The Irish Know how to Party :)

Trip Start Jun 13, 2008
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Trip End Nov 20, 2008


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Flag of Ireland  , County Limerick,
Sunday, August 17, 2008

Yesterday we headed for Limerick-our stop for the next two nights. We stopped off at two towns on the way which were very cute but not a lot to see. Then off into the delves of the Irish countryside with a stopoff at Kylemore Abbey on the way. The scenery was truely AMAZING. Very very beautiful. The Abbey, which was originally built as a home for a family and was then brought by the Church is in the most amazing setting beside a Lake. Had a look around the house and the Gothic Chapel that is in the grounds. Apparrently they have some amazing gardens on the estate but they are a couple of Km's down the road so you have to catch a shuttle there and we didn't have time. The most memorable moment was when a young boy 'befriended' the tiniest field mouse and had it on his palm. When he placed it back on the ground it preceded to try and get in his jacket pocket-very very cute. The kid ended up with his own paparrazzi for a bit there as a bunch of tourists tried to take their photo ;-)  (yes I tried but didn't get one in time before the mouse scampered off...lol).

Stopped off at Galway. Lovely seaside city. Would have been great to stay there. Nice Catholic Cathedral in Galway which we just had enough time to look at. Arrived late in Limerick. Nice view of the Shannon River from the hotel window :)  Absolutely lovely staff at the Jury's Inn Hotel we stayed at!!! Would recommend it on that alone-but is also a very central hotel which is great.

Today was excursion day. On the way we stopped off at a 'Holy Well' which was very moving to see. There are loads in Ireland and this one was to St Bridget. It is basically a statue of St Bridget and Shrine built over a natural well. There was a tunnel where people left notes/prayers/requests to St Bridget in regards to friends and family who needed help or who had passed away. There were many photos with the requests. It was very moving and at the same time very sad.

See alot of ruined Abbeys and Churches with amazingly old cementaries as we drive along. Apparrently these are the result of Henry VIII's dissolution of the monastries where many Churches were destroyed and never rebuilt. Amazing the number destroyed. Very sad.

Next stop was the 'Cliffs of Moher' with O'Brien's tower. Very beautiful. Usually there are puffins lining the cliffs but there were none today-very disappointed as always wanted to see a puffin-one of those things you want to tick off your lifetime list of things to see and do (yes sad person that I am-but I have a thing about puffins-they are just so darn cute).

Stopped off at a cool little place for lunch-just wish I could remember it's name! Amazingly rocky environment

Next stop was Poulna Brone Portal Tomb!!!! Very very excited!!! Guess it is the archaeologist in me!!! Anyway for those wondering what the hell I am talking about it is a stone-age-ish tomb. Not my area of speciality I'm afraid so can't tell you loads more about it except that it was amazing to see. They did excauvations there and found a lot of different burials which show it appears to have been used over a lot of different periods.
Back at Limerick decided to have a wander before dinner. Tried to find the old milk market and viking wall but seemed to stumble into a slightly dodgey area so decided to flag it.
Went to Dolans Pub (in the docklands) for dinner and live music/entertainment in the form of a traditional Irish Ceilidh. Apparrently they do a lot of recordings here? The entertainment was a group consisting of five guys-three of the guys were the son of the older guy. Incredibly talented bunch. Played every manner of irish instruments and sang and danced. Would really recomend it. Very real -not fake like some things that are put on for the tourists.
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