Ireland, the Emerald Isle.

 Today's geography lesson is a reminder that there is only one island called Ireland but there are actually two Irelands on the island, the Republic of Ireland (an independent country) and Northern Ireland which is part of the United Kingdom.  They are similar but yet different for instance, they use different currencies, the road signs are different and they just look and feel different.  Our adventure took us all around the island starting in Dublin and traveling clockwise around the island.


We arrived in Dublin, quickly got settled into the room and immediately took off to see a Irish Dance performance.  It was quite enjoyable and fun.  It was a small theater and we sat close to the stage.  The dancers were enthusiastic and put on a good show.  After the show we headed off to the Hard Rock Cafe for a great meal.  Some might say we should be more adventurous in our eating but after several months in KSA a good American meal with American music is just what the doctor ordered, we really enjoy eating at the various HRCs around the globe and never turn down the chance to eat at one.


The next morning, we picked up our rental car and we were off exploring Ireland.  To be honest, I was not very thrilled at the thought of sitting on the wrong side of the car, driving on the wrong side of the road in a standard shift car all the while driving on narrow Irish roads dodging tour buses.  However, that feeling didn't last long, after 1,989 kilometers and eight days I began to relax, mostly because the driving part of the trip was over (ha, I made a funny).




One of our first stops was The Rock of Cashel, it is a historic site located at Cashel, South Tipperary, Ireland.  Originally a fortress, later a church, it is still an impressive structure even in ruin.

During the next few days we drove the "Ring of Kerry" a 179 km circular route in Southeastern Ireland and around the Dingle peninsula.  There are many beautiful sights along the routes.  We stopped at several neat sights including the Beehive Huts, Dunbeg Fort and Kilmalkedar Church.  

 




The drive around Dingle peninsula was very nice.  The Ring of Kerry had a lot of rugged country, big rocks, while on Dingle, it is more rolling plains from softer hills. We found the Beehive huts and the rock fort easily, but had trouble finding the Kilmalkedar Church.


 
It was nice when we found it. The entrance over the rock fence was interesting. It allowed entrance for people but not animals & didn't use metal or moving parts that would need maintenance.  There was a good sized cemetery associated with the church and it had some interesting Celtic Cross headstones.

One of the main sights we wanted to see in Ireland was the Cliffs of Moher.

We spend several hours walking around taking pictures and watching the waves of the Atlantic crash upon the cliffs.  Although it was not a bright sunny day the weather was pretty good and it was a good day to be at the coast.

The next morning we went down to Doolin Point, it was exhilarating! The sky was blue with white puffy clouds, the wind was blowing, it was cool, the water was rough (thank goodness we weren't in one of the boats!)  and the waves were high! Turns out this is a favorite place for surfing in Ireland, I can see why. 





 


We took the winding coast road through The Burren, then down to see the Poulnabrone Dolman. We also got to see limestone karst.

Kylemore Abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920 on the grounds of Kylemore Castle, in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.  Elizabeth's friend Bonnie told us it was a "not to miss place" to visit and we agree.  It was very peaceful and walking along the tree lined banks of the lake was very relaxing.






At one end of the Kylemore Abbey grounds sits a beautiful Gothic Church.

Also on the Kylemore Abby grounds were the Victorian Walled Gardens.  As we walked around the gardens I could only wonder who could build and maintain something so spectacular.  The original design included three steam boilers to heat the greenhouses.






We got a short tour of the Foxford woolen mill where we got to see the modern weaving machines at work, they were quite interesting.  At the Magee Tweeds shop we got to see a demonstration of an older manual loom which was real neat, it was louder than I expected but it worked smooth and fast.  I was amazed by the variety of wool products, weaves and patterns.  We got several woolen items that will provide us with warmth and good memories for many years to come.



In the Northern part of Northern Ireland there is a very unusual rock formation known as the Giant's Causeway it is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.  Although these are not the only basalt columns in the world, they are considered to be the best example.

Newgrange, Knowth and Hill of Tara
Between Belfast and Dublin are several very old and interesting archaeological sites, we took a few hours and visited them. Newgrange is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, about one kilometre north of the River Boyne. It was built about 3200 BC, during the Neolithic period, which makes it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.





 Knowth is a Neolithic passage grave and an ancient monument of Brú na Bóinne in the valley of the River Boyne.




We originally wanted to tour Newgrange but when they told us about Knowth a older site and since they offered tours of both and we took it.  A bus would take us to each site where a guide waited for us. We weren't able to enter the large mound at Knowth, but we were allowed to climb on top or it for a view of the countryside, including Newgrange. 



At Newgrange, we were allowed entrance into the mound. Oh my! Was it fascinating! I would recommend both to someone who is traveling in the area, but if they only have time for one, then Newgrange. Knowth gave you the background, and a wonderful sense of peaceful countryside, Newgrange allowed you to see a portion of the scope of engineering skill these early people had.



Hill of Tara is another archaeological complex that runs between Navan and Dunshaughlin. It contains a number of ancient monuments, and according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland.


We went to Trinity University in Dublin to see the Book of Kells.  We were very impressed with the books and the library.  The printing and artwork were magnificent.  There was a ancient cuneiform tablet also on display, the writing was so small, the artifact was incredible.  We did not allow enough time to look and examine all the wonderful artifacts on display.





Last time we were in London we didn't get a chance to go on the London Eye but after we did the Singapore Flyer it was something we wanted to do.









I was not prepared very well for our visit to Westminster Abbey.  I recommend if you are going to visit there you spend some time reading about it before you go and allow several hours to wander around and take in all the splendor and history.







Here is another link about the Abbey, neither link does it justice or provides enough history.  There are over 3,000 people interned on the site, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and David Livingstone to name a few. It was truly something I will remember.




Along the way we tried Irish stew, Shepard's Pie and Steak & Guiness Pie, all were good, some were exceptional.  Up to now I thought the best place to get a beer and a light meal that I liked was in Germany but this trip changed my mind.  Bring on the steak & Guiness pie!

 
TJ & EA