Ireland, My Favorites

After 2 weeks in Ireland, it seems appropriate talk about my favorite things in Ireland.

The Scenery

Spectacular scenery abounds here, even in the middle of Ireland, with rolling green hills, dotted with sheep and cows, it's green and gorgeous.  

The light

This place is a photographers' dream; the light changes every few minutes, and what might look grey and cloudy one minute, is dappled and sunny the next.  

History

In the US we tend to think that 200+ years old is OLD, here some of the ruins are thousands of years old, making the history of this place unique and powerful.  

The Food

My grandmother Nora was not a great cook, and so my feelings about Irish cooking were embedded with childhood memories of overcooked meat and vegetables.  Nothing could be farther from the truth in modern-day Ireland; these people can cook!  With organic ingredients, superior meat, poultry and seafood, every meal we had was a revelation, even the fish and chips.  

The People

The Irish are happy to see you; inviting, gracious and aggressively friendly, we were welcomed everywhere, whether it was the toll-taker on the motorways, or the publican, we were made to feel at home in Ireland.  

The Tea

Served in silver pots with little strainers, the tea is extraordinary.  I know the English are famous for their tea, but the Irish serve an amazing cup.  

The Butter

Look at the color of that butter; thick, creamy, soft, spreadable, it was a revelation, and we spread it on anything we could.  

If you are in the US buy some Kerrygold, you will not be sorry.  

This was an amazing trip, finding my Grandmother's house, and staying at the Castle where my Great grandfather worked were extraordinary opportunities.  We are now in Italy for the next 2 months, and looking forward to more adventures here in our beloved Spello.  Ciao for now. 

Heading North

 On our way North from Ballymaloe, we decided to stop half way at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.  I know that some guide books will steer you away from here, but a friend told us it was worth a visit, and we are glad that we did.  Set up like Williamsburg, Jamestown or Sturbridge Village (on a much smaller scale) the castle is still intact, and furnished with period pieces.  Surrounding the castle are various homes, that were typical of houses on or near the estate.

A small chapel off the main dining hall

Each house was a bit different, with some just being one room, and others with a second floor bedroom

Dr. C. at the Blacksmith's forge

A typical main street is also set up with shops and a pub

I've been looking for leprechauns this entire trip, and I finally found a fairy village

there is a beautiful walled garden here, too

The chapel is no longer in use

The water mill

 After tea and scones at the tea room, it was on the road again, heading North to Ballynahinch Castle where we will stay for 3 nights so we can catch our breath and enjoy the wild west here in Ireland.  This is where my grandmother's Geary side of the family came from, and my great grandfather was in charge of the fisheries here at Ballynahinch.  It is famed for its fly fishing.  This is the view of the Owenmore River from our room.

Best sign of the day

Road Trip: Ireland

Dr. C. and I arrived in Dublin early Tuesday morning, and were out on the streets, seeing the sights, in order to stave off jet lag.  We took a tour of the Guinness storehouse, which I highly recommend and did one of those hop-on-hop-off buses that takes you around the city, that way we got an idea of the places we would like to go back to.

Arthur Guinness was the real deal, an entrepreneur who also remembered where he came from; when Dublin needed its churches refurbished, he'd take care of it.  The story of Guinness is remarkable in that it was a mistake that gave the Guinness its flavor.  (I'm still not a fan, but it makes a great chocolate cake!)

We ended up at the gravity bar, on the 7th floor, Dr. C. got a Guinness and I got a view.

The next day we went to Trinity College to view the Book of Kells, an ancient illuminated manuscript.

On our way out, we say graduates lining up

Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is an architectural wonder; the inside is beautiful as well.  

 St. Patrick's Cathedral is around the corner; both are stunning beautiful in their own way.

I loved that the parishioners had their own needlepoint chair pillows

After an afternoon of churches, and some lunch, we hopped on a 1916 Rebellion Tour which was terrific.  Uniformed guides took us through the streets in an old lorry, and described what happened during Easter week.  Irish history isn't my forte, and this was a great introduction.  

Dr. C. and our guide Bernard guarding the castle.  

If you are planning a trip to Ireland, I'd say two full days in Dublin, not including the day you arrive. Buy your admissions for the Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells, Kilmainham Jail, and bus tours (if you decide to take them) online ahead of time---it saves you money and time in line.  

So far my impressions of the Irish are that they are aggressively friendly, and I mean that in the best possible way.  From the bellman at the hotel, to the taxi drivers, we have been welcomed with open arms.  

On to Cashel, and then Ballymaloe House for our next few days.