We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We had an amazing time in Ireland! The landscape is breathtaking, the people are warm and welcoming and I want to go back!!!

We took the 6:45 PM flight from JFK to Shannon on Wed, May 23 and arrived in Shannon at 6:00 AM on Thursday.

We were exhausted, but had to wake up because we were picking up our car to drive to the Castle we were staying that day and night.

Driving in Ireland is hard and takes some getting used too. Phil did awesome and I am very proud of him.

Word of advice, GET THE GPS, WE DID AND IT TOTALLY WAS WORTH IT!!!

The whole time in Ireland while we were driving, I would sing, "To the left, to the left" You know that song by Beyonce.

We arrived that Glin Castle at 9:00 am. We were exhausted! I had emailed them ahead of time asking for an early check-in. They couldn't guarantee it, but they would try there best.

When we arrived our room was ready! We ate breakfast and went straight to bed. We slept until about 4:00 in this amazing bed and then got up and explored the castle and grounds.

Here are some pics:

Phil with the cows.




Were prisoners kept here?



I am still just waking up.







Everything you eat at the castle is grown at the castle, it is a working farm.







LOVED this room, it is the Library! We spent the evening after dinner drinking wine by the fire.



After dinner we took some pics.









We really enjoyed the castle, it was a awesome first day and night in Ireland. We were able to rest up in luxury!

The food was outstanding, the service was impeccable, the decor was amazing, the room was huge and grand!

We loved hanging out after dinner by the fire in the Library. We didn't go to bed until 2:00 am because we wanted to make the most of it.

Here is the link to more information about Glin Castle:

http://www.glincastle.com/index.html

Message edited 6/8/2007 9:38:46 AM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We headed to Killarney for 2 nights.

Killarney is fun for pubs! We went pub hopping that night and met a ton of people. It was bike week, so we met a ton of bikers who were riding the Ring of Kerry the following day!

We didn't take pictures, I am not sure why, just didn't. We shopped! It was a fun, I am glad we visited Kilarney, but we won't go back.

We headed off to Dingle, by taking the Ring of Kerry. ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

Here are some pics as we drove the Ring of Kerry.


We stopped at Muckross first.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We are back on the Ring of Kerry and just stopping at places and taking pics















I just love all the different and beautiful flowers!!

Message edited 6/8/2007 10:20:55 AM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We arrived in Dingle and just fell in love with the area.

We LOVED DINGLE!!!!!

We were only supposed to stay 1 night in Dingle and ended up staying 3 nights! We loved the place we stayed.

It is the Emlagh House in Dingle, here is the website:

http://www.emlaghhouse.com/

This place and the people who worked there are amazing!!!

We stayed in the Fuschsia Room:



Every night we went to a family run pub called Murphys. AWESOME live music!!! The first two nights was this 2 man band called New Tribe. This man's voice was amazing! So much fun!!!!

The last night was another 2 man band. They were good, but not as good as New Tribe. But still lots of fun!!!

In Dingle we drove Sleigh Head,
here are some pics:

Message edited 6/8/2007 11:07:17 AM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

In Dingle we also hiked Mount Brendon, which is one of the highest mountains in Ireland.

It was really hard (Nancy, my supervisor will be proud, she travels everywhere to hike and leads hikes here on LI) but TOTALLY WORTH IT!!!!

When we finally got to top of the mountain, I thought I was in heaven!

Here are a few pics of our journey.

The starting point (You might be wondering with the Club Antartica sticker is? Our friend on LI owns a sign shop and made us this sticker for Ireland to take with us, it's weird, I know)




See the top of the mountain, that is where we are headed!



Getting there



Phil got a second wind!



Looking up and thinking to myself, are we crazy?



I need a break! We brought plenty of water and snacks, thank god!



Finally at the top!!! The pictures don't do justice, it was breathtaking!







Look at this view!!!



We stayed in the top for about an hour! But we had to head down.

Here is a picture of when we got most of the way down and I looked back and couldn't believe where we came from.

Message edited 6/8/2007 3:18:58 PM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We reluctantly left Dingle to head for Blarney. The day we left Dingle it was raining (we had amazing weather all three days we were there, so it was time for us to move on).

We headed to Blarney, explored the Blarney Castle, watched other people kiss the stone (I just couldn't kiss something that a million others have kissed) and shopped at the Blarney Woolen Mills.

Here are a few pics of the castle:





We definitely shopped! Here are a fews things we bought:

I splurged and bought this for myself, I really love it and can't wait for the fall to wear it.



