Left for the Titanic Belfast Centre located on the site of the shipyard the Titanic was built on. Incredibe world class site and centre. We departed by ferry to Scotland, docked at Cairnryan, to begin ourdrive back to England. Very tired and stopped at a Bed & Breakfast at The Anchor, Kippford, Dumfries, Scotland.
Drove from Dublin (left the group tour) and on to Dunluce Castle then Giant’s Causeway, Northern tip of Ireland (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and then down the NE coast to Belfast. (Lots of visible police presence here). Checked into our Bed & Breakfast and the out for a fantastic meal at Ryan’s pub.
Spent the morning walking the town of Cong and the Ashford Castle grounds. Drove through Moate on our way back to the Clyde Court Hotel in Dublin. Tour of the seaside on our way to dinner.
Travelled through Galway, 2 hour shopping break and then off to Ashford Castle. We arrived via the traditional boat route (The Isle of Inisfree of Loch Corrib), the same way the Guiness family would have. A lone piper escorted us over the drawbridge to Ashford Castle. Several years ago Sharon met Robert Bateman and he
Today we toured Connemara, the Marble Factory, and on to the Kylemore Abbey (a castellated neo-Gothic mansion) & gardens. Excellent drive through the Irish country. Sunny & warm (24C). Went to the incredible Riverdance type show ( Trad on the Prom ) at the Galway Bay Hotel. The performers have all been members of Riverdance and Lord of
Left Killarney, travelled to Galway. Crossed the Shannon estuary by ferry and into County Claire. Walked along the Cliffs of Moher and then travelled north across the Burren. Stopped at Rathbaun Farm for a sheep shearing & sheep dog demonstration. Restaurant had home made scones. Rainy but warm. Arrived at Connemara Coast Hotel in Galway. Spent
Departed the hotel in Killarney and travelled around the Iveragh Peninsula, better known as the Ring of Kerry, with a few scenic site stops, a beautiful trip in SW Ireland. Waterville, County Kerry, home of Charlie Chaplin. One Irish town had 4200 habitants, 246 pubs and 1 church. We hiked the Muckross Estate & gardens
Early start, drove south to the Rock of Cashel (had tea & scones, best so far!) and on to Blarney Castle. We climbed the 196 steps to see the Blarney Stone. Shopped in the Blarney Woolen Mills and headed to Killarney. Had Irish Coffee, took a pony and trap ride through Killarney National Park and saw
5 AM departure, caught the 8:30 AM ferry out of Holyhead, Wales for Dublin. After 3 hours in the Irish Sea and a few detours in Dublin we were at The Clyde Court Inn. The tour director took us to St. Patricks Cathedral (1190 AD), then Trinity College to see the 8th century Book of
