Markree Castle

When we had stopped in Cork, I had noticed a sign for greyhound racing at a nearby racetrack and had wanted to check it out.  Unfortunately, the races weren't for a few days, so we were unable to watch one.  By the time we reached Galway, I was ready to stop driving and touring around for a few days and just get to Danny and Carol's, so I insisted we get up early that morning to leave.  On the way out of town, we passed by the Galway Greyhound Track...and I was incredibly disappointed to discover that the races began the very next day.  Someday I'll get to a greyhound race...someday.

Mom had been insisting that we stay in a castle at some point while in Ireland.  While passing through Co. Sligo, we saw a sign for accommodations at someplace called Markree Castle...so we called Danny and Carol, told them we'd be a day late in getting to their house, and stopped for the night in Collooney, where we stayed in a bona fide castle.

One last note: please excuse the horrific snake-print shirt I'm wearning in the next few entries.  I have nothing to say in my defense other than I was young and foolish, and I believe animal prints were extremely popular at the time.  I atone for this transgression every time I look at any pictures of myself from high school.