These two lads evidently lost their heads over me…LAM! (laughing at myself)
course it was raining; it’s Ireland, therefore it’s raining.
Fortunately, living on a farm, I’m used to weather and was prepared
for chilly, rainy weather so wandering around the terminal, looking
for transportation meant a minor inconvenience and not a tragedy. I
opted to take the bus as opposed to a taxi; buses meant rubbing
elbows with locals and that meant, possibly, good tips and advice.
The older woman who sat next to me accepted, with a smile, my apology
for my barely controlled suitcase as it skittered hither and
thither. She asked if I was from the States and proceeded to tell me
what she liked best about her home. For a city woman, she dressed
country in sensible walking shoes, tweeds, a raincoat and carrying an
umbrella; my kind of woman and we both enjoyed our short visit.
~ Dublin statues, all alive, save dog ~
is a cozy city and a walkable one; I was never far from anywhere,
especially as I’d opted to stay in a, more or less, central location.
Not in the Temple Bar area because it’s rowdy, busy, filled with neon
lights, noise, pubs where drinkers spilled into the streets and more
energy than I wanted to either expend or be around. I prefer cities
in manageable bites; small portions where one partakes of the culture
and the sentiment and where history can be smelled, tasted, touched
and felt without being burdened by a crush of humanity.
At Trinity College, The Long Room was a must see. “Under the 1801 Copyright Act Trinity College was designated as an Irish legal deposit library entitled to a copy of every book published on the two islands. ” The Long Room measures 63.7 metres long, 12.2 metres wide and 14.2 metres high and, in a word, is amazing!
always visit as many churches, cathedrals and see as many important
works as I can and have been blessed to stand at the alters of the
Gutenberg Bible and the Magna Carta in London. To see the Book of Kells was as inspiring and tears were quietly shed; if you’d like to see digital copies, click here.
couple of days in Dublin and I was ready to hit the road with Vagabond Tours, Discover Ireland tour. The first driver was having a bad
south, one of the first stops was the magnificent hill top setting of Rock of Cashel where the wind was beating a few tears from the
clouds.
It reminded me of home and I knew, better than most, what it
would feel like in a few months. What was a chilly, blustery day
would become bitterly cold, making the monks earlier decision to
leave for warmer climes an understandable one. This group of 12th, 13th and 15th century medieval relic buildings keeps watch across the valley where an Abbey once nestled, protected from
the worst of the wind. Even so, when the monks left, the nuns
followed.
BlarneyCastle was a delight. At least, I’m sure it would have been had I
gone but, having no desire to press my lips where hundreds of
thousands have pressed their flesh, I bypassed the Castle and had a Murphy’s and lunch in
Muskerry Arms pub and also the first place I saw “my people”
meaning a farming gent, sitting at the bar, Guinness in hand, barn coat
spread open across his body, muddy boots resting on the fender and
his newsboy hat pushed off his forehead. He was holding court and I
could only imagine the exchange having to do with the weather (of
course), harvest, autumn planting, the price of petrol and a dozen
other topics peculiar to those living close to the earth and her
seasons.
A walk up the road and a little retail therapy meant a wool vest and snood at the Blarney Woolen Mills which were, eventually put into use. In some of the outdoors photos of me, it looks like I’m as round as I am tall and that’s due to the enormous number of clothes I have on. I took silk long johns, wool sweaters, Dave’s Barrow, Alaska fleece jacket with hood, a rain hat and rainproof jacket and wore Patagonia waterproof boots all of which came in handy when a stop alongside the road meant a visit to the fairy glen.
Mercy! I’m exhausted and it’s just the first day or two and am hopeful you’ve enjoyed the travelogue and photos thus far and will return for more episodes. I am so grateful to Anita for hosting this little party; it’s bringing back so many wonderful memories and I’m enjoying myself...all over again…
Sandra is that you in last photo?
I have some family in Sligo and mayo. Connemara looks like the moons surface..
I'm a late traveller but, oh, I'm so enjoying Ireland! A most delightful post, Sandra!
A little bit late but……Wonderful post …great party !!..thanks for Anita !!!..love Ria…x !
Superbe reportage.
Bises
Marie-Ange
Hello Sandra!
I visited my family in Ireland about 19 years ago.
The people of Ireland are among the most friendly in our world!
We flew into Shannon and spent most of our days in County Galway with family and friends. We visited the Dingle peninsula then to Dublin to fly on…
Thank you for taking me to your dream destination! It was with a familiar joy that I journeyed with you, today!
~Lynne
withLove!
