TravBuddy.com: kingelvis14's 8 Days on the Emerald Isle travel blog Copyright 2005 TravBuddy LLC http://www.travbuddy.com/blogs/20397 For years I only talked and dreamed of traveling to the place of my heritage ~ Ireland ~ and in 2005 it became a reality. And the best part ~ I was able to share this trip with my two adult daughters. We hired a driver(so as not to get lost or worse)who met us at the Shannon Airport. My dream was coming true right before my eyes. I hope you enjoy my blog but please take time to look at the pictures of the people. They are the real Ireland. en-us Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:01:22 PST Dublin ~ A Melting Pot http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Dublin-A-Melting-Pot-Dublin-25 Thu, 02 Jun 2005 18:01:22 PST Dublin ~ A Melting Pot Dublin, Ireland, Jun 02, 2005

The first thing I noticed in Dublin was the hustle and bustle of the people.  Everyone had somewhere to be and they were all in a big hurr...

]]> Braveheart http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Braveheart-Trim-24 Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:02 PST Braveheart Trim, Ireland, Jun 01, 2005

One thing I remember about our drive to Trim was the road construction; enough aggravation to make a preacher cuss.  Des was getting impatient...

]]> Belleck Pottery http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Belleck-Pottery-Beleek-22 Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 PST Belleck Pottery Beleek, Northern Ireland, Jun 01, 2005

Woe is me!  Our time with Des was quickly coming to an end.  Today would be our last day together and I was going to miss h...

]]> Newgrange Passage Tomb http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Newgrange-Passage-Tomb-Newgrange-23 Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:01 PST Newgrange Passage Tomb Newgrange, Ireland, Jun 01, 2005

Can you tell me ~ what is all the fuss about?  A passage tomb sounds like some place to bury the dead.  Big deal.   Oh, but ...

]]> Fishing Port http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Fishing-Port-Killybegs-18 Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 PST Fishing Port Killybegs, Ireland, May 31, 2005

When I started this vacation, one of the first things Des told me was, "Don't count on the weather but don't ever give up on it eithe...

]]> Slieve League http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Slieve-League-Teelin-21 Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:03 PST Slieve League Teelin, Ireland, May 31, 2005

Paddy and Paddy.  Our boat owner/captain and his best friend.  Both friendly and typically Irish.  My prayers had ...

]]> Thatched cottages and friendly folk http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Thatched-cottages-and-friendly-folk-Glencolumbkille-19 Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:01 PST Thatched cottages and friendly folk Glencolumbkille, Ireland, May 31, 2005

The road before us was narrow and untraveled.  Almost as though we were the only people in the entire world.  About an hour or so p...

]]> "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/-The-Lord-giveth-and-the-Lord-taketh-away--Carrick-20 Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:02 PST "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." Carrick, Ireland, May 31, 2005

Let me share a story with you.   A story of one of the life-long residents of the little town of Carrick; a man by the name ...

]]> William Butler Yeats http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/William-Butler-Yeats-Drumcliff-17 Mon, 30 May 2005 18:07:54 PST William Butler Yeats Drumcliff, Ireland, May 30, 2005

Although I am not a poet and don't pretend to know anything about poetry, I was still intrigued by the final resting place of the great Irish...

]]> Foxford Woollen Mill http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Foxford-Woollen-Mill-Foxford-16 Mon, 30 May 2005 08:57:05 PST Foxford Woollen Mill Foxford, Ireland, May 30, 2005

A trip to Ireland wouldn't be complete without a stopover at one of the many woollen mills.  These are now found near the small villages in ...

]]> Village of Roundstone http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Village-of-Roundstone-Roundstone-15 Sun, 29 May 2005 08:06:30 PST Village of Roundstone Roundstone, Ireland, May 29, 2005

This has been a really full day of riding and enjoying the beautiful Irish landscape.   Connemara is blessed with rugged beau...

]]> Connemara Peat Bogs http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Connemara-Peat-Bogs-Leenane-13 Sun, 29 May 2005 00:00:02 PST Connemara Peat Bogs Leenane, Ireland, May 29, 2005

The landscape around us was now either covered with rocks or black bogs.  Peat from the bogs was useful in heating the modest homes ...

