale neighborhood overlooking the town, with an Abbey that sits right on the water. Peaceful. Strolled through the headstones (Jen and Kelly experienced that when we were all together - cemeteries are so interesting).
    The foods festival finishes up today. We strolled through the square and Larry found the seafood paella he was looking for - it was tasty, not the best he has had, but good.
    Running out of clothes, so laundry is definitely on the schedule for tomorrow. Heading to Kinsale on the south coast and Ardmore, which is supposed to have one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland. Sun was in and out today, tomorrow is supposed to be more sun! Yeah!!    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    View from Cliff House Restaurant

    Kinsale and Ardmore

    June 13, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F

    After the weekend, we ventured over to explore Kinsale, a small coastal town, maybe 1 1/2 hr drive from Dungarvan. As with all drives, the last 10-20 km is nail biting. Oh well, getting used to the idea. Traveling on weekdays helps though. Certainly less traffic coming toward us! Kinsale is another coastal town, very similar to Annapolis in MD. Narrow, cobble streets, and shops everywhere. Unfortunately, the restaurant we wanted to have lunch at was closed on Monday. So sad, great location and have heard the food is amazing. Second choice was the Cliff House in Ardmore - another beach town. We did not hike the cliffs today but lunch on the patio over looking the cliffs and the water was a nice choice. Driving back down the cliffs? Yeah- can’t describe. Thank goodness it wasn’t the weekend!
    Every good trip that lasts this long requires some chores. Today was laundry day. We’ve been washing some things out by hand but it was time. By the way, Underarmour shirts wash up nice in sink and dry overnight. Got the big washer, so we put everything in together. Oh, laundromat is in the parking lot of the gas station. Yeah. Out in public for anyone driving by…….
    Off to the Beara peninsula to town of Goleen tomorrow. Staying at Herons Cove, our first B and B. Address? The Harbor!    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Balcony view from our room
    Tide out!

    Heron’s Cove

    June 14, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    To say that we have found paradise, is an understatement. This delightful B and B is tucked away on a cove. A tale of two pictures! One after the tide goes out - such dramatic tide changes in many of these towns. Boats lay on their side until the tide come back in. Never will we complain about low tide again! At least we can get boats out whenever we want. Haven’t seen our buddy, the blue heron here yet but we’ve spotted him in other spots over last few weeks.
    The B and B owner isn’t here this week but the restaurant chef, Irene, is in charge and has been so nice to us! She has prepared some amazing meals and accommodating us as we finished up our isolation period for Covid. Checked in with the local chemist in Dungarvan after we did a random home Covid test, mostly due to a scratchy throat and cold symptoms in both of us. Nothing serious but we figured we should check. So we were both positive. The chemist (equivalent to Pharmicist in US but can prescribe some meds and treat minor illnesses) suggested that we probably had an atypical presentation with the GI bug we had last week. He said that Ireland’s rule is 7 days from the onset of symptoms to isolate. Fortunately, we have been doing a lot of outdoor sightseeing and driving ourselves. So that is what we have continued. A quick check in with our driver, Pat, and all is well with him. Larry rolled through with just a bit of stuffiness, Eileen developed a cough that is just annoying. Fortunately, the weather has been beyond beautiful and outdoor dining and beer gardens have made this a lot easier! We also had already planned a lighter, relaxing few days in West Cork, so that’s what we have done. As in the US, outdoor dining has become popular in the post Covid world. Unfortunately, a lot has changed in the post Covid world here but that will be for another post.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Barley Cove
    Mizen HeadSignal House99 steps (Up only)Bridge over Mizen HeadMizen BridgeLooking North from MizenToes in Atlantic!Seafood SoupSheep baby

    Mizen Head, Barley Cove, Ring of Beara

    June 16, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F

    Mizen Head is the most southwestern part of Ireland. Looks out over the Atlantic Ocean. It’s another must see! The bridge to the lighthouse is very substantial and nothing like the rope bridge in the beginning of our trip but the hike to the lighthouse and different vantage points were steep. We had the picture perfect day as some walkways are closed off, depending on weather conditions - so we did it all. Pictures are from multiple views, we will try and label them. On the drive back to town, we were determined to find a beach and wade in the Atlantic. Barley Cove had a few people on it so we parked and assessed the situation. To reach the beach we had to climb down a gentle rock slope. It was more challenging than we anticipated, with a few stops to breath, say a prayer and move on. The trip was worth it. Ocean water temperature was similar to our June temperature. It felt good to walk the beach.
    We rewarded ourselves with a late lunch/early dinner in the harbor village of Crookhaven, Larry had Mediterranean Seafood Soup that was a collection of fish and shellfish in a light tomato sauce, more like a blush sauce. Eileen had a local favorite of linguine with crab. It was good but not like eating our local MD/DE crabs!
    Each evening, after supper at the Inn, we walked up the hill into the village. The Lobster Pot Pub has been the perfect spot for a nightcap. The owner’ daughter helps run the place and they have apartments above and behind the bar. Anna has been welcoming and talkative. She talked about the little bit of assistance the government gave to pubs during Covid, differentiating them from pubs that also serve food. Several businesses on the Main Street are for sale and Anna and her dad are worried that tourism is still slow. Ireland has now stopped all subsidies for businesses and the tourism forecast doesn’t look promising. Rental car prices are through the roof. Anna has been asking everyone what they paid to hire a car. We were fortunate that our companies we dealt with - CIE and Celtic - both honored our prices from 2 years ago when our trip was originally planned. The only thing that was not part of the original package we planned was the airfare. So we were very lucky. The board of tourism needs to figure this out - public transportation is spotty and limited, as is railway options.
    All the above happened yesterday. Today was a bit of a lazy day, we explored Bantry and part of the Ring of Beara, smallest of the peninsulas in the southwest.
    Tomorrow we head to Dingle for a 3 day stay and our last weekend in Ireland. Hoping for some music and shopping!    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    The Failte Pub -Killarney
    Entering DingleHarbor from our B and B1Sunset - Dingle

