Ireland - 2017

These ten days in Ireland were used to visit some places we had missed on previous trips. Again we were pretty lucky with the weather and only had a couple of damp ones. We flew into Dublin from Dubai and took a clockwise circle around the island.

Saturday 12 August 2017

Today was a long one, with our flight to Dubai leaving in the early morning. The A380 was full, but there was a bit more space in and around the seats. We arrived in Dubai at around 5.00pm after seven and a half hours. We were parked way out as there was not enough space for all the A380's arriving and the bus trip took 15 minutes to the terminal. At least it seemed that long! Off the bus and straight into a security check, where you felt like herded animals. We found our gate for the next leg and sat down for another hour or so. The leg to Dublin was another seven and a half hour flight with 100mph head winds slowing the Boeing 777 down. The landing was, as my gliding instructors would have said, an "arrival" rather than a landing. Some of the overhead lockers opened on touch-down.

Immigration was typically Irish - stamped the passport and wished us an enjoyable stay. Customs was an open door to the terminal (although no doubt we were being watched).

We found the shuttle bus stop after some searching and got to the hotel. It was a quiet evening and night making up for our lack of sleep.

Dublin - Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Airport

Sunday 13 August 2017

After a good Irish breakfast we packed up and got the shuttle bus to the airport, so we could pick up our hire car. The car was a Seat Leon, 1.6lt diesel, so I had to get used to European ways with cars. Once on the M8 it was straight forward driving South. Rather than go directly to Cork, we decided to head across to Waterford. We parked by the riverfront and walked up into the old town. After some lunch we drove to Cork via a regional road that seemed to take for ever in the rain.

Waterford - waterfront

We booked into the Blarney Woollen Mill Hotel, having just coffee and cake for dinner at the cafe. There was a lot of loud music and merriment going on, but that did not stop us sleeping.

Blarney - Blarney Woollen Mill Hotel

Monday 14 August 2017

A bit damp and rainy as we headed down to Kinsale where we took a look at Charles Fort that guards the entrance to the harbour. Thankfully the rain held off while we were walking around.

Kinsale - Charles Fort

Kinsale - Charles Fort - heavy duty

Kinsale - Charles Fort - I can image 100's of people living here

Kinsale - Charles Fort - classic star shaped defense

Kinsale - Charles Fort - was a busy place

From there we drove to Skibbereen and had lunch at a small cafe. The sun came out as we walked around the town. Next stop was Mizen Head lighthouse. Getting there was hard work with the road being so narrow that frequent stops were required to allow passing. The walk to the lighthouse was good and I think we were pleased to get the exercise.

Mizen Head - Signal/Radio Station

Mizen Head - the bridge to the station

Mizen Head - wild rugged headland

It was about 86km to Kenmare where we were going to stay, but the trip took nearly two hours, not helped by being stuck behind a bus for 30km, and we were glad to arrive.

Tuesday 15 August 2017

Today's trip was a 200km round trip "doing" the Ring of Kerry. From Kenmare we climbed up to Molls Gap and then into Killarney where we visited Ross Castle before heading north and west on the ring.

The scenery really is beautiful and we stopped at Kells Beach for a break.

Molls Gap - Ring of Kerry

Molls Gap - Ring of Kerry. Beautiful rugged scenery

Molls Gap - Ring of Kerry. More beautiful rugged scenery

Killarney - Ross Castle

Kells Beach - Ring of Kerry

When we arrived at Cahersiveen we crossed the river and took a walk up the hill to a nice viewing area. This was on private land and the owner had placed little fairy dens along the climb. A great way to stop kids thinking about the climb. We then visited Ballycarbery Castle. All along this coastal trip are great views and there are too many to name.

