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Post by mich64 on Nov 10, 2015 18:31:07 GMT
This is Dunguaire Castle/Kinvara, a 16th century Castle once home to King Guaire.   Gleninsheen Wedge tomb that dates back to 2500 BC.  The Cliffs of Moher, I have many more photos of this but they are on our phone and I will have to upload, hopefully soon. Our guide advised us to stay on the marked trails as 8 people so far this year have fallen and died, a young lady just the week before our visit.  Kylemore Abbey, built in the 19th century and is the Monastic home of the Benedictine Order of Nuns. In modern times it was a boarding school until about 5 years ago.  |
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Post by mich64 on Nov 10, 2015 18:53:38 GMT
Mitchell Henry, a wealthy doctor from London, had this built for his wife Margaret because she fell in love with the area after a holiday in the region. They had taken a holiday to Egypt and she passed away from a fever. When he returned, he was devastated and mourned her death. He had a memorial church built for her and she was buried there. It is about a mile from the Abbey.  It is difficult to see, but the pillars inside the church were constructed with Connemara marble, in green, blue and pink.  There were rock walls everywhere, instead of brick or wood fences, all properties are partitioned by these rock walls.  Our bus tour stopped here for lunch.   A common theme of our days, tea for me and beer for my husband!  Every bowl of soup I had was delicious!  Beautiful thatched roofs. Our guide slowed down for many around the region.  |
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Post by bjd on Nov 10, 2015 19:56:10 GMT
Nice, Mich. We went to Ireland exactly 10 years before you -- in September 2005. We went to Galway and the Aran Islands but didn't get to the Cliffs of Moher. We used public transport and it was pretty slow to get anywhere. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your photos.
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Post by mossie on Nov 10, 2015 20:40:50 GMT
Well done Mich. Pleased to see your husband enjoys the real Guiness and not the softer Murphys.
The local grey granite gives the buildings a rather dour look, but so typical. Thanks for showing us
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Post by htmb on Nov 10, 2015 20:51:36 GMT
Mich, these photos are wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing more.
Were you on a day tour of the area, or were you part of a tour group for the whole trip?
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Post by mich64 on Nov 10, 2015 21:31:07 GMT
Thank you Mossie! I even had one pint of Guiness when we took the tour in Dublin overlooking the city! I loved the big pots of tea I would get everywhere.
Thank you bjd! When we arrived in Dublin we immediately got on a Go Bus to Galway and when we returned to Dublin we took the train. No car rental on this holiday. The roads there are so narrow!
Thank you htmb! We took two day tours. The first was to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren and the next day we went to Connemara. I highly recommend these tours in Ireland, the commentary was terrific, their pride and knowledge held our interest all day.
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Post by mich64 on Nov 10, 2015 22:00:04 GMT
On our way to dinner one evening in Galway the Druid Theater was hosting an event, we stopped and listened to musicians.  Some of the building were just beautiful, we often took a break to take a few minutes to just appreciate.  Lovely store fronts.  And the boardwalk to Salthill.  We always find a firehall.  |
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 11, 2015 14:56:34 GMT
The Cliffs of Moher are very beautiful. So sad to hear about the fatalities. I can certainly see how it's easy to get too close and end up on a bit of crumbling ground.
That Wedge Tomb is huge. I wouldn't have imagined it was so big if you hadn't included people for perspective. So interesting that it's still intact after so many millennia.
Dublin sure looks like a pretty city.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 11, 2015 22:49:44 GMT
Extremely interesting, Mich, and beautiful photos of beautiful terrain -- quite poster-worthy! Love your picture -- you look as though you're having a great time.
Was that huge slab on the ground originally the back wall of the tomb? Amazing that it's been preserved.
I can see the temptation to peer over the edge of the cliffs and am very glad you all resisted it!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2015 6:42:57 GMT
All of the grey stone becomes overwhelming after a while. I'm sure that whenever paint was invented, many locals queued up for it.  Whenever I see photos of stone castles or manor houses in Ireland (or Scotland), I instantly think of whisky for a very odd reason -- the French laws for liquor advertisements. You cannot show anybody drinking it and basically the only visual permitted is where it comes from. So in the metro, every time you see a big advertising poster of a grey stone castle, you know exactly what they are selling before you even see the writing. |
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Post by lugg on Nov 20, 2015 19:45:43 GMT
Thank you Mich for posting your thoughts and these wonderful photos . What did you / Mr Mich think of the fire station ?