A Avoca Lambswool Throw we got in the lavendar color:



We got some Aran Knitwear sweaters for some family and friends too.

After shopping we headed off to Waterford/Wexford to a town callled Arthurstown.

Message edited 6/8/2007 1:18:26 PM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

So when we arrived at the B&B in Arthurstown we were amazed.

We stayed at the Glendine Country House in Arthurstown.

Here is the website:

http://www.glendinehouse.com/

They were overbooked at the B&B, so they put us in the cottage!!! We were so lucky!!!

They converted stone buildings dating from 1830 to two cosy country cottages. These four star-standard cottages have a coastal view of the Waterford Harbour and are attached to the main house.

Once we saw the cottage, we decided to stay for 2 nights.

We were able to cook (Phil made stir-fry both nights), drank wine by the wood burning stove and watched the sun over the harbour and mountains go down at around 10:30 PM!!!!

It was absolutely AMAZING!!!!!

While we were in Arthurstown we drove the Hook Pennisula, visited Johnston Castle and Gardens, toured the Agriculture museum which has an amazing Famine Exhibit, visited Tintern Abbey.

Here are a few pictures:

The Gardens at Johnston Castle



Tintern Abbey

Message edited 6/8/2007 1:38:14 PM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Our last day in Arthurstown was rainy and foggy, so we moved on to Dublin.

We found our hotel and then went to drop off the car at the airport, which was a really tough drive.

We stayed at the Schoolhouse Hotel, here is the website:

http://www.schoolhousehotel.com/?r=3086

Phil and I loved the bar at the schoolhouse and the bartendars. They were so nice to us and we got to know them very well.

The hotel part I was a bit disappointed in. Bascially the staff at hotel part were not friendly or helpful. Everytime I asked a question, I felt like I was inconveniencing them.

The motif is really cool though and I overall enjoyed our time at the Schoolhouse, especially at the bar.

We toured the Jameson Distillary, ate at Gallaghers in Temple Bar, shopped (of course), went pub hopping (of course), and toured the Guiness Storehouse.

Here are a few pictures:

Me, getting a lesson on how to pour my own Guiness



Phil, getting a lesson (he really didn't need one, he was a bartender during college and poured many)



Tasting what we poured



I love this advertisement, I am on a mission to find a copy.



For our friend Al



In front of the Schoolhouse



Our last night at the Schoolhouse bar





I am glad we went to Dublin, but when we visit again, we don't plan on going back. There is more of Ireland we want to see!

Message edited 6/8/2007 3:22:13 PM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

We had such a great trip to Ireland!!!!

We plan on going back to see some areas we didn't get to see.

We didn't want to rush, so we decided to stay in the areas we really loved (for ex, Dingle, Arthurstown) and explore more.

I want to go back to see Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, visit the Aran Islands and we want to do more hiking in Dingle and Wexford.

My parents really want to go to Ireland too (my mom is full Irish and my father is 50% Irish), so I am thinking about taking them in about two years for their 36 or 37 Anniversary.

I can't wait to go back!!!!!

So now I need to get back into shape, all those Full Irish breakfasts!!!!!!!! Not to mention the beer!!!!


If anyone has questions, please FM!!!

Message edited 6/8/2007 3:23:25 PM.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Great Photo's.

Looks like you had a wonderful time!!!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Love your pics! Looks like you had a great time!!! We went to Ireland during bike week last year - it was funny to see so many bikes over there.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

OMG...your pics are incredible!!!!!! I am so jealous...

You guys look like you had an awesome time...glad you experienced it!!!!!!!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Tara, your pics are amazing !!!

What a beautiful country, it looks like you guys had a blast.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Awesome pics
Dh and I got back from Ireland on the 25th We were in Dublin, Killarney and Galway. we went on the horse and carriage ride through the park too
Here are our pics (not many though)

http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-160713-1.html

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Looks gorgeous!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Gorgeous pics Tara! Glad you had a great time!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

I so badly want to go to Ireland...your pictures just reinforced that desire even more. *sigh*

Sounds like a fantastic vacation - thanks for sharing!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

sooooooo cool

I love Ireland and would love to go there one day! It's so pretty!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Beautiful pics! Thanks for sharing

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

WOW!!!!!!! Your trip sounds amazing!!!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Looks so enchanting Great pics!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

pics are amazing! The views are incredible!!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

You guys are so cute. Love all your pics! I definitely want to visit Ireland one day.

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Glad you had a great time!!!!

Re: We are back from Ireland with pictures!!!

Ireland looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing the pictures and posting a review.

Message edited 6/11/2007 9:14:11 AM.