Cahersiveen - Lough view from lookout

Ballycarbery Castle

Kenmare was having a traditional market day and it's the one day of the year that just about anything can be sold on the streets (which were closed to traffic), so instead of heading straight back we turned of at Sneen and across to Molls Gap and back to Kenmare.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

Today's main activity was driving from Kenmare to Galway. The GPS took us through several back roads that gave us views of older Ireland. We visited the workhouse and the castle at Portumna. The traffic coming into Galway was at a standstill.

Portumna - the workhouse. A place to avoid!

Portumna Castle - built in the early 1600's and burned in 1826

Portumna Castle - self contained garden

Thursday 17 August 2017

We drove to Salthill and parked there for the day, taking the bus into the city. Then we took the hop-on hop-off bus around town. The driver was quite interesting. We decided to walk back to Salthill and got back to the car just before it rained. Went to "Supermac's" for lunch before driving back to the house for a snooze and then back to Salthill for dinner.

Galway - bus tour of city

Galway - terrace houses at the entrance to the small boat harbour

Galway - Spanish Arch (1584)

Galway - Irish Pubs

Galway - old stone bollard

Friday 18 August 2017

Left Galway in heavy rain and a warning about bad weather on its way. We drove east to Athlone with some rain and some sunshine. We took a quick look around the town and then headed north towards Rosscommon, stopping off to see Lough Ree, in the rain. Stopped for coffee and cake at a little cafe in Rosscommon, but failed to find the museum. Further north at Tulsk we also failed to find some ruins. We turned off to visit Carrick on Shannon. Nice town, but could not find a car park anywhere. We arrived in Sligo and had a late lunch / early dinner at the hotel. Took a walk along the riverside in the evening in between rain showers.

Sligo - great view from our room window

Sligo - fishing boats

Sligo - our evening walk was wet and windy

Saturday 19 August 2017

We got up early and walked around the city heritage walk, Having to quickly walk back to the hotel when the rain started. After breakfast we headed to the shops to buy an electrical power converter as it would appear I left mine in Galway!

Sligo - bright flowers on a dull morning

We hit the road to Malin Head, stopping at a nice harbour at Mullaghmore - although it was low tide.

Mullaghmore - twin keels seem the go here

We drove around to Belleek in Northern Ireland and then crossed back into Donegal in the Republic. Then it was a long drive up to Malin Head. Reaching Malin Head meant that we had visited the most southerly and the most northerly points of Ireland on this trip.

The wind was howling, so after taking some video we headed to the Red Gate House. We got a great welcome, and the B&B was great. Went to a bar/restaurant for dinner called Simpsons where the food was excellent and reasonably priced.

Malin Head - the most northerly point of Ireland

Malin Head - very windy

Malin Head - could not keep the camera still because of the wind

Sunday 20 August 2017

We headed down to Lisburn for lunch with the Stewart side of the family. We had a great lunch which ended at 5pm. Went for a walk in the park at Moira.

Lisburn - great to catch up with some of the family

Monday 21 August 2017

We drove up to Antrim to catch up with my cousin and see my aunt Martha. I always find nursing homes a bit depressing, but we found Martha sitting in a chair. I don't think she recognised me, but I could see that she was looking at me the thinking that she should know me. Afterwards my cousin had coffee and a chat with us. We then went to catch up with some of the Monroe side of the family, being invited to have "a wee cup of tea". If you have been to Ireland you will understand. Then it was across town to see more family and have another "wee cup of tea" and a chat. On the way back to the B&B we drove the Belsize Rd, and out to Ballymullan (places loved in my childhood) and then to the New Blaris cemetery to visit my parents and stepfather's graves.

Tuesday 22 August 2017

We were up early for the drive down to Dublin and the GPS made it interesting by taking us through the back roads, but we arrived at the airport and spent 30 minutes trying to find the service station. We had a wait for the Glasgow flight. It was very foggy at the airport. We were informed of a slight delay due to late arrival of our aircraft. This delay lengthened as after everyone was on board they had to wait for the baggage and we took off nearly two hours late!

Dublin - farewell to Ireland

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