Quignalegan House Ballina

... dry stuff underneath and bam…fire! We then walked over to Supermac’s and grabbed taco fries. We got kicked out of there at 4 am because it was closing but at that time we were able to finally get a cab; thankfully because it started to pour down rain again!

Well, it was a long night but fun one and hope to have many more holiday stories this year.

Enjoy the pictures and I love hearing from you all and what is happening in your lives. Happy November!

Love Naomi

Our dear friend Helen from Kelowna, BC came to visit us…. I believe it was the week we were finishing school. So it was the end of May.

Just before she came, we got a new little car. Well, its not new, but it was for us. After a year of hitching around Ireland and using the worst public transport system I've ever come across, we thought it was about time to find some wheels. So it was good timing when Helen came, cause we were just ...

... was blowing. On a small cliff below us we could see white stones spelling "EIRE". They were part of "S. S. EIRE" (Saor Stat Eire, Irish Free State), which identiifed Ireland to Nazi bombers as neutral territory. We went down a trail to see Hell’s Hole, but the tide wasn’t in far enough for it to impress us. After snapping a few pictures, we sought the calm of the car and drove down to the town of Culdaff where we found McGrory’s Pub. They opened ...

... and given 7,000 acres. Still a lot, but not nearly as much or as good of land as they had. The Inside was furnished as it would have been in the 1900's (we werent allowed to take pictures inside) and got to see how the landlord would conduct business with his tenants...by hiding behind a secret bookcase and having an agent do everything! The grounds were absolutely beautiful too. There is a large lake ...

... took the man in and kept him safe until it was his time to ascend the thrown. To repay the clergy for their kindness he vowed to build them a brand new church, but when he returned years later and asked the priests how they liked their new church he found that it had never been built. this is because the stone masons didnt have things like map quest or a tom tom, so instead of building the church where Ballintubbers Abbey is they built ...

Guess who's is here??? The positive thinker...ME..sister Katie...I get clean clothes tonight..although I can honestly say I wish it had been Dad's that had arrived.. I can wear Care's clothes and he looks funny in them.

Great time today...I am definitely going to look into being adopted by the Irish..Love THEM.

Got to hear Irish music and see the countryside. Eating an drinking our way...just like the Irish have done for years..all 3 sisters tried ...

... then we walked up the hill to the Giants Organ pipe rock formation...and then we walked even more around the cliff side for a great view. We walked back via the Giants "Boot" then waited for the shuttle bus to pick us up. By this time it was 11.35am, so after we got back to the tourist information centre, had a quick look at the gift shop..we grabbed some sandwiches and had a quick lunch before getting back on the bus.
It ...

... is better told with pictures, all I'll say here is that it was an adventure and an experience I'll never forget. After our climb it is past 4.00pm before we get back to the car, and as we are both very tired and frozen throughout, we head into Westport where we locate a warm pub and enjoy two of the best Irish coffees we have ever had. Reluctantly and with rain falling in the now dark evening, we leave the cozy warmth of the pub and settle down for the ninety plus ...

... era town centre of which looked incredibly charming with the narrow River Carrowbeg passing though its handsome leafy streets. Any chance of further exploration was dashed when we spent a considerable period of time searching for a vacant B&B, and then once we had, as soon as we unpacked my energy level plummeted, and what I thought would be a quick little evening nap turned into a comatose night’s sleep.

... and now it's £2.10 ($4.40). If inflation keeps on going the way it is, in 2023 AD the price of a pint will be about £6.40. ($13.30). Some bars in Temple Bar (hip "Southgate" area of Dublin) are charging close to this now. The lady at the Heritage Centre was obviously a local. She never smiled the entire time and had a deadly serious expression. I felt like telling her the ...