Day 24 and the end of our trip

Day 24 and our trip home, starts with a bit of sleep in finally.

Trina dropped by with Jack and Brian and kidnapped Owen for the afternoon.  Owen had a great time with his new found cousins and discovered a new type of scooter that is shaped like a trike and propels itself when you bounce up and down on it.  

While Liam Convalesced with his cold, Claire and I walked down to Ennis and did some last minute shopping and had a pint on our way.

Cousin Jack came over for a visit to take advantage of our pool facilities.  Owen and he splashed and enjoyed themselves despite all the rules.  Claire and I enjoyed the Hot Tub and admired our silly looking swim caps that we had to wear.  Cousin Barry came by to pick up Jack and we said our final farewells promising to keep in touch.

Tracy made plans to meet with us in the Hotel Pub with her son Cian so the boys could get acquainted.  The cousins hit it off fabulously and exchanged face book addresses to keep in touch.

A Take away meal form the diner across the road and one final drink with Trevor and Barbara before we call it a night.         

Our last day sees us getting up early thanking the heavens that Claire had us mostly organized the night before.  A short ride to Shannon airport and one last browse through the duty free shopping.  Two bottles of Baileys and a rare Jameson to share with Bob.  Not long of a wait and we we were on the plane with about seven crying babies oh joy.  I have to give the crew credit, one lady was at her wits end with a crying toddler and crying infant as well and he offered to bounce the baby in his arms for what seemed like hours.

Bruce welcomed us home at the airport and brought us back safely to their place in Mississauga where it was an easy decision to stay another day and drive home in the morning.  Lauri and Bruce put on a great meal for us and lots of laughter and good company as usual.

I volunteered Claire to do the driving from Mississauga as I was afraid I might still want to drive on the left.  A quick un-pack and we were on our way to Meg's top pick up our greatly missed dogs Rosie and Marley.    

By their reaction I would say they missed us just as much.  

As I sit here writing this after my first day back to work, I think back on what a wonderful trip this was.  I hope you have enjoyed our little story and feel free to come by for a visit to see more of the pictures and the map of our travels.  Till our next adventure "Safe Home" from Claire, Brian, Liam and Owen.   

Great Grandpas house we think?

Would you guess 450 Euros?

Our last cheers in Ireland.

An amazing antique shop in Ennis, fiddle anyone?

The craziest record player I've ever seen.

Fast friends and cousins.

Just one last pic.

Goodbye! 

Day 23

Day 23, Owen and I are headed back to Killaloe to pick up Claire’s purse that was left at the cottage before everybody gets up.

A visit to Trevor and Barbara’s house is in order today.  On our way over, we meet up with Trevor on his daily bike ride leading us to their home on the outskirts of town.  Trevor and Barb show us around their home and their caravan.  Claire gets side-tracked with Trevor’s numerous photo albums of his trips in the attic.

On to the north Atlantic for a swim if we are brave enough.  New Key was our destination where we found a sandy beach with crystal clear water to swim in.  The first dip was a shocker at 14 degrees Celsius, but you really did get used to after a while.  Owen was ready to stay in all day but we had a hike round the peninsula to do.

A stop for some handmade ice cream courtesy of Barbara and small bay full of swans on our way back.  A quick tour of another abbey ruins and dinner at Cassidy’s restaurant in the heart of the Burren.  Owen made friends with the local dogs again.

A relaxing day planned for tomorrow and then on our way home.  Cheers till tomorrow.

Trevor the tour guide again.

Trevor and Barb's house.

Brian, Claire, Trevor, Barbara and Owen in the North Atlantic.

Swans in the Loch.

Waves crashing at high tide in New Key.

Corcomroe Abbey.

Till next time Trevor says.

Day 22

Day 22 and Claire have us packed and organized for our trip to Ennis.

Our trip over was filled with the usual wrong turns mixed with plenty of silliness and laughter provided by Liam and Owen.  I think we have managed pretty well for a family stuck in a car for over twenty days.

Barry met us on the outskirts of town and led us to his beautiful home.  Barry showed us the bill from the contractor that his father paid back in 1927 when he had the house built for approximately 600 pounds.  Barry’s daughters came by for a visit Trina and Tracy and made up a wonderful lunch with pizza for the boys.  After filling up, Owen played with Trina’s boys Jack and Brian while Annie played shy behind her mother.  Liam preferred to stay and talk to the adults revelling us with all the knowledge a 15 year old has about the world.  It was a wonderful afternoon of laughing and comparisons of life on either side of the pond.  With a fond farewell we left for our hotel with promises to try and get Trina’s and Tracy’s kids to the pool later.

After checking in, Claire made plans with Trevor and Barbara to meet up at a pub in Ennis.  We were in search of some traditional Irish music and a few pints.  Trevor took us to a couple of local bars known for music and settled on Paddy Quinn’s where a five piece was tucked in to a corner playing reels and old Irish ballads.  I was almost tempted to get a cab to bring Own in to play his Bodhran for them.

A short walk home and Claire and I are tucked in to bed safe and sound.  Cheers till tomorrow.

      

Brian and Annie practicing Owens Bodhran.

Tracy, Barry and Trina.

The cousins, Owen, Jack, Brian and Liam.

Trina and her husband Peter. 

A farewell picture.

The house that's still owned by the family. 

Meeting family at the pub! Marie Conellan.

