As a walking tour we weren't allowed to enter the City Hall. Not sure why, perhaps because of the holiday. Anyway the guide kept looking for
other places to see the coat of arms that is embedded in the floor of the city hall. He found a partial image on a street post included in my
pictures, but here is an image of the floor of the City Hall.
The full coat-of-arms shows three burning castles on a shield, flanked by two female figures. One holds a scales depicting Justice
(without the usual blindfold) - the other, a sword representing Law. Each holds an olive branch. Below the shield on a scroll is the motto of
the city "Obedientia Civium Urbis Felicitas" which translates as "The Obedience of the citizens produces a happy city".
On our way back to the Gibson we stopped at the Wynn's Hotel for lunch/dinner. The doorman kept saying they had a Carvery Lunch in the
side restaurant. I didn't know what carvery meant so he showed me. It appears to be a buffet type meal where they carve the meat for you
that is already cooked. I got a small portion of lamb rump. I had to convince the cook to give me the fat with the meat. He reluctantly
complied. It was pretty good. Small to them is large to us. The gravy was very good, but I was glad I didn't order the large portion.
Sunday, March 17th :
We took the tram known as the "Luas" to Abbey station and walked a few blocks to St. Mary's pro
Cathedral. We attended the 9:30 Mass. I took some pictures after Mass, then we headed a couple
of blocks to O'Connell street and waited for the St. Patrick's day parade. The Luas was real
convenient from our hotel. The red line ends at the station called the Pointe which was right
outside the hotel. We would take it to Abbey station which is close to O'Connell street, the heart
of the city.
The crowd gathering for the parade was quite interesting. Next to us was a group of people selling scarves, hats, etc.
They made a killing. I even bought a scarf for Fe from them. It was 36 degrees, rainy and about a 20 mph wind the whole
time. I was freezing to death. There were people with bare bellies and very little other clothing walking up and down the
street like it was a warm day.
After the parade we stopped at the Beresford Hotel for lunch. I got beef stew. Not the lamb stew on my list of meals to
eat in Ireland, but it was pretty good. They know to cook the meat tender in Ireland. I have to hand that to them. Marilou
had the seafood chowder and port ribs. We had to skip a station to get to where the Luas was operating to get us back to the
hotel so we could warm up.
Monday, March 18th :
Today we used our included Hop on Hop off certificate from our tour. We had intended to use the walking tour
of the "DUBLIN HIGHLIGHTS & HIDDEN CORNERS" by Pat Liddy's group, but they weren't doing it today because of the
bank holiday. So we started the ride. Stayed on past the Famine Memorial which was actually pretty close to
our hotel.
We got off at the Oscar Wilde statue. Couldn't find the quote that the bus driver said was there, but
found some other on his statue.
From there we walked to the Little Museum of Dublin. It was a little hard to find because it isn't marked too
well. Entry was included in the Hop on Hop off ticket. We did the guided tour. Ate some of the licorice type
candy while waiting that was pretty good. The speaker did a good job of trying to create some interest in what was
mainly some of the history of the capital of Ireland.
From there we walked a couple of blocks to Trinity College where we went in to see the Book of Kells exhibit and the
library of old books. It was quite interesting. Couldn't take a photo of the actual manuscript but was able to take
non-flash photos of the library, etc.
Leaving the college we found the Hop on Hop off stop number 15 and continued on the tour to O'Conner
street. On the way we encountered the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, Guinness Storehouse, the Wellington
Monument, the President's Official Residence, etc. We got off before the O'Connell Street end because
it was closer to our tram stop, but in my interest to get a better photo of the pointless point we missed
our street and ended up walking much further and then turning around.
We ate lunch at the Cafe en Seine. We both got the fish and chips, but I substituted mashed potatoes.
Also didn't eat the bread it was a huge sandwich.
That evening we had dinner at the Gibson Hotel restaurant where we met our fellow travelers and our
tour guide: Calvin Mariller. He laid out the plans for the next day trip to the Blarney Castle and
Kerry County.
Tuesday, March 19th :
After breakfast we headed out for the day's adventure with the first destination being the Blarney Castle.
On the way out of the city I got a pretty good photo of the Beckett Bridge designed to look like a harp.
When we arrived at the Blarney Castle, Calvin gave us an hour and a half to tour the grounds and the castle.
The line to the stone was all the way down the 5 flights of stairs, across the castle and then onto the lawn.
We finally got to the top. We kissed the Blarney Stone and got our gift of eloquence. By the time we got back
down our time was up, so didn't do any touring of the grounds.
We then did some shopping at the Blarney Woollen Mills, near Cork City in the village of Blarney.
We then continued through Ireland's Midlands to our hotel in the Kerry region, Randles Hotel Killarney.
Wednesday, March 20th :
Today we did a bus ride through the Iveragh Peninsula. The Ring of Kerry has spectacular scenery: mountains, peat bogs, lakes and
views of the Atlantic Ocean. We did a brief stop at the Kerry Bog village where they had some 18th century homes on display.
Also had wolf hounds and bog ponies. Had a cup of Irish Coffee in the restaurant.