    The Land of Kerry! Killarney and Dingle

    June 17, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ 🌧 59 °F

    Usually travel days are uneventful, but we stopped for lunch in Killarney at the family restaurant and pub of one of our Bayville Shores neighbors, Ann Fontenot. Annie’s grandfather married Margaret O’Callaghan from Killarney. The family still owns this business. We had a wonderful lunch there, met Paudry, one of the cousins. It is truly a small world. He was very grateful that we are traveling and was also interested in our rental car! It’s everywhere! After lunch, we headed into Dingle - truly one of the most magical places. We checked into our B and B at Dingle Heights, overlooking the harbor. Our hosts are Bridie and Brendan Fitzgerald. Of course, it’s only a short walk to town. That would be the Irish short walk! Dinner at Bakers on Main St, and too many pubs to name them all! Music everywhere. Some traditional, some more folk/rock. Streets are alive. The sunset at 10:30 so it was still kinda light as we headed back up the hill to our room. Needless to say, we might take a cab tomorrow night! Enjoy some music in the videos. So encouraged to see young kids perfecting the skills! Good night allRead more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    1Ft Dun Beag Ruins
    Slea HeadThree sisters PeaksThe climb!Silver Lake1From our B and BDinner! The BoatyardHarborview from B and B

    All Things Dingle!

    June 19, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    The weekend in Dingle went by so quickly and we realized that this is our last weekend in Ireland. How sad that even over 3 weeks just doesn’t seem like enough!
    Weather has been much cooler, windy in the 60’s, down in 50’s at night. Everyone has been complaining that they have not had any warm days but grateful for the sun when it shines, no matter the temperature.
    We drove the Slea Head route out past Dingle to the far west. Stopped at an archeological site with Ft Dun Beag ruins that you can walk through. This area is very restricted now as the weather has damaged some of it. Our last trip, it was wide open to walk through. Grateful they are doing what they need to do to preserve the remains. The drive was extremely tight in spots, we went later in the afternoon to avoid the tour buses and we were very lucky. Stopped at several places for pictures. So much more development since our last visit. Homes and businesses all along the road. Some businesses haven’t survived the lockdown.
    On Sunday, we decided to drive through Conor Pass, hitting the most remote area of the peninsula. Some amazing places that we have never been, stopped for a hot chocolate ( it was so cold!) At Murphy’s Bar in Brandon Point. The kind young lady made an awesome hot chocolate and told us to not miss the hike up the rocks to see the lake above the waterfall on our way back. So we did - one more hike and rock climbing adventure! It was challenging for these old folks but we did it and no falls or mishaps! The views were as promised.
    Dingle evening are pretty much a repeat. The bars have music, so you roam from one to another, hoping to find some traditional stuff. The streets are busy with big groups of “hen” parties as well as bachelors too. Never a dull moment, even on a Sunday night.
    We have enjoyed walking the waterfront and people watching. A little bit of shopping and Mass at the local church. Stunning large old church. Our host said it was renovated in the 60’s and her husband was very involved in it.
    Off to Tralee tomorrow to see if we can get more info about Eileen’s grandmother. Nanny was Margaret Reidy from Tralee. She was sent to the DC area when she was 16. We have her birth and baptism certificate so we plan to try the church office and cemetery.
    Lots of pictures, should be marked.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    St Johns, Tralee

    Roots

    June 20, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    After bidding goodbye to Bridie and her lovely home, we headed to St John’s Church in Tralee. What another amazing old structure. It was humbling to think that my grandma received the Sacrament of Baptism in this church in 1890. Off to the office where we got contact information for the archivist of the church. I’ll email him details and any pictures of documents we have. The parish cemetery is a few miles away, so we headed off to Rathass Cemetery. The caretaker of the cemetery was so helpful. He took both my great grandparents names and did a search, but found nothing. He said the data base is very incomplete before the 1920’s. We took a few pictures of headstones with Reidy names and will try and do more research through Ancestry. It’s amazing how easy it is to spend 2 hours in a cemetery.
    We had at least another hour to get to Kilcolgan in Galway county just south of Kilorglin, where we stayed many years back with Jen and Kelly. Our hosts for the next two days are Kate and Michael at Rafterys Way. So we hit our first Motorway of the trip. M18, with a speed limit of 120km/hr. We think it’s around 75miles/hr but the 120 is much more impressive! Kate offered us tea and biscuits when we arrived, had a chance to explore her garden and talk flowers with her and politics with Michael. As in the US, there are varied opinions about how each government handled the Covid lockdown. Tourism is such a huge component here that many businesses never could reopen. One owner we spoke with in Dingle said they learned some very important lessons from the lockdown. He said it rekindled their family time which had been lacking due to the business. He has chosen to close on Sundays for family time. Many businesses don’t have that luxury.
    Had an early dinner and bedtime. Heading to Inisheer, the smallest of the Aran Islands by ferry tomorrow.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler

