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IRELAND - EMERALD ISLAND
10 Days in Ireland can be mistaken as a month or more and not healthy on your liver for that matter, when your travelling with a bunch of wild independent travellers on an award winning Paddy Wagon Tour of Ireland, there is no rest for the wicked.
I began my tour in Dublin, meeting my fellow travellers (25 in all - Yanks, Canadians, Germans, Kiwis and yes the Aussies which made half of the total), we travelled North along the east side up to the top end, across the Northern part of the island over to the west and down south. With the Irish sea on our right on the first leg, we first stopped at Drogheda to view the preserved head of St Oliver Plunkett (executed 1681) in St Peters Cathedral (he didn't look very well), then over to view and gain knowledge of the origins of the Celtic Cross at Monasterbuice, before heading further North to the Township of Derry (Londonderry as the Brits know it - some history there, to much to get into), to await a private in depth tour of the 'Walled City' (city protected by fortress walls) and a
Celtic Cross
The highest Cross in Dublin. political history lesson on the well known Bogside District of Derry where on 30th January 1972 marked the second historic event known as "BLOODY SUNDAY" (US wrote a song about this event).
We backed tracked down the North coast to Belfast the next day to take the world famous Black Taxi tour of the Peace Wall and gain a further insight of the political murals canvassed on the many walls in both catholic and protestant housing areas. Then onto Ireland's 8th wonder of the world "The Giant Causeway" an astonishing complex of over 38,000 manly hexagonal shaped basalt column stones packed closely together as if to form 'stepping stones'.
A drive around the Highlands of Donegal to the North-East left an ever lasting impression of Ireland, stopping at Glenveagh Castle for a short tour, and then moving Southwards along the West coast side of Ireland - Atlantic Ocean by our side. Passing through and having many stops along the way - Donegal, Bundoran, Silgo and Standhill for a popular sea weed bath, retreating into Cong over night on the shores of Lough (lake) Corribs. A quite and very picturess village made famous by the filming of 'The Quite
Slain Castel
Popular venue for live concerts - U2, Maddona. Man' starring John Wayne in the early 60's.
Our approach to Galway city was nothing short of full mesmerising scenery of the Doolough (Black Valley) and Connemara mountain ranges (Photo's galore). An overnight in Galway (party city) was not to be taken lightly, the aquired taste of Guinness finaly sucombed (nothing like the brew back home, where i swore I'd never drink the stuff again). Following day after a sleepless night out and a tiny little headache....not, South we went, a visit to Dunguare Castle, many photos (as this was my first real castle sighting) again was well received by all. Later morning onto explore a lunar landscape of Burren (landscape of rocks which stretches 30km inland and 40km North & South) was a small treat until the main event of the day, gazing in awe at the majesty that is the 'Cliffs of Moher' - Fantastic cliff edges (still here in one piece - did not manage to fall off...me being very clumsy at times). Later that afternoon we crossed the River Shannon (which cuts Ireland in two from west to east) via ferry and into Annascaul.
The snake like curved windy roads and cliff edges of
Slane Abbey
Castel ruins Dingle Peninsula known as 'Slea Head Drive' resembles our coast of the Great Ocean Road Drive, only difference, the Atlantic Sea on one side and very green mountain hills on the other, was far the best part of the tour drive. A brief stop at Dun Chaoin Beach for a chance to swim in the Atlantic sea was an opportunity not to be missed later that afternoon......very bloody cold i might add!!!!!
Killarney City was another party city and the Black stuff flowed easily with the tour group, not knowing a big drive ahead of us the next day....it was a struggle. But never the less we pushed forward to take in the magnificent views of the Kerry Peninsula known as the 'Ring of Kerry' drive, passing through various harbour/fishing towns and breath taking views of the mountains and valleys along the way.
We crossed the Kerry Mountains leaving county Kerry and crossing over into County Cork (or The Peoples Republic of Cork as the locals would like to be known as) to kiss the legendary Blarney Stone atop Blarney Castle in Blarney (The Irish are very inventive!!!) and our final night and farewell drinks once again.....in Cork
City.
...........Well not quite our final farewell drinks - what better ending is there to complete a 10 day tour of Ireland but to visit and tour around the GUINNESS BREWERY back in Dublin....after ten days we were not very interested in how the beer was brewed but interested (as quick as we could) in ascending the 8 or 9 escalators up to the very top floor known as the 'Gravity Bar' - a new 360 degrees glass lookout Bar over looking the Brewery complex and yes drink!!.
I'm all Ireland out and need to rest now so until next time.....
Seeya.
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