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.

Day 18

Day 18 started early in order to be at Adare where we will meet Trevor and Barbara.  Trevor has plans to tour us around Killarney Park today.

We met up in Adare where the Joiners required a coffee to continue.  We followed Trevor on our route to the park where we skirted the tourist town of Killarney.  The town has an abundance of horse drawn carriages to carry the tourists through the town and the park.  According to Barbara, the drivers went on strike as the town wanted the drivers to pick up their own horse poop.

Trevor led us around a glorious path that wound around the Lakes Of Killarney Park.  The trail led us through unique plants, trees and insects that would usually only be found in rainforests.  We passed copper mines, old bridges and beautiful beaches throughout our walk.  Our walk only touched a small part of the park as sit covers 10,289 Hectares of land. 

Our walk continued up a steep climb that followed a breathtaking waterfall within the park.  The best view was when we climbed down the stairs.  The falls were at least 500 feet tall and reminded me of pictures you see of tropical paradises seen in National Geographic.

On our trip home we stopped at Ross Castle and toured the grounds where there were ducks, geese and a beautiful swan within the grounds.  We spied the Pigin’s cathedral on our drive through Killarney.  A quick stop in Adare where Trevor and Barbara indulge in their weekly Fish and Chips.  We have a snack and continue on home to pasta and red wine we have been waiting for.  A fond farewell to Trevor and Barbara until Saturday Night in Innis.  Until tomorrow Cheers.  

Liam in the wilds of Kilkenny.

Butterflys of Kilkenny National Park.

Butterflys of Kilkenny National Park.

Bum shot!

The beautiful horizons of Kilkenny National Park.

The Waterfall.

The Family!

Big Leaves!

Ross Castle.

Kilarney Cathedral.