We are back from our trip to Ireland. The country has a rich history and wonderful landscapes. We stayed in some great small towns and villages, as well as vibrant capital city of Dublin. Our route took us traveling to Dublin, northern Ireland, and then down along the west coast. The green countryside is spectacular with dotted farms, bogs, lakes, streams, and rolling hills. The west coast has great mountains with stunning costal views and sheer cliffs to the ocean. The people of Ireland were funny and very friendly glad to help you out or tell you about things once you asked.
We hiked up to the summit of Croagh Patrick. This is the steep conical mountain that is where Ireland's famous Saint Patrick supposedly camped out on four forty days. The day before we climbed the peak, 35,000 people came for the annual pilgrimage hike to the summit to follow St. Patrick's footsteps. The weather was cold, windy, and raining on our hike up to summit.
Ireland has a great music scene. We saw some great traditional music in small pubs over a pint of Guiness. This pub Matt Molloy's is owned by the famous flute player from the Chieftans. It was jammed packed and there was a lot of craic (Irish for fun and rowdy time) happening.
Kim taking a stroll down the road at sunset.
The famous Cliffs of Mohr in Clare county. The cliffs plunge about 600 feet into the swirling ocean below. Very touristy spot, but we enjoyed seeing the cliffs and hiking along the top of them. This part of Ireland is also home to the unique landscape called the Burren. It is rocky and barren countryside that is made up of limestone rocks. It is home to a large variety of wildflowers.
Celtic carvings from a tombstone and the inside chamber at the Rock of Cashel. We visited many castles and estates on our trip including Slane castle, Trim castle, Coole estates, Markree castle, the Rock of Cashel, and Kylemore Abbey. At the Kylemore Abbey we spotted the famous actor John Cusak walking around.
Kylemore Abbey in Galway county.
Stained glass window from the inside of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.
We spent three days in Dublin and saw a good part of the downtown section of the city. We went to bustling part of the city near O'connell Street. This is the home to the world's tallest monument which is the 390 foot Spire of Dublin.
We spent three days in Dublin and saw a good part of the downtown section of the city. We went to bustling part of the city near O'connell Street. This is the home to the world's tallest monument which is the 390 foot Spire of Dublin.
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery near the town of Sligo. There are over 60 know rock sites at this area that excavations suggest date back to around 4000BC. We also went to the passages and tombs in Newgrange and Knowth in Meath County. Newgrange has a spectacular tomb that was built between 3400 and 2900BC and perfectly aligned to allow sunlight to enter the passage way only on the winter solstice.