]]> Irish Potato Famine http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Irish-Potato-Famine-Louisburgh-14 Sun, 29 May 2005 00:00:03 PST Irish Potato Famine Louisburgh, Ireland, May 29, 2005

When I travel to a new, unfamiliar place, every day is a grand adventure.  However, there is always that one village, that one...

]]> Sky Road http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Sky-Road-Clifden-11 Sun, 29 May 2005 00:00:00 PST Sky Road Clifden, Ireland, May 29, 2005

Another yummy breakfast at our hotel.  A great way to start the day, especially when the handsome proprietor comes to your table and s...

]]> Kylemore Abbey http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Kylemore-Abbey-kylemore-12 Sun, 29 May 2005 00:00:01 PST Kylemore Abbey kylemore, Ireland, May 29, 2005

Because we got an early start this morning, we were able to get to Kylemore Abbey before the tour buses.  Praise the Lord!  If there is o...

]]> Connemara Pony http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Connemara-Pony-Oughterard-10 Sat, 28 May 2005 00:00:01 PST Connemara Pony Oughterard, Ireland, May 28, 2005

After a two-hour walk through the streets of Galway, Catherine, Leigh Ann, and I met back with Des at our pre-arranged spot in the ...

]]> Galway Faces and Hookers http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Galway-Faces-and-Hookers-Galway-9 Sat, 28 May 2005 00:00:00 PST Galway Faces and Hookers Galway, Ireland, May 28, 2005

It was Saturday morning and time to move on down the road.  After another delicious breakfast in the hotel's dining room, Des load...

]]> St. Brendan http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/St-Brendan-Brandon-7 Fri, 27 May 2005 00:00:01 PST St. Brendan Brandon, Ireland, May 27, 2005

Our final stop on the Peninsula was on Brandon Mountain.  Des took us down to a tiny inlet with a boat ramp.  The only other person...

]]> The Dingle Peninsula http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/The-Dingle-Peninsula-Dingle-6 Fri, 27 May 2005 00:00:00 PST The Dingle Peninsula Dingle, Ireland, May 27, 2005

Have you ever been in REM sleep, lost to the world, when a loud sound startles you back into reality?   Around 3 a.m. we sa...

]]> An Bothar Pub http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/An-Bothar-Pub-Ballydavid-8 Fri, 27 May 2005 06:35:45 PST An Bothar Pub Ballydavid, Ireland, May 27, 2005

After our history lesson at Brandon Mountain, it was time to head back to Ballyvaughan and our cozy room.  It had been a very long d...

]]> Ennis http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Ennis-Ennis-3 Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:02 PST Ennis Ennis, Ireland, May 26, 2005

Our first day was to be non-stop.  So much beauty.  Friendly people and incredibly old everything.  The town of Ennis was exa...

]]> Gregan's Castle Hotel http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Gregans-Castle-Hotel-Ballyvaughan-5 Thu, 26 May 2005 22:34:36 PST Gregan's Castle Hotel Ballyvaughan, Ireland, May 26, 2005

Des told us that Gregan's Castle is in ruins on the hotel property, but we weren't able to see it through the thick forest.  The Gre...

]]> Kilfenora and the Burren http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Kilfenora-and-the-Burren-Lisdoonvarna-4 Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:03 PST Kilfenora and the Burren Lisdoonvarna, Ireland, May 26, 2005

After we left Ennis, the Irish weather started to change quickly, as it does so often.  Des had already told us, "Don't count on the weather, ...

]]> Touching Down in Shannon http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Touching-Down-in-Shannon-Shannon-1 Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:00 PST Touching Down in Shannon Shannon, Ireland, May 26, 2005

Catherine, Leigh Ann, and I had an uneventful flight from Birmingham, Alabama, to Shannon Airport on the Emerald Isle.  There wasn't an empty ...

]]> Adare http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/20397/Adare-Adare-2 Thu, 26 May 2005 00:00:01 PST Adare Adare, Ireland, May 26, 2005

I had requested that we go to the village of Adare.   Claimed to be Ireland's prettiest village, it is nestled in the wooded valley ...

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