Mom's Visit

So I know I promised to write about my trip around Ireland with my mom. It has been crazy hectic since I got home, working and catching up with everyone so this is literally the first day I've gotten to sit down and get stuff done. With all my pictures organized, I am going to try to tell the very condensed (yah right) story of our 12 day tour around Ireland. My mom flew in on Saturday June 16th. I was awaiting her arrival at the airport and then we met Paddy, our tour guide before embarking on our journey. We had a little time to rest at the hotel (long enough for momma to take a quick cat nap) but then it was off to explore Dublin with a stop at Dublin Castle for a quick tour. Then it was back to the hotel before dinner (and another quick cat nap for momma).

 Left: Momma ready to explore the castle!, Right: Dublin Castle (during the filming of a new series, Ripper Street)

 Drawing Room.

Dinner the first night.

The next day we went to Castleward, a house owned by the Ward family. The husband and wife couldn't agree on the decor so they split the house down the center, one half Gothic the other half Georgian, inside and out. It was pretty amazing and in an amazing location! Then we headed to Downpatrick where we visited Downpatrick Cathedral where St. Patrick is buried before going up to Belfast for the night.

 Georgian v. Gothic

 

 Downpatrick Cathedral

 Left: St. Patrick's grave, Right: out listening to some Irish music in Belfast

The next day we spent the day around Belfast starting with a bus tour of the murals and some of the more famous monuments and buildings in town. Then we headed out to the Titanic Museum. I had been to Belfast twice before but never made it inside the museum so I was really excited and it definitely didn't disappoint. It was an awesome museum that took you through the planning, building, fitting, embarking, and sinking of the ship. Afterward we had the rest of the day to do some exploring so we wandering around City Hall and through the shopping streets to pick up some souvenirs.

 Titanic Museum

 

Slipway where the Titanic was made (yes my Mom made me do it)

 

 Belfast City Hall

Day four we drove along the northern coast, making our way to the Giant's Causeway. After wandering around for a bit, we continued on to Derry where we had a walking tour of the old walled city. Our guide's name was Ronan, an Chinese Irishman-his mom was Chinese, his dad Irish so he could speak Mandarin, Irish, and English. He did a great job!

 Northern coastline.

 Giant's Causeway

 Left: Derry, Right: Peace Bridge

Day five we turned southward, stopping at Triona Designs for a look at how wool is made and a browse at some very expensive wool clothing and jewelry (they tried to sell me a cape for 250euros!). I tried my first Irish coffee. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy it. Surprise surprise considering I hate coffee... Next we stopped in Donegal where we had a quick lunch (chicken baguettes!) and Mom and I took a quick browse through Donegal Castle. Then we checked out W.B. Yeats' grave before moving on to our destination for the night, Westport.

 Left: Triona Designs wool making, Right: Donegal Castle

 

 Left: me inside the fireplace, Right: Yeats' grave

 Mom outside of Donegal Castle

 Coastline

 

 Westport

The next day was a very very veryyyyyy rainy day. We went to the Westport House which was gorgeous before heading out to Achill Island to see a deserted famine village. Unfortunately because of the weather we didn't do much exploring of the village but I did venture out to try to get up close and personal with some sheep.

 Westport House

 Achill Island

Day seven we visited the Connemara Marble Factory where we learned all about the different types of marble found in Ireland and got the chance to see some of the jewelry being made. We stopped in Galway for lunch before making a pit stop on The Burren and heading to the Cliffs of Moher. I was really looking forward to this because I had never made it over the whole time I was in Dublin and I had heard wonderful things about it. The cliffs are even more amazing than I'd imagined. After walking around and admiring the landscape, we went to our final stop Bunratty. We attended a banquet feast at Bunratty Castle which was awesome. An older couple on the tour, traveling with their son and daughter-in-law were chosen as the king and queen of the castle so we were treated as royalty. During the initial reception, we were given Mead (honey wine-delicioussssssss) while listening to a harpist and fiddler play some tunes. When it came to the four-course feast we were expected to eat with our hands--the only utensil we were given was a dagger (aka steak knife). It was an all-over awesome experience.

 Connemara Marble Factory

 The Burren

Pull na Bron // Poulnabrone Portal Tomb

 Left: The Burren, Right: Cliffs of Moher

 it was a tad bit windy at the cliffs...

On our way to the banquet. Mom was obsessed with thatched roofs.

Day eight was another rainy day. First stop was the Flying Boat Museum. I really wasn't looking forward to this but it was actually really interesting. Then we stopped in Dingle for lunch. I had heard wonderful things about Dingle and was so excited but the weather really put a damper on it. Oh well. Then we continued on to Killarney where we would be staying for the next two nights where we had some time to walk around before dinner. After dinner we headed out to some of the pubs to hear some of the Irish music and Mom tried her first Guinness!

Left: Dingle harbor, Right: me kissing Fungie (Dingle's famous dolphin) 

 Left: Flying Boat Museum, Right: Sheehan's Pub (where Mom had her first Guinness, she thought it was fitting)

 Mom's first Guinness--before and after

Day nine was spent all around County Kerry. We started the day with a jaunting car ride out through Killarney National Park to Ross Castle before doing a bus tour throughout part of the Ring of Kerry, stopping in Kenmare for lunch. On the way back we stopped at Muckross House and then Mom and I went on a bike ride through Killarney National Park.

 Jaunting car ride to Ross Castle.

 With Charlie.

 Ring of Kerry

 Left: second group of the tour, Right: Mom and me

 Left: with Paddy, our guide; Right: Kenmare

 Left: Gap of Dunluce, Right: Ladies' View

 Muckross House

 St. Mary's Cathedral-second tallest cathedral in Ireland

 

 Bike ride through Killarney National Park

Day ten we packed up and headed out to Blarney. Went up Blarney Castle for the third time to kiss the stone for the fourth time (Mom didn't quite like the idea of bending over backwards so she passed). We stopped at Cobh Heritage Center to learn all about the migration from Ireland before heading to the Marine Bar to hear some traditional Irish music. We stopped in Waterford for the night where we went on a walking tour. 

 Blarney

 Fourth time's the charge?

 Left: Cobh Heritage Center, Right: Waterford tower

 Marine Bar

Day eleven was our last day in Ireland. We started off at the Waterford Crystal Factory before heading to Kilkenny. Mom and I took a tour through the castle and walked around the town a bit. Next stop was the National Stud and Japanese Gardens. It was really cool to learn about the horse breeding and racing and everything. Then we headed back to Dublin, well Dun Laoghaire to be exact. But unfortunately we didn't have much time there as we attended a traditional Irish music, dancing, and comedy dinner show. The dancing and songs were great and during the farewell song I even got a little bit emotional about my departure the next day. All and all it was a great last night in Ireland!

 Waterford Crystal Factory

 Kilkenny

 Irish National Stud and Japanese Gardens

 

 Taylor's Three Rock Pub

 We got back from the show super late and had to wake up super early for our transfer to the airport. Needless to say Sheynn was not a happy camper at the airport. Especially because we had a layover in Philadelphia before ending in Newark--yes it didn't make any sense.

 
So I made it home and haven't had more than a couple seconds to gather myself since. But it is great to be home and around everything familiar. It is also wonderful to see the sun each and every day--though I could do without the extreme heat. But don't worry, I miss Ireland each and every day as well. My time there was absolutely amazing and I wouldn't trade a single second. So goodbye for now, Ireland but you will most definitely see me again!

Slainte!
Slan go foill!