Thursday, April 30, 2015

Ireland. April 19 - 29, 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
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.
Hiking Diamond Hill. Connemara National Park.
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!
Sligo Bay, Co. Sligo
Somewhere in Co. Donegal
Donegal Castle.
Giant's Causeway. Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. Home of the great Irish Giant Finn McCool.
Giant's Causeway.
Giant's Causeway.  Finn's organ.
Giant's Causeway.  You can see Finn's camel and his chimneys in this picture.
Giant's Causeway.
Somewhere along the Causeway Coastal Drive.
Somewhere along the Causeway Coastal Drive.
City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland
Hope Statue. Erected to signify the end of the "Troubles"
Hope Statue. Erected to signify the end of the "Troubles"

Hope Statue. Erected to signify the end of the "Troubles"
Bigfish Statue. Each tile tells a story about the city.
Albert Tower.
Queen's University.
The murals of Belfast.
The murals of Belfast.
St. Patrick's (Roman Catholic) City of Armagh, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.

St. Patrick's (Church of Ireland) City of Armagh, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland.
Muiredeach's High Cross at Monasterboice Co. Meath
Old Mellifont Abbey, Co. Meath
Trim Castle, Trim Co. Meath
Trim Castle
Killeen Castle, Co. Meath
Dublin
Dublin
One last glimpse of Ireland as we flew away.

Now if you have really looked through all of these pictures with me.  Well, perhaps then you too should visit the Emerald Isle. ;)

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
and the rain fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Much Love.








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