http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Ireland , County Clare en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:12:15 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:12:15 UTC Hey all It's been a REALLY big week here Well after my last entry I went out job hunting and within a short time landed a fulltime waitressing position in a fine dining restaurant. Well i know what yer all thinkin' and that's ok cuz it's true but i was pretty honest with him regarding my lack of exact experience but he was very trusting of my willingness to learn and hired me right on th http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-345044.html After spending a glorious night with the howling Atlantic outside and a glowing hearth of peat at our bedside we awoke to radiant sunshine. Breakfast in the sunny veranda room facing the Atlantic was remarkably good. Laurie picked the fluffy pancakes with warm maple syrup and Axel experimented a bit with the smoked salmon and scrambled eggs. The salmon was mixed in after the eggs were scramble http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-340361.html Having made the reservations Axel was excited about the next stop on our Irish adventure Moy House. It certainly looked very romantic online but sometimes pictures can be deceiving The four hour drive from Dingle took us up the West coast of Ireland across the River Shannon into County Clare. Crossing the Shannon required a ferry crossing as Ireland still relies on ferries rather than bridg http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-340360.html Courtesy of a ldquobrainwaverdquo of my roomie Catriona she Helena Ally and I set out for a miniroad trip on Saturday evening to Ennis for some craic and sightseeing. After an early start and a full day of work the 4 of us hopped in Trionarsquos VW hatchbackmy first adventure with her behind the wheel with our sights set on Ennis. Upon leaving Allysonrsquos estate Helena pleaded http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Ennis/blog-335006.html Well when I left you last I was in Ireland admiring my big sister and her way with the camerasNow as I am writing I am packed and ready to leave in half an hour for the airport and the next leg of my journey... the trip to New York CityWhat has happened since I got to Ireland is a lot of taking my two nieces and nephew to school and picking them up making 15minute trips over the bridge to go http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-333656.html Our tour http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-330147.html Meidn piti kyd katsomassa yht luolaa mutta 12 euron psymaksu houkutti jatkamaan matkaa. Pyshdyimme kuvaamaan Burrenin halkeilleita kallioita nimme yhden ikivanhan haudan ja kvimme kurkkimassa merta Moherin jyrknteilt. Doolinin kylss lounastimme muut kunnolla min kevyemmin. Paluutie oli sen verran mutkaista ett Pialla tuli huono olo eik hn jaksanut lhte illalla minnekn. It http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-327469.html Maanantaina ajettiin suoraan Bunrattyyn. Siell pyshdyttiin katsomaan vanhaa linnaa jonka ymprille oli tuotu vanhoja taloja eri puolelta Irlantia. Paikallinen ulkomuseo siis. http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Bunratty/blog-324847.html Well... What a weekend that just was. I have to say it was the best party I have ever been to with the best people and so much funThe pictures... Special thanks to Colin for helping me not be the only psycho camera person and thanks a million for gettin' me all the files so quickly Also thanks to Siobhan H. for takin' some photos with Colin's camera... also to Tommy for bein' such a great and en http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Doolin/blog-321615.html Freitag 15. Aug. 2008 Doolin It is Friday night. The rain is pouring outside and trickling against the windows. I am sitting next to the fireplace on a wooden bench. The radio plays Beethovenrsquos 6th symphony. I have my legs stretched out towards the fire. It sounds quite romantic doesnrsquot it We are on Doolin on the west coast of Ireland. Early this morning we got the bus to Galway th http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Doolin/blog-314254.html Awesome beautiful tunes at this festival. It was the first time ever in which I was able to sit for lengths of time and play tunes on the whistle. Got to know new friends Ashling and Aileen really well and I'm thrilled to have been at that festival which was totally different from any before.This is absolutely a record low for of pictures taken in a week WowzaBack to Galway to rest a bit and http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Kilrush/blog-314047.html I always knew Ireland was a rainy country but I never guessed it would rain this much during the summer time. Since my cousin Conor and I have been here it has rained off and on everyday. Despite being perpentually wet we're still having a blast lugging our bags around in the rain. We arrived in Shannon tues morning and caught our good friend Bus Eireann to a small town on the northern ban http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-312181.html Hey all Ok... so got a little behind on blogs and picts but am catching up now soAfter Drumbshambo I hitched my way back to galway. Oh what a great day this was.First I was in a car with a guy called Tom who was the nicest nicest nicest father of 3... he was headed up to Donegal to spend the weekend with his wife and family who were already there. He was so great He dropped me just a little w http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Kilrush/blog-309389.html This morning Siobhan made us a wonderful breakfast. Taur Beg is the largest BB we have stayed in to date. She gave us a menu so we could choose our breakfast for a change. Since I was looking for such a change I had French toast for breakfasthellip.it was delicious After packing our day trip bags we set out for Rossaveel. Rossaveel is a small port near Galway where the ferries to the Aran I http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-303496.html We asked fr our breakfast early this morning but we still ended up late for mass. My mother arranged a special mass in memory of my grandmother and all the deceased members of the Brennan Family. My grandmother passed away 5 years