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May 21-27, 2009:  Ireland

It has been a recent dream of mine to visit the Emerald Isle, so this past St. Patrick’s Day, I let the green fever wash over me and booked a trip to Dublin for Gabi, my sister Kelly, and myself.

It was great to finally get a chance to see places I’d long heard about or read about in books.  We started our journey in Dublin before heading into the countryside to explore some of the more rural parts of the island.

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Outside of Killarney on the Ring of Kerry.

Lough Leane.

Taking the time for a short walk.

A lovely bridge over the water.

The lakes around Killarney.  Our first Irish deer!

Gabi admires the view.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outside of Castlecove.  Our first view of the Atlantic.

Above the beach.

The view east.

Climbing down to the water’s edge.

Gabi explores the beach.

On the beach at Castlecove.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rugged shoreline.

Climbing higher on the Ring of Kerry.

The view from near Ballybrack.

Houses on the hillside.

The lonely, narrow road.

View from the top along the Ring of Kerry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was really digging the misty landscape.

View from the top.

A quiet moment of reflection in the mist.

Watched over by the Madonna.

A hike up the foggy hillside.

Yeah, I was happy up there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking down into the misty valley below.

Off to see the Guinness!

The Guinness Storehouse in Dublin.

Gabi and Guinness.

Plenty of barley.

Water from the Wicklow Mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A stop in the tasting lab.

Inside the Guinness Storehouse.

A panoramic view of Dublin from the Gravity Bar.

A great way to end the tour.

A couple of pints before continuing our travels.

Arriving in Galway on the west coast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galway is colorful and fun with lots of music and art!

Galway, Ireland

Murphy’s Bar!

Exploring the streets of Galway.

Everywhere you look, there’s
color.

Gabi finds the only Mexican food on the island!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking a break with friends.

On the road
again.

Heading west to the coast.

Picturesque houses with thatched roofs.

Outside of Doolin, looking towards the Aran Islands.

Yet another lonely road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The coastline outside of Doolin.

Rugged coastline.

Gabi was great at driving on the left side of the road!

A pretty
graveyard.

Not a bad place to spend eternity, I suppose.

Castles and green fields...that’s Ireland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What would a trip to Ireland be without a rainbow?

The Cliffs of Moher.

The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point and range for 8 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard of County Clare.

O'Brien's Tower stands proudly on a headland of the majestic Cliffs.

The scenery is absolutely breathtaking.

The view north.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A perfect place to graze!

The north cliff.

The view north.

Gabi takes in the sight.

Heading for O’Brien’s Tower.

The view south.

 

 

 

 

 

 

O’Brien’s Tower.

Duh.

The path to the tower.

A lovely, park-like setting.

The sun setting over the Atlantic!

Gabi taking it all in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Atlantic Ocean.

O’Brien’s Tower.

The perfect ending to a perfect trip!

 

 

 

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