After exploring Dublin proper for a few days, we struck north for a day drip to see Newgrange and Trim Castle. With the two sights only 35 minutes apart, our day was full but not unreasonably so, even adding a stop for lunch. It would have been just about perfect had one of our rental…
Today our party of ten split into two groups of five, then one of those groups divided yet again. Sound confusing? It turned out to be a fairly simple plan that accommodated a wide range of desires and activities; I’m lucky to travel with a group that’s so flexible! Everyone wanted to head towards Killarney…
We came soooo close to ditching this stop; thank goodness we didn’t! Our day started with a drive to Charles Fort on the southern coast of Ireland, over 100 kilometers from the Flemingstown House, our luxurious home away-from-home. From there we worked our way back north with visits to Bridgetown Priory and Ballybeg Priory, stopping…
Today we forged into the complete unknown! Most of our sightseeing days in Ireland include at least one place I visited on my previous trip in 2013. This isn’t a burden in any way; I learn something new each time and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from having first-hand knowledge of a sight’s…
I can practically feel you rolling your eyes at me. Why would you want to see yet another pile of old rocks? I’ll give you three reasons to see the Labbacallee wedge tomb: It’s the largest wedge tomb in Ireland It has a great story It has a Geocache! If that’s not enough, IT’S RIGHT…
I made some proclamations back in August about the various technology items we would bring to Ireland and how we planned to use them. Here’s a summary of how things worked out. Computing Devices We carried four “computers” on this trip: two iPhone 6s, an iPad Air, and a MacBook Air. Normally we would leave…
I’m not worthy... The most spectacular feature of the Charles Fort is its layout and my photo does not do it justice, not in the slightest. Do me a favor and take a quick look at this aerial photo from the Kinsale Chamber of Tourism. Amazing, right? Charles Fort is just one of five star…
I stumbled upon Lough Gur while researching sights to see near our delightful rental home, the Flemingstown House. As the days passed, I resigned myself to adding it to my “next time I visit Ireland” list, but then opportunity struck. We planned a Limerick day and Lough Gur was a perfect stop along the way,…
My uncle has traveled Ireland more times than he can easily recollect and has forgotten more about the country than I think I will ever know. Out of this vast experience, there are just three sites he recommends to visitors without reservation and the Rock of Cashel is one. With Cahir Castle and the Swiss…
I find myself dumbfounded yet again. How can this relatively small island offer such a richly varied landscape? Sheer ocean cliffs, quilted valleys, the stark and surreal Burren…. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, along come the Wicklows where rusty heath-covered foothills give way to mirrored lakes nestled amongst lush forested mountainsides. It…