The second half of our trip to Europe this summer was to Ireland. Each couple (3) rented a small car, and we played follow the leader for seven days. In addition to driving on the left, my husband rented a manual transmission and the gear shift is on the left. I drove a manual transmission for years, but didn't think I'd like shifting with my left hand. He did all the driving in our car, and he took to it like a duck to water.
Ireland was not only beautiful, but the people were so friendly. My dad's grandfather was from the Dingle area, and I was able to arrange to see the actual Baptismal and Marriage records at the Dingle Parish church. I was able to take many pictures of the records so that I was sure of getting a good clear shot because I knew I couldn't go back to take more.
The food was really good, the pubs had incredible seafood stew and pints of Guinness. The brown Irish bread is the most delicious I've eaten; some of the bread had nuts, and others had rosemary. We were able to attend Irish Folk music concerts as well as see Irish Riverdance style dancing. The weather was wonderful, and it only rained one day.
I hope you enjoy these pictures of Ireland:
Cashel
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| Our room at the hotel - It was common in Europe to have beds pushed together to make one large bed |
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| Restoration work underway |
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| Inside the ruins |
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| Inside the ruins |
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| Walking to Rock of Cashel from the hotel |
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| The ruins of a nearby Abbey |
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| Our hotel at night |
Inch Beach not far from Dingle:
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| I felt like we had come upon the California coastline |
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| Surfers |
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Beautiful beach and coastline
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| Beautiful Farmland |
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| Farmland looking out to bay |
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| Don't forget to go clockwise in the traffic circle - nearly to Dingle |
Our hostess, Vivienne O'Shea, at the B and B was so nice, the hotel was roomy and spotless. Vivienne's breakfast was delicious, and she made the best homemade scones as well as a made to order cooked breakfast.
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| Our room |
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| Dingle Bay - Gaelic and English |
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| Dingle Bay view from hotel |
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| Downtown Dingle |
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| Downtown Dingle |
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| Dingle Bay |
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| Young people playing Irish music on Dingle Bay |
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| Murphey's Pub |
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| Cute shops in Dingle |
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| Another B and B with a pretty yellow door |
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| B and B |
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| An old boat used as a planter |
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| Cute building with yellow door and windows |
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| Dingle Music Shop where we attended a live concert |
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| St. Mary's Catholic Church - Dingle, Ireland |
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| Bunratty Castle |
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| Inside Bunratty Castle |
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| Bunratty Castle |
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| Bunratty Castle |
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| Bunratty Castle at night |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Church Ruins |
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| Sun coming through window of ruins |
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| Ruins are a common sight along the roadways in Ireland |
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| Ruins in an Abbey |
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| Details in Abbey Ruin |
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| Little Cafe in Cong, Ireland |
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| Cong, Ireland |
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| Cong, Ireland - buildings are quite close to the road |
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| Museum about "The Quite Man" movie |
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| Colorful buildings in Cong, Ireland |
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John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara
in "The Quiet Man"
filmed in Cong, Ireland |
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| Our rental cars - we drove the red one |
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| Our group on the morning we left Dingle, Ireland |
