warrenandjill

Sunday, 22 May 2011

Tralee to Limerick - Bunratty Castle

　
Friday 20^th MayWe left this B & B around 9.30am.Our hostess Peggy O’Shea was a real Irish talker and rather eccentric who obviously “ran a tight ship.” No messing about with this lady!! We did win her over though and she even offered us a second cup of tea!!
We stopped in Tralee for an hour or two and walked through the rose garden. Unfortunately the roses hadn’t bloomed yet. Our next stop was to the museum where we saw a graphical history of Ireland - amazing, we even had a walk through a medieval village looking so life like. We then walked into Tralee town to see the shops. It has been so bitterly cold that Warren bought a pair of jeans and we both bought a long sleeve top each.
We then drove around the coast and stopped at Glin for a picnic lunch still rugged up to try and keep the cold wind out.
From here we drove to Limerick where we were staying for the next 2 nights. Sheila was our hostess and we arrived around 6.30 after spending a bit of time trying to find her place. We had come off the freeway one stop too soon. She had some friends there who were meant to leave when we arrived but ended up staying for dinner. They were good company too. We had a lot of laughs with them all.
We had a small room with a double bed, I was squashed up next to the wall and had trouble sleeping. I woke early this morning with a heavy nose bleed which took some time to stop.
Sat 21^st May First up was Bunratty Castle - being a fortified tower house it offered us cover in the event of rain. The weather was meant to be very wet so we felt it was a good reason to go there first. We were all very impressed with everything. The history is everywhere here in Ireland and so interesting. There was a full scale original village inside the castle grounds which we walked through and had a Bailey’s coffee in the original pub where they had displayed “Jacob’s Biscuits” This old biscuit Co was wned by my great aunt Edith and her husband. We loved the old school still set up with a boys entrance and a girls entrance to separate classrooms. - Similar to Sovereign Hill but centuries older. All the shops were from the past and we saw many small dwellings still set up how they used to be. We walked past one small grass enclosure where we saw a Shetland pony and her tiny foal which looked like it was only hours old. It was so cute.
Then we went into this amazing castle which was built in 1425. During the 16^th and 17^th centuries it was a stronghold of the O’Briens - kings and earls of Thomond. It is furnished with 15^th and 16^th century furnishings which are still in top condition. It was very impressive and we did enjoy walking up and down the tiny circular steps into each room which brought oohs and aahhs. What fantastic history was in this place but it must have been so, so very cold in those days. They have medieval castle banquets every night of the year here. There were hundreds of tourists pouring in, in their busloads while we were having lunch outside in the car park in the pouring rain. The wettest day we have had so far.
We drove into Limerick, driving past King John’s castle. Then the others all went into the Hunt Museum. I was not feeling 100 percent so had a rest in the car. We arrived back at our Servas stay and enjoyed a traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage - in bed by 10.30.

Thursday, 19 May 2011

Preparing dinner atTomasz's house

Enjoying dinner together

Outside Tomasz's house

On the road tothe Gap of Dunloe

Spectacular scenery through this gap

Our B & B in Killorglin

View from the B & B

Overlooking the beach where 'Ryans Daugher" was filmed

Braving the elements for lunch

On the beach

Typical scene along this stretch of road

Travelling across the Connor Pass

Waiting for the cattle to cross the road

Wed 18^th May
Left Tomasz’s home in Skibbereen.. He was very hospitable and loved the company. We think he was very bored and happy to have us there. Our mattress arrived later the first night and he was so pleased to have us there. We found a place in town for dinner. This place is miles from anywhere. We cooked a meal the night before which he was very grateful for.
We had decided not to do the full Ring of Kerry (we only did part of it)but to cross over the Caha mountains through the Gap of Dunloe. which had spectacular views. There were hundreds of walkers and many horse and carts up this very narrow winding road. We had been discouraged at the bottom by men with horses and carts who we found out later were not supposed to do that. It is public land. They just want your business. We had driven through Killarney but only stopped for an hour. I could have spent longer. We saw all the lakes of Killarney. and arrived in Killorglin for dinner and an overnight stop at a B & B.

