Yo estoy...: April 2015

For as long as I can remember, Ireland had been my #1 travel destination. The same for Amanda Virkler. So when the Lord presented us with an opportunity to go and see this amazing land of green outlined in stone and dotted white with sheep, we said Yes, Please! with exuberance. We wanted to see it all, to take it all in and to not miss a moment. We only had 10 days to do so, not nearly enough, but we sure tried!

As to be expected with true beauty, the following photographs do not do it justice. The handiwork of God simply can not be captured in a 1D version. Looking at a photo can not give you the smell of the heather, the warmth of the sun, the feel of the breeze. But what I have I humbly offer in recap of an amazing trip.

Trinity College

Gate to Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle

St. Patrick's Cathedral - where we sat and listened to the evensong.

Bridge at Christchurch

Temple Bar

Happy to have found what would be our soundtrack for driving around Ireland!

After renting a car in Dublin, and then figuring out how to drive on the wrong side of the road, Amanda is excited that we "finally got somewhere!!" ;)

Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains, Co. Wicklow

Monastic City in Glendalough

Lower Lake at Glendalough

Wexford, Co. Wexford

Amanda V. at Jerpoint Abbey

Jerpoint Abbey

Just a castle in a field...


Photographic evidence of just one of the many reasons it took us so long to locate the hostel in Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny. The roads seemingly emerge from the buildings to intersect with each other.

Kilkenny Castle

Mahon Falls, Co. Waterford

Hiking up Mahon Falls

Cork, Co. Cork

Drombeg Stone Circle

Enjoying the fact that there wasn't a single cloud in the sky!

Arrived at Mizen Head just too late. We learned that Ireland wakes up late, but also closes down early.

Barleycove Beach

Killarney, Co. Kerry


Because we were on holiday!!

Somewhere on the Ring of Kerry

cliffs at Bray Head, Valentia Island. Off the Ring of Kerry.

How To Properly Take Photos of Cliffs.

Hiking Bray Head, Valentia Island.

Bray Head, Valentia Island.

McCarthy Castle. Ballinskelligs on the Ring of Kerry.

Somewhere on the Ring of Kerry

Amanda standing opposite me on the walls of Staigue Fort. Off the Ring of Kerry.

Staigue Fort.

Somewhere on the Ring of Kerry

Killarney National Park. Torc Waterfall on the Ring of Kerry.

Hiking in Killarney National Park.

Hiking in Killarney National Park

Even when the town in just one road, the hostel can prove difficult to find when it has no sign posted. Annascaul Co. Kerry

Somewhere on Slea Head Drive. Dingle Pennisula.

Somewhere on Slea Head Drive. Dingle Pennisula.

Thatched cottages in Adare, Co. Limerick.

In Ballina Co. Tipperary looking across the river to Killaloe, Co. Clare.

Somewhere along the Lough Derg Drive.

Driving along the coast of Co. Clare.


Taking a walk outside the town of Doolin, Co. Clare. The road stopped, but we kept going.

Returning from our walk enjoying a cup of tea by the fire at our hostel for the night.

At the Cliffs of Moher the wind did not take kindly to our umbrellas.

O'Brien's Tower

The Cliffs of Moher

Pause for cattle crossing.

Kylemore Abbey Co. Galway.

Hiking Diamond Hill. Connemara National Park.

Old Monastery Hostel: the most unique hostel we stayed at. The common room.

Old Monastery Hostel: the most unique hostel we stayed at. One of the bathrooms.

Old Monastery Hostel: the most unique hostel we stayed at. The kitchen.

Steven, the owner of the Old Monastery Hostel, had us all get up and follow him outside to watch the sunset.

Achill Head on Achill Island Co. Mayo

Abandoned Village on Achill Island.

In search of Errew Abbey. Yes, we did climb that fence and wade through the mud... only to find more fields of mud. We should have brought our Wellies!