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Post by tod2 on Nov 21, 2015 16:49:29 GMT
So nice to be brought back to Ireland Mich! That Gleninsheen Wedge Tomb in the Burren may be the one we visited but I thought it was called a Dolmein so maybe it's just one of many. They look very similar to each other. Did you have time to look for Alpine flowers in the crykes?
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Post by mich64 on Nov 27, 2015 18:57:02 GMT
Sorry I have not been back to offer thanks and answer questions.
Bixa, yes I do believe that large stone has fallen from the back of the tomb. It was difficult to keep my husband from going past the barricades on the Cliffs, I resisted for about 20 minutes but then watched him wander a bit past it, nervous but happy that he was having his own experience.
Lugg, on our last night in Galway, our Hotel had to call in the fire department as their hot water tank on the third floor burst and flooded the kitchen so a fire truck was parked outside for a couple of hours. We went outside and my husband had a nice conversation with the pump operator.
Tod there are a few tombs in the Burren and I think the tour operators go to different ones so not just one is so crowded. I did not get to search for any of the flowers that I had been so much about!
Kerouac, hopefully I can find some more photos of how brightly painted some of the buildings were, we found this in Scotland as well and it did brighten up all the grey stone.
I will be back soon to add some more photos of The Kilmainham Goal!
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Post by tod2 on Nov 28, 2015 10:41:00 GMT
That would be wonderful Mich. I've just had a memory flash about Salthill. Our motorhome/tent grounds were on a grassy patch overlooking Galway bay. We saw people coming and going along the edge of the sea to some buildings in the distance. Our neighbors said they were going to a pub in Salthill that evening but we had been driving all day plus the weather was blustery and it also rained. Looks like we missed a terrific evening of real Irish music and song.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 2, 2015 15:37:38 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 3, 2015 4:07:31 GMT
Thanks for the reply, Mich. So much variety in this thread. You all must have had a wonderful time. How did you come to choose Ireland for a visit?
Is the round section in the gaol original or modern. And what did Mrs. Joseph Plunkett do to wind up shut up in that dreadful space?
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Post by patricklondon on Dec 3, 2015 18:01:53 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 3, 2015 19:05:01 GMT
What a story! Thanks for that, Patrick.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 5, 2015 17:42:34 GMT
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Post by bjd on Dec 5, 2015 18:04:17 GMT
Ah, so that's what we missed, Mich! We didn't go to see the book of Kells. I'm a lousy tourist -- just bought a mug at the university bookstore! Now I see we should have gone in.
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Post by mich64 on Dec 5, 2015 18:27:44 GMT
bjd it is worth a return visit!
I found Ireland enhanced my senses. It was visually beautiful, I listened intently to the young people speaking their language, tasted some of the best soups, laid my hands on beautiful stone buildings and walls but what I hope to never forget is the aroma in that Library. I longed to reach past the barricades, take a book, open it up and sit on a bench for a few hours and just read.
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Post by htmb on Dec 5, 2015 20:03:54 GMT
That sounds delightful, Mich. You certainly know how to paint a picture with words.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 5, 2015 21:17:18 GMT
Oh, Mich ~ the pictures are beautiful, but I think your words just made everyone here absolutely ache to go have that experience!
And what a lovely tribute to your doctor, too. He must have been very touched by your pictures and gifts.
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Post by breeze on Dec 5, 2015 22:37:31 GMT
Mich, your husband probably livened up the evening for the pump operator.
I visit libraries and bookstores wherever we go, but they are not usually as splendid as this one. Lucky you to have so long with the Book of Kells.
A good bowl of soup can make my day. That bread looks delicious too.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2015 22:58:11 GMT
I just now got back to this report and the final photos are absolutely remarkable!
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Post by mich64 on Dec 23, 2015 2:58:41 GMT
Thank you everyone for the kind words!
htmb, my husband just explained to me what your words meant, I am happy I did that!
Bixa, my doctor seemed quite pleased as were his two office staff, many hugs were shared that afternoon! I am very glad you enjoyed my words.
Breeze, it was soda bread, it was good, kind of dense but a nice nutty flavor.
Kerouac, I appreciate your comment very much.
I hope after Christmas I am able to transfer the photos from our phone to my computer, there are more I would like to share with you all.
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Post by htmb on Dec 23, 2015 3:14:26 GMT
We will look forward to seeing more of your photos after the holidays, Mich.
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