Blogs from Blarney, County Cork, Ireland, Europe

Woensdag 28/8/2019 – Om 8.30 staat er een grote bus voor 50 personen klaar voor ons groepje van 16. Geen discussie dus van 'ik wil aan 't raam zitten'. Plaats zat ! Eerste stop Blarney Castle, een middeleeuwse versterkte woontoren in een 60 acres groot park. Alla plantentuin van Meise. De eerste bouw van het kasteel gaat terug tot 1210. Vooral bekend om zijn 'Kissing the Blarney Stone' om diplomatieke eloquentie te verwerven. Vereist wel een klim tot helemaal boven op de toren, om na een lange wachtrij, in acrobatische ruglig, gedeeltelijk door het hoogste middeleeuwse schijtgat van de woontoren, een steen in de buitenmuur te kussen. Nou moe ! Ik bekijk het wel van beneden. Tweede stop Cork. Al eens culturele hoofdstad van Europa. Maar dat was Mons ook al eens. Wel met een prachtige ... read more

Day 10 Today was a sight seeing day, after our appointment with Christy Keating, a Genealogy tracker that helps you locate documents for people you think are ancestors, then on to the Blarney Castle. The day began with a cruise ship blowing it’s horn to announce I am here. It was so long, I couldn’t get all of it in on my phone camera. We watched them tie up to the dock, and then went to breakfast in the hotel restaurant. After breakfast, we visited with another couple from Ohio, that were going to do some sight seeing today. They were leaving today and were planning to see the Quiet Man museum and on to their next stop. We had tickets to the Cobh Heritage Center and Museum, where our meeting with Christy Keating was, at ... read more

Today we leave Killarney and travel to Waterford, home of Waterford Crystal with a stop at the Blarney Castle. It was a particularly bleak looking day with overcast skies and a drenching rain. At least we will be traveling today. I usually like to watch the scenery and take photos as we drive, but not today. I couldn't keep my eyes open and kept dozing off. Our first stop was at Blarney Castle and the Blarney stone. When we arrived we were given an orientation by Patrick about where to meet and he gave us 3 hours of free time. Peter dropped us off at the castle and as is usually the case, the rain stopped and the sun came out with just intermittent showers for the rest of the time at the castle. The Blarney ... read more

Cobh was our first port of call in Ireland. (More on Cobh later.) In Ireland and Northern Ireland we booked shore excursions in advance through the Paddywagon Tours company. (Their gimmick is to have green motorcoaches adorned with shamrocks and leprechauns.) Our driver/guide was a proud Corkman who took us to Blarney Castle, through Cork, to Kinsale and back to Cobh. Arriving at Blarney Castle car park, one passes a former railway station, now a souvenir shop. I liked reading the informational markers about the Cork and Muskerry Light Railway. Opened to Blarney in 1887, it was the railway that touched off the descent of throngs of tourists upon "Old Castle Blarney". All visitors to Blarney in those days had to pay their entry fee to railway company, whether or not they arrived by train. The ... read more

Today Matt and I decided to head south of Adare to Blarney Castle to kiss the famous Blarney Stone. We were a little worried about weather because when we woke up is was really raining and windy. Good news, once we began traveling the sky's cleared and we had a very nice fall day to experience Blarney and enjoy the gardens and grounds surrounding the castle. After leaving Blarney we continued south through Cork to an adorable little town on the water called Kinsale. We spent time enjoying the quaint shops and pubs, wondering throughout the streets looking for treasures. We ended our day at a local pub in Adare called Auncy Lena's having the traditional Irish dinner bangers and mash and few beers! Perfect Irish day...... read more