Surprise Dinner

We were expecting to eat the buffet dinner in the Killarney Towers Hotel as we had the night before, but early in the day, our guide notified us that we would enjoy a special trip out to a Five Star Hotel, the Europa.  This turned out to be quite a treat for all of our group.  The setting on the banks of a lake at dusk was perfect.

    Steve and Lydia

      Dennis with Joyce and Bob

Killarney and Kenmare

Today, we are in the heart of tourist land in western Ireland, Killarney.  Most of the shops near our hotel have the typical tourist items.  Our guide took some of our group out to another mall, but Lydia and I stayed near the hotel.  

We started our day with a lovely jaunting car through the beautiful Killarney National Park.  Our driver and horse, Ginger gave us a close up view of peaceful parklands.  This was a 25,000 acre estate once owned by a very wealthy man whose only child is a nun in a convent on Long Island.

The park is such a contrast to the city of Killarney that it is easy to forget where you are.  We see deer as well as various trees and plant life.  The morning is cool and crisp and we hate to see the ride come to an end.  We take time on our way out of town to visit Muckross House and Gardens.  The gardens were all we toured, but they were beautiful.  Flowers are running about 2-3 weeks behind here because of cooler weather, so we are treated to some blooms that usually are gone by this time.

Soon, we embark on a short ride down to Kenmare, the jewel of the next peninsula.  We have a wee bit of time to shop and then on to a pub for lunch.  Joyce headed for the lace museum. Today it was lamb stew.  

Muckross House and Gardens

  Bob with the mountain range in the background.i

The ride back to Killarney shows us some spectacular scenery, looking much like home.  This is Ireland's highest mountain range, Mac Gilly Cuddy's Reek (range).  The peak stands at 3,614 feet--barely 100 feet higher than where we love in Maggie Valley.

Our jaunting car driver and horse, Ginger

Galway

" If one could only teach the English how to talk, and the Irish how to listen, society would be quite civilized."  Oscar Wilde, 1857-1900.  Irish author

   Galway is a lively downtown with many pubs and restaurants.  We ended up eating at a great pub located in building which was over 800 years old.  Fish and chips!

  Galway is the fifth largest city in Ireland and runs a constant battle with Killarney trying to lure tourists.

Dingle Penninsula

We are on Day 11 ( day 13 for us), and we are slightly weary of bus riding and packing and repacking all our stuff, but are eager to see the Dingle Peninsula today.  After spending several hours on the peninsula, Jerry says this is favorite....running a near tie with Giant's Causeway and Cliffs of Moher.

The views were spectacular as promised.

This Is one of the beehive stone collections dating back to earliest occupation around 3,000 BC

Signature thatched roof....look closely at the roofline.

Cliffs of Moher

Irish toast:  Here's to your roof, may it be well thatched.  And here's to those who live under it, may they be well–matched.

Beautiful, natural coastline, 650 feet above the sea floor.

We were treated to fabulous weather for our visit.  We did not miss the fog or very high winds that could have greeted us.

Belleek Pottery Factory

Belleek Pottery was established in 1857 and is celebrating 156 years.  The Visitor's Center encompasses an extensive gift shop, a museum and also a factory tour.  The factory tour is way beyond fascinating.  It is so clean and pristine...almost clinical.  It is also very quiet as the many artisans work on various pieces of Belleek ware.  We are intrigued by the pieces using the woven 

clay strips.  Once you see how long it takes and how many processes each piece involves, you aren't surprised at the prices most pieces command.  The entire tour is a very classy act.

  Each artist signs their work

   This is one of their prized pieces as it won a grand award at the Paris exposition in 1900.  One of a kind and priceless!

        After firing, painting and firing again.

       This is green ware before firing.  Look at the woven strands of clay.

     

     Over the years, Belleek has marked their pottery with various symbols, allowing the pieces to be dated according to their mark.  The mark always has the wolf, the castle and the Celtic harp.  We are eager to return home to see the age of the pieces we have.

ABC. ( another bloody castle). Ulster American Folk Park

 This is Sunday and we are in Letterkenny, Republic of Ireland.  It is overcast and possibly drizzly, but we think not as cold as we have been.  Think this may be a hat day for me.

We have a slight delay in starting our day as our coach has a dead battery.  It is Sunday, so takes longer to rally someone to jump start us.

The Ulster American Folk Park is an open-air museum encompassing over 30 buildings which portray life in Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries.  The exhibits and the people portraying this life become a unique way to bridge two continents and the tremendous relationship between many Irish immigrants and the New World they sought.  Americans with Irish roots are fascinated with the living history of grandparents and great grandparents life before America. The buildings are both Irish and also New World.  You travel through the small village and the stores, then board a ship similar to one the immigrants would have traveled to America.  When you exited the ship, you were in Baltimore.  The remaining buildings were illustrative of early Pennsylvania log homes and outbuildings.  If you ever plan a visit, plan for a minimum of half a day to fully enjoy the experience.

 

     This was the blacksmith shop

       

Close up of one of the many stone fences.

    

This statue illustrated and represented the thousands of Irish who immigrated to the New World.

    These girls were part of a great reenactment story that took place in the small village.

       Fabric shop, along with all the accessories

         The Pennsylvania log home.

Glenveagh Castle and National Park is the second largest national park in Ireland.  The name means  " glen of the birches."  The park consists of mainly informal gardens with exotic and delicate plants from all over the world.  The park originated  with John Adair who evicted 244 tenants so they would not spoil his view of the landscape.  He built the castle as a hunting lodge.  The park is home to the largest herd of red deer in Ireland as well as the formerly extinct golden eagle reintroduced in 2000.

Glenveagh Castle was built in 1861 and is open for tours.   We toured nearly all the rooms, most in pristine condition.  The views from the castle windows to the lough were spectacular.  The grounds were reminiscent of a miniature Biltmore.

    

     

Sharing an Irish Blessing:  May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past.