    Inisheer

    June 21, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F

    Breakfast by Kate was tasty and simple. Over-easy eggs are the standard so you have to ask for scrambled. Sausage and bacon ( actually our ham) are much improved since our last visit, a bit more flavor. Black pudding is no longer a breakfast standard. We never knew exactly what it was but it was definitely disgusting. Coffee is more available too. We are starting to like the pressed coffee idea.
    As always, finding the docks in Doolin is suppose to be a 45 minute trip. Shortcuts and back roads later, it’ll be 1.5 hrs. So glad we allowed extra time.
    The town of Lisdoonvarna is having a matchmaking festival in September for anyone interested and available! I’d google it for details. It’s suppose to be quite the event!
    The ferry ride to Inisheer was only 15-20 min, very pleasant and stable. Trying to decide how we want to see this small little island. Walking 10-12 km is out for Larry’s ankle and back. We could take the easy way with a donkey carriage but we thought we would be fine with bikes. Very few cars on the Island, more competition from horse and donkey carts! Not going to lie, we missed our E-bikes! Some amazing views from different vantage points around the island. Sun came out and it got very warm. We survived, having a cold one in the beer garden at Tigh Ned Bar, waiting for our ferry to return us to the mainland. The local fudge shop had baileys fudge, along with others. Had to reward our selves! Tomorrow is a travel day as we position ourselves closer to Dublin airport, spending our last night in Tullamore, home to our favorite Irish Whiskey.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler
    Important Job!
    Grogans1

    Last Day 🥲

    June 22, 2022 in Ireland ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    We begin to cross the middle of Ireland to position ourselves closer to Dublin for our flight on Thursday afternoon. Our plan today is to do some shopping in Athlone (town where Deni and Patrick Reilly, Barb’s niece, got married in 2005) and then to Tullamore and the Whiskey museum. The tours for today only had one vacancy, so Larry opted to spend money on take home stuff (ie: whiskey) than to do another tour by himself.
    Speaking of making choices - we opted to do this trip without internet or gps. It saved us a ton of money over the course of 3 weeks but also helped us to connect into the area we were driving through. It has been challenging at times but we had some good detailed maps and did use google maps at all of our stops to know where we were heading. Wi-Fi is widely available throughout the country. And, of course, it’s always a hoot to ask for directions because everyone knows everyone! The directions are usually “just a wee bit down the road past the farm” or “Turd (3rd!) turn off the roundabout”. Oh, how we will miss the beautiful brogue! Gaelic is still spoken in much of the country and there has been a resurgence of importance in last 15 years to ensure that the language does die off. Children are required to take the language in school and have a required testing in order to leave school. Many towns are strictly Gaeltacht, as are their signs. Most places have both English and Gaeltacht.
    Grogans pub in Athlone was closed on Wednesdays. What a bummer. We found the B and B that we stayed at and the golf course that the guys all played before the wedding. We couldn’t find the castle, someone told us they think it was sold off and is now private. Did a little shopping in town. We opted for the Brewery Tap to eat in Tullamore. Had great food, sidewalk table and people watching during the busy lunch hour. Larry was quite amused by the toilet facilities and they apparently rank in the top 50 of best urinals in Ireland. Yes, those are beer kegs.
    The Tullamore Whiskey factory has moved to a big brand new place out of town. Unfortunately, it’s has lost a lot of it’s charm that we experienced during our first visit there 15 years ago. Got a few things and hoping for access to more in the duty free shop at the airport. Nothing special that isn’t available in the US.
    Checked into our B and B for the night. Anne O’Brien is a talker! Lovely older woman who has been doing this for 25 years. Room is basic, older house but has upgraded electric so we could plug in all of our essentials. Perfect location to the airport. Dinner in town. Delicious seafood in a Spanish restaurant for our final meal. Early night and off to the airport after breakfast.    Read more

  • Eileen OSteenIrelandTraveler

    Home Sweet Home!

    June 23, 2022 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F

    End to a beautiful trip! Started our day early and found huge crowds and long lines everywhere at Dublin airport. It has been all over the Irish news with severe problems on the weekends, especially, due to staffing. We had over 3.5 hrs to navigate it all and had just enough time to use the restroom before we were called for boarding. Flight was filled, so no spreading out, sadly.
    Picked up in Philadelphia by Kelly. God bless her for coming to get us. Sleeping in our own beds and waking to see our waterfront will be wonderful. Hope all have enjoyed following along.    Read more

    Trip end
    June 23, 2022
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