Thur19^th May
After a hearty breakfast we left Killorglin heading towards The Dingle. The sun was shining when we left so we changed into lighter clothing which we shouldn’t have. Thank goodness for warm jackets. The weather changed soon after so the beautiful beach scenes along the dingle were tainted by rain. What a pity.
We stopped at some old Irish ruins at Fahan which were built in 400 BC and met a lovely American Christian couple, Ray and Tonia who offered to pay our entry. As we had to pay our B & B in cash last night, we had run out of cash. J & T had gone on ahead so we were going to turn back. They kindly offered to pay. We chatted for a while and it was good to have some time with them.
We arrived at Dunmore with spectacular scenery. Great cliffs and a lovely beach where we stopped off for lunch on the cliff edge. The wind was icy and Warren had to wrap his legs in a blanket as we had our picnic, we then went for a walk along the beach where they filmed Ryan‘s Daughter. J & T then went walking up the cliffs while we came back to the car. This is the most western part of Ireland. The next land mass is USA.
From here we drove to The Blaskett Centre where we saw audiovisuals of life out in the Blaskett islands just off the mainland. It was extremely interesting. We spent some time here before heading back to Dingle town. We spent about 45 minutes walking around the town before heading off for Tralee. Then we drove across the Connor Pass which was amazing and the views spectacular and found our way to Castlegregory where amazingly we found a fish and chip shop. We had been wanting some fish to eat down by the beach. It has been absolutely bitterly cold today. E found a spot on the beach to eat our fish and chips then kept driving till we found a B & B just outside Tralee.

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Pictures of Cork, Blarney Castle and Kinsale

Having breakfast at Idaho cafe

Our 2nd cousin Richard working in his cafe

Saying goodbye to Richard

Outside Richard's cafe

English Market where the Queen is visiting this week

Our B & B in Cork

Blarney Castle

Jill kissing the Blarney Stone on the top of the castle - very scary

Warren - glad that's over

Blarney House

Kinsale - lots of amazing colourful shops in this town

Kinsale shops

Typical Irish street

Monday, 16 May 2011

From Cork to Skibbereen

We had a great day in Cork which is where the Queen is due in a couple of days time. We found a great B & B and then today visited the Idaho Cafe for breakfast. The reason being we wanted to meet another of our cousins. Richard is the brother of William. He owns this great restaurant in Cork and we surprised him when we walked in. He hadn't been told of our arrival and his phone was actually ringing as we arrived with his brother trying to warn him of our arrival. We had a great time and had a great breakfast.
We then travelled to the Blarney Castle and climbed up this very old castle. We queued up to kiss the Blarney Stone! which is supposedly the thing to do at the castle.
From here we went to Kinsale which was absolutely beautiful and very picturesque.
Then we made our way to our next Servas home. Well what have we here. A beautiful home and met by a young Polish man called Thomaz. He was only expecting 2 of us not 4!! No dinner was waiting for us either. Jennie had specifically told him there were 4 of us.
What do we do now? We were starving!! We had to excuse ourselves and go out for dinner asking our host if he wanted to come. We are still waiting for our mattress which Thomaz went out to collect at 10pm!
Will hopefully have some photos tomorrow.

Sunday, 15 May 2011

From Youghal to Cork

We had a great B & B last night inYoughal. We had a wonderful meal in a restaurant that had only been open 3 weeks. Service was excellent and it was really fine dining. We visited the oldest church in Ireland in Youghal which has been consistently used for worship since1200's.They were preparing for a service this morning too. This place also had a city wall.

Enjoying breakfast inYoughal

Looking over the town of Youghal from the city wall

Looking for the entrance into the oldest working church in Ireland

Sir Walter Raleigh's home in Youghal

Outside a tiny house

One of the beautiful colourful streets

The oldest church St. Mary'sAnglican Church

Warren couldn't resist this sign

In the city of Cork. There are some lovely streets here.

After another good nights sleep we drove to Cobh (Cove) which was right on the coast. A huge ocean liner was in port so there were many tourists walking the streets as well as us. Some amazing sights with all the old buildings. Found a lovely B & B right in the city. Warren just happened to ask a lass where we could find some accom for the night and she told him that she had a B & B just up the hill.