From Killarney, we passed through Killorglin, famous for its Puck Fair and Glenbeigh, where the cliff road with its panoramic views of the
Dingle Peninsula and Dingle Bay. Next we passed through the peat bogs, until we arrived at the sea town of Waterville for lunch. Ate at the
Sealodge. I had the Seafood Chowder which included a lot mussels. Mussels is on my list of foods in Ireland to sample. I think Calvin called
ahead for them to open for us. Others joined the restauraurant when they our bus parked in the lot.
After lunch we continued to Sneem Village, then through the mountains to Moll's Gap and Ladies View. The last picture in this group is from
Carley's phone that she sent to all of us. It's our group picture.
When we arrived back at Killarney, we visited the Killarney National Park. Here we got on a pony and trap, also known as a jaunting car,
to discover areas of the park that you might not otherwise visit by foot. We travelled through flooded roads, saw some deer herds and
finally ended up at the Ross Castle which we toured after we were able to find a dry roadway going there. Another group picture from
Carley is included here.
That evening we were on our own again for dinner. We found the Laurels Pub and Restaurant nearby. I was finally able to find some Lamb Stew.
It wasn't as good as the beef stew I had earlier in the week, but I could strike it off my list. Not sure they cooked it enough. It was a bit
tough.
Thursday, March 21st :
After breakfast we headed north to take a ferry boat across the river Shannon, but on the way we stopped for restroom break in the town
of Listowel where I got a photo of St. Mary's church and of the Listowel Castle. The ferry landed us at Killimer. The quick ferry rided
saved a couple of hours commute around the river.
Next we travelled to the Cliffs of Moher. Marilou got dizzy heading up the path to the heights, so she stayed back at the
Atlantic Edge Interpretive Center, which is also a series of stores and restaurants build into the cliffs. I walked along the
right hand side up to the end of paths. The last quarter mile or so after the end of the paved walks was very muddy and slippery.
I'm pretty sure my pictures don't show how impressive it is in real life. You have to be there to appreciate.
Leaving the cliffs, we headed towards the Burren Region, with a slight detour down a narrow road to get us close for another
castle view. "Burren" means "large stones". The Burren is a high plateau of porous limestone in Northern Clare county. No trees grow
here and no soil covers the stone. The Burren Region is also historically rich, with many castles and monastic ruins.
We stopped at the Poulnabroune portal tomb. Where we were met by Tomàs Ó Cadhàin who gave us a poem instead of a song.
The girls got some bracelets made by him while we took our pictures of the tomb.
He wasn't complete with them when we boarded the bus, but Calvin couldn't convince him to deliver them to our hotel in Limerick.
We watched him punch the names into the metal, then we were off to the hotel.
I had signed us up for the optional Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle. The evening started with introduction to our
servants and a taste of Meade. We had a good time there with the musical entertainment.
It was aided by the free flowing wine that accompanied the dinner. Fortunately I filled up on the ribs. For me the chicken
was a little overcooked, but most everyone had enough wine by that point to not notice. Anyways we all enjoyed the evening.
Friday, March 22nd :
After breakfast we headed back to Dublin with a stop along to visit Galway. We went into the Cathedral of Galway for a bathroom stop and visit,
a Mass was starting so our visit was short. Next we were dropped at the town center for shopping, restaurants, etc. I left Marilou to shop
while I took a short walk along the River Corrib. I got some better views of the Cathedral. The water was really running fast. Apparently
it does that often, Every block there was a life savor with a note of who to call if you are feeling depressed. I'm guessing a lot of
folks commit suicide by jumping in the rapid water there.
Met Marilou for lunch there. The first place we visited was more like a take out, so we went further in town to the Martines Restaurant where
we could have our glass of wine with the meal. We both ordered the Hake and chips which was good. It's similar to Cod.
Saw a coffee shop while waiting for Calvin at the appointed place. Got me some chocolate and a small
coffee. Our trip back to Dublin was a little interesting. We kept stopping at the same places as a bus
of college kids who didn't know how cold it was (based on their lack of clothing).
Our hotel this night was the Ashling Hotel B&B. It also has a tram station right outside the door. Some
of our group headed into town to eat. We walked a block or so to the Nancy Hands Bar and Restaurant. I got
a small order of Mussels which was huge. Apparently the larger order is intended for two people. It was good.
Had a white garlic sauce that soaked up in the homemade bread just fine.
Saturday, March 23rd :
We were both on the same Aer Lingus flight to London at 9:50, so we had a 6:20 scheduled pickup for the airport. Our driver was
late, but did get us there on time. Marilou ordered a snack box to bring along since we were leaving too early for breakfast at the
hotel. I got a coffee and muffin at the airport. I'm not good with apples these days.
Marilou had a wheelchair ordered for the flights back to LA so they re-arranged our seats to get us together. I got a
window so was able to be some elevated pictures of Dublin.
Links:
Friendly Planet Travel
Molly Malone Statue
Pat Liddy Walking tour
The Gibson Hotel
The Luas - red line
Wynn's Hotel Dublin - Saints & Scholars Lounge
St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral
Beresford Hotel
