Bunratty Castle and Cliffs of Moher

  Doolin, Ireland
Friday, April 25, 2008

Today there was a threat of rain so we decided to visit Bunratty Castle and Folk Park thinking it would be all inside.  Turns out that the Folk Park is like an Irish version of New Salem (for those of you who know what that is) so we were outside a lot.  Our Irish luck held out and it barely rained at all.  The Castle is a renovated 1425 castle with furnishings.  Pretty amazing!  The floor is all original.  The castle was in really bad shape and they restored it in 1960.  Now they have medieval banquets there every night with live singers, actors, and musicians. 
We decided that if we were going to see the Cliffs of Moher close up this was our last chance.  It was VERY windy and cold but we persevered and made it to the top.  Very impressive!  Pictures and words just don't do it justice. 

From there we happened across a small restaurant called The Stonecutters Kitchen.  We finally got to engage a local Doolin resident in conversation!  We got an ear full all about government and health care.  They have a mixed socialized and private health care system in Ireland.  She says 40% of the employees are in administration and the hospitals are running at half capacity because there are not enough doctors and nurses to take care of the people.   Scary to think of what could happen in the US if we go that direction.  Anyway, the food was great and the conversation interesting.  Patrick had a hamburger that he says is the best of his entire life! 
Next we took off for Gus O'Conner's for Guinness and music.  We drug Mom and Dad along tonight to get a taste of the local night life.  One of the musicians we heard last night was world-renowned and I guess it was a really big deal that he was there.  Doolin is like the mecca of traditional Irish music.  Every night there is a live music jam session (not a performance) with different musicians playing in a reserved booth.  Everyone gathers around and soaks it in.   Tonight we met a couple from Donegal, a guy from Minnesota, a couple from France and a couple from Seattle.  What a great time!