Trevor and Barb at the pub.

Performers at the pub!

Day 21

Day 21 was our last full day of touring from the cottage.

We started at the Clonfilough stone, an ancient limestone stone that had the footprints embedded in the stone.  The stone also had ancient carvings of Celtic crosses and language that would be difficult to appreciate in a picture.

Next was Clonmacnois an ancient Christian settlement on the Shannon River.  It was established by St. Kieran in and around 548 AD.  St. Kieran did not see the full potential of the site as he died 6 months after he started the first church.  The site saw countless sieges from the Vikings for years and in the end from Henry the Eighths forces during the 1500’s.  It was visited by Pope John Paul the 2^nd who gave mass at the site, the pavilion where he said mass is still in place.  Thousands of Irish Catholics make a pilgrimage to this site on St. Kieran’s feast day.

On our tour up the Burren, we stopped at a Portal Tomb where the boys got hand made one of kind jewellery made for them using the Ogham language.  The tomb was amazing as was the natural limestone formations throughout the site.

Claire had read about an all-natural Perfumery in the Burren which was our next stop on the tour.  Scents were purchased by all on our troop on our way up the Burren.

Touring from the cottage was topped off with a visit to the Cliffs of Moher.  We have included pictures but they do not do it justice.  The cliffs are approximately 200 meters high from sea level with some of the highest surfing waves in the world.  The wind was incredible and Owen and Liam tried to sail with their raincoats. 

It is a late night arriving back at the cottage for leftovers to clean out the fridge.  On to ennis tomorrow to visit with Cousin Barry and his family.  Cheers till tomorrow.

Moms foot by the depresion in the rock.

Moms foot in the rock.

A cross at Clonmacnois.

 A Church and tower at Clonmacnois.

St. Kierons Tomb.

The Perfunmery in the Burren.

Thomas Christopher making jwelry for the boys. 

Poulnabrone Portal Tomb

                                                   
                                                          Ireland's West Coast north of the Cliffs

  

                                                                 The Cliffs of Moher...or Mullhorn!

                                                         
                                                                  Mullhorns at Mullhorn!

Day 20

Day 20 takes us around Loch Gur and a tour of pagan tombs within and around the Loch.

Owen and Liam tried to convince the swans of the Loch to pose for a picture which turned out well.  From there we carried on to a Wedge Tomb on our tour around the Loch.  The remains of eight adults and 4 children were discovered in this tomb which dates back to the Bronze Age approximately 2,500 BC.

We carried on around the Loch to the largest stone circle in Ireland.  The circle was built around the same era as the Wedge Tomb and measured 45.7 meters inside diameter and overall diameter of 60 meters.  Owen found the stump of a tree within the wall that he could hide in the hollow center much to his delight.

Next was the Rock of Cashel, a rock formation (hill) in the middle of the plains where a large Christian settlement was built.  The settlement was first constructed as a fortress which can be seen by the large walls that surround the cathedrals and living quarters.  It includes very rare wall paintings and carvings throughout the grounds.

Our souvenir hunting had been disappointing; however we found several great quality souvenirs at a very friendly little shop in Cashel.  Back to the cottage for a last meal of Indian Food purchased from the market in Colraine.  While dinner heated in the oven, Claire and I attempted to do some internet banking at the local Hotel with mixed success.  Anyway, tomorrow is our last full day here so we need to get to bed cheers till tomorrow.

Leave me alone Owen!! 

Loch Mur

Wedge Tomb

Stone Circle

Stone Circle

Rock of Cashel.

St, Patrick's Cross at the Rock of Cashel.

Cathedral at Rock of Cashel.

Outside of the Cathedral at Rock of Cashel.

A country road on the way.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Unca Chris!!!!! We'll enjoy a few cold pints in your honour...wish you were here!
Hugs kisses & tons of love!
Claire, Brian, Liam & Owen

Day 19

Day 19 aimed us towards Kilkenny but we took a detour to Dunmore caves on route.

The caves were amazing, not the same as the Castle Arch but still amazing.  The formations were up to 2 million years old and provided larger and more dramatic formations than the Castle Arch.  If the formations were not enough, there was Viking treasures discovered in the caves of major historical significance.

We carried on to Kilkenny where we toured the downtown and entered the Kilkenny Castle.  The castle was donated to the city by the Butler family as they could not afford to run the castle anymore.  The castle was restored to the 17^th to 19^th century as that was the era that the Butlers last owned the castle.  Claire was especially impressed with the staircase heading up to the bedrooms and pictured herself wearing an evening gown and making a grand entrance in to the ballroom.  I was blown away by the post and beam construction in the picture gallery.  It was still intact and had carvings of wolves, cows, pigs, dragons etc. on the ends of the beams throughout the entire length of the hall.

We promised ourselves we would not be late home tonight but Kell’s Priory was calling our name.  Once past all of the sheep, we discovered the largest and most well-guarded priory so far.  The priory was free but restoration work was being carried out on one of the main towers and could be an amazing exhibit in the future. 

Cheers till tomorrow.

The "New Highways" of Ireland!

The "Buffalo" of Dunmore Caves

The Entrance!

Cathedral in Dunmore caves.

Pint of Guiness stalactite.

Kilkenny Castle.

From the rear.

The main gate.

Blaa Blaa Blaa... Sandwiches?

Kell's priory.

The largest priory we have seen.

More ruins.