http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/tarheel790/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from tarheel790 en-us Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:55:22 BST Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:55:22 BST Our original plan was to drive into Dublin see the sites and then drop Jessie at the bus station to head back to Galway. We decided to skip Dublin since we had been told it is near impossible to drive in Dublin due to the traffic. Instead we drove Jessie back to Galway. It was only a 2 12 hour trip from Trim to Galway and we needed to do some more shopping. We thought we would be able to find http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Meath/Trim/blog-274903.html We started the day off with our typical full Irish breakfast except this BB also offered black and white pudding. I was brave enough to try the puddings but Pam and Jessica decided to pass. I found them to be quite tasty and had them both mornings we stayed here. We started out the day by driving to Navan and shopping for chocolate. We then made the rounds to the sites in the Boyne Valley. We v http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Meath/Trim/blog-274900.html Today was another travel day. We left Ballycastle to head back into the Republic. We passed through Armagh the religious center of Ireland. St. Patrick established the first Christian church in Ireland in Armagh in 455 AD. There are two St. Patrick's Cathedrals on opposing hills in Armagh one catholic and the other protestant. We stopped for lunch in Armagh but did not tour the cathedrals.Our f http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Meath/Trim/blog-274898.html Jessica found out that Rathlin Island which is just off the coast of Ballycastle was the hiding place of Robert the Bruce the brief King of Scotland. This became one of the infamous side trips suggested by Jessica. She had to see Bruce's Cave where he saw the legendary spider. The ferry to Rathlin Island takes 50 minutes. We found a brochure at the BB for a boat that made the trip in 15 minu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Northern-Ireland/Ballycastle/blog-274872.html Sunday was our travel day. We got a late start since we didn't get in until 230am. We skipped breakfast so we could sleep longer. We got up and packed everything so we could head out to Northern Ireland. We picked Jessie up at Corrib Village around noon and headed north through Sligo and Donegal. About 2 hours into the trip Jessie suddenly realizes that she has forgotten her passport. This is po http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Northern-Ireland/Ballycastle/blog-274871.html With Jessica's school requirements completed today was the day for the Ring of Kerry. We needed to start out early because we had a long trip ahead of us. We picked Jessica up at about 830am yes she was actually up and ready. As with any trip with Jessica we had to make a side trip. She had just finished writing a paper on the Rock of Cashel in Tipperary it is a long way to Tipperary. Bui http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Kerry/Killarney/blog-274868.html Jessica finally finished her paper...she is done with school until the fall We picked her up at Corrib Village and drove her to the school to turn in the paper. We then went down to the City Center to do some shopping on Shop Street which is right next to Merchant Street these Irish come up with some clever names for their streets. I picked up an Aran sweater and Pam managed to find gifts for http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Galway/Galway/blog-273626.html Today was supposed to be a visit to the Aran Islands three islands off the coast of Ireland just out of Galway Bay where the people still live much as they did over a hundred years ago. This is also where the Aran sweater originated the traditional Irish wool sweater with different designs woven into the sweater. Each design has a meaning and each family had a specific pattern which identifie http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Galway/Connemara/blog-273624.html Today was our day to visit the Cliffs of Moher. Jessie has already been to visit the Cliffs so she stayed in Galway to finish her paper due on Friday while we did something she had already done. The day started with a wonderful full Irish breakfast fried eggs sausages ham potato cake must have potatoes Irish brown bread toast juice and coffee. We made it through Galway without any proble http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-273623.html Forgot to provide an update on the weather. It was sunny and 65 when we arrived. We had sunshine for our entire crosscountry trip. When we arrived in Galway it turned overcast and cool. While we were out walking on Quay Street pronounced key street we experienced one of the notorious freak hail storms that Jessie has been telling us about. One minute nothing the next minute it is raining ha http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Galway/Galway/blog-273557.html We're finally in Ireland We arrived in Dublin at 930am and unbelievably so did all our luggage. Yea Delta We had too much luggage for the car we rented...must have been the bag full of shoes for you know who. Upgraded to a Hyundai SUV Diesel...gets good mileage but sounds like a truck. We made our way crosscountry and arrived in Galway around 230pm. Met up with Jessica and after lots of hug http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Galway/Galway/blog-271628.html