ago. She died only 4 days after we returned from our last visit to Ireland. My mother spent several hours with her the day after we returned telling her about Cross and http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-303116.html Today Teresa O'Gorman of the hilltop BB greeted us with a large pot of tea and a huge Irish Breakfast. I am not used to eating that much in the morning but it was a wonderful treat. We tried to use our international cell phone to call our friend Michael O'Dea but we couldn't get through. Michael's sister Collette lives in Syracuse and Michael has been to visit us in Syracuse and we promised we http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-303104.html Hey all Thursday I headed down to Kilrush.And so I know Irsquove been vaguehellip sorry about that.Friends Familyhellip Meet Aidan. There. Aidan and I spent the misty afternoon walking through some pretty cool woods and takinrsquo pictures... Thursday evening his friends were putting on a fundraiser in Kilkee... such a blast... great music different drum bass stuff that keeps y http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-302180.html tbc http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-300933.html What a wild wild wonderful whistful Willy Week. Honestly... really can't think of a better time I've had in miltownElaine and I drove from Galway on Saturday and set up camp at this great new place that Siobhan and friends arranged for all of us. It was in a camper park but there was a small little patch of grass on which they let a few of us pitch. It was so nice because it was safe and we didn' http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-300577.html July 10 2008Killarney to Cliffs of Moher to Doolin County Clare Ireland Leaving Killarney we begin out trek north to the Cliffs of Moher. The roads are again narrow and have either rock walls or hedges instead of a shoulder. There are signs everywhere Road Improvement funded by European Union...what was it like before Which brings us to Ireland's economy...which is quite good. Everyt http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-300122.html When we landed in Dublin i was shocked to find that all of the signs were written in english. Conversations going on nearby were in english. my native language was so familiar but its ubiquity was out of place. we arrived after midnight and were promptly herded to the city buses. even though the hostel was right across the street from the main bus station there were no buses going anywhere near t http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/The-Burren/blog-299168.html Woke up this morning and Mark looked out the window. ldquoYoursquore not going to believe this but therersquos blue sky out there.rdquo He was right I didnrsquot believe it but it was true Blue sky Todayrsquos destination the Cliffs of Moher. Almost every traveler we had talked to along the way said this was a 4star site and both guide books we have relied on heavily Rick St http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-298253.html Day1We arrived in DC without any major delays and were able to meet up with Erinrsquos old roommate Steph for lunch before we headed to Erinrsquos Uncle and Aunts place. Thankfully theu lets us park our car at their house while we were gone. In addition Erinrsquos uncle John drove us to Dulles for our departure. We started off by waiting in a massive line to get our tickets and check our ba http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-296524.html Hello from Bunratty Ireland. Carl and I had a good trip here uneventful plane trip which is what travelers hope for however a long layover at JFK something to be avoided in the future. We landed at Shannon airport and were whisked through customs with well wishes for a great holiday. Carl says that is very different than most customs checkin.Our bed and breakfast is only four miles fro http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Bunratty/blog-296092.html June 17th I left Prescott Arizona to travel to Ireland. There seemed to be so many sections to the travel by car to the shuttle by shuttle to the airport in Phoenix a flight to Philly to meet Denise and then an flight to Shannon. We would then pick up our rental car and drive to Bunratty. And amazingly it went just like that Denise was waiting for me in Philly having flown from Detroi http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Bunratty/blog-293762.html Day 2 Bunratty Folk Park and Cliffs of MoherToday we woke up to a nice sunny day. The weather was in the 60rsquos very nice. Our hostess made us a lovely Irish breakfast 2 eggs bacon sausage tomato scones potato waffle. It was very good. The girls had pancakes which looked quite good too. Since we couldnrsquot go to the Bunratty Castle dinner show our reservation last night wa http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/blog-287614.html We got all way to the gate and were about 45 minutes before boarding when Robert remembered he forgot his wallet Oh my gosh if only he had remembered earlier since we got to the airport 2 hours before our flight and would have ha plenty of time to go get it. Poor guy he really felt bad about that but we couldnrsquot really do anything about it at that point. Luckily we have mom with us http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Bunratty/blog-286962.html If you want to know how I saw an alpaca in real life you need to read through.This Saturday I headed out to the west of Ireland for a sightseeing adventure. I went with a friend of mine from JMC Kelly who came here to study abroad for a month I went with her and a bunch of people from her program who were all really nice girls one guy one woman who was in her 40's and their program faculty http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-285102.html This was our last full day before flying home. We stopped at Kylemore Abbey which gave us some great photo opportunities. We drove through the countryside enjoying the scenery and we even had to stop for sheep which were being herded down the middle of the road. Our next stop was Cong where the John Wayne classic The Quiet Man was filmed and is currently home to Ashford Castle. Ashford Castl http://www.travelblog.org//Europe/Ireland/County-Clare/Cliffs-of-Moher/blog-283501.html