Thank you for taking me on a wee trip to Ireland this morning! xoxo
You hooked me with that first picture of your meal in Dublin. It looks so delicious! I love Ireland and traveled around by myself there after art school but I would love to go back again and meet some of the people as you describe. So lovely to meet you, I'm also part of Anita's link party. Hope you will stop by.
Mary Jo
You hooked me with that first picture of your meal in Dublin. It looks so delicious! I love Ireland and traveled around by myself there after art school but I would love to go back again and meet some of the people as you describe. So lovely to meet you, I'm also part of Anita's link party. Hope you will stop by.
Mary Jo
Hi Sandra,
My family ancestry is Irish and many cousins have visited but I have yet to do so. Looks like you had a great time! It looks so romantic in so many ways. I can hardly wait to go! Thanks for a lovely visit 🙂
Lovely post. Ireland s always such a beautiful destination. Maybe one day. And your first photo made me giggle. Too cute!
Oh what wonderful memories I look forward to seeing more of your fascinating life well lived and enjoyed. Incredible Thank you for sharing. Hug B
What a lovely glimpse of Ireland. I have never been there, but it sure was fun to visit through your eyes! The food looked really good!! To see new lands and experience their cultures is so wonderful. Thanks for sharing your trip with us!
Oh yeah, I enjoyed it! Felt like I was right there with you. I wish I could visit The Homeland, but, alas, that is beyond my reach. I just content myself with researching my genealogy and dreaming. Thanks for sharing the trip. I look forward to more.
Luv ~:)
Sandra,
I've always wanted to visit Ireland. There's no excuse, we've been to England many times, we only needed to take the train or rent a car and just do it, but alas, we never have. Thanks for sharing some highlinghts of your trip. Arm chair travel is fun and you don't have to take your shoes off. 🙂
Karen
Enjoyed your tour VERY much………..thanks for sharing!Anita sent me……..IRELAND and ITALY are the top two looks like!
What an enchanting trip! Thank you for sharing your memories of Ireland. I hope to get there myself someday to visit County Cork, home of some of my ancestors.
Like so many of your visitors I've always wanted to travel to beautiful Ireland and haven't had the chance. You've done a wonderful job showing us first hand your trip to Ireland.
Like so many of your visitors I've always wanted to travel to beautiful Ireland and haven't had the chance. You've done a wonderful job showing us first hand your trip to Ireland.
Hello, what a fun tour of Ireland this was. Thank you so much for taking me along.
fondly,
Penny
Oh, Sandra! Thank you for taking us along on your adventures in Ireland! I'm paying close attention and learning a lot from your travelogue. Ireland is a place I'd love to visit one day! I'll stop back again!
♡Dawn
One of the 'Girlfriends'
Nice to see and read your visit to Ireland!
groetjes van Marijke
http://www.bij-marijke-thuis.blogspot.nl
Good afternoon!
What a fun tour of Ireland, I was never there but I found being with your story, even the food! WOW everything looks so delicious!
I loved your story, how you tell and photos.
I enjoyed both this Link Party as the people I'm discovering. like you.
 are so far, but, we seem so close!
From Madrid …. …
Luisa
personally selected products
Good afternoon!
What a fun tour of Ireland, I was never there but I found being with your story, even the food! WOW everything looks so delicious!
I loved your story, how you tell and photos.
I enjoyed both this Link Party as the people I'm discovering. like you.
 are so far, but, we seem so close!
From Madrid …. …
Luisa
personally selected products
Hi Sandra, what a wonderful post of Ireland and such an enchanting time. I love your photos and feel like I was right there with you. Being Irish I hope to visit one day. My grandparents are from Dublin and I feel a part of my heart is right there.
Thank you for sharing your precious memories of an amazing trip and this post is so inspiring.
Blessings for a great weekend.
Hugs
Ahhhhhhh yes(happy sigh)
this was indeed a tour after me own heart!
I did indeed travel there with the details of your every word!
Thank you for a such lovely tour!!
Many many Blessings, Linnie
some great memories and a pint of Guinness,I do love that,xx Rachel
What a fun trip enhanced by encounters and/or observations of locals.
Judith
Hello,
My husband is half Irish. His father was 100% Irish, born on March 17, Saint Patrick's Day. We have always wanted to visit the Emerald Isle. I love all of your commentary on your trip. It sounds like you had great time.
Also the post below on the lemonade gave me a good chuckle. Thanks!
; )
Nancy
As You can imagine since You read My post,I'm so happy to read about Your trip.If You plan on more post about Your travels to Ireland,I will be here.I just wish there was a way to remind myself. Thank You-Denise
Oh, what a fun post! Yes, I've seen the immense Long Room and the exquisitely beautiful Book of Kells. And I shall always remember walking the grounds of the Rock of Cashel on Easter 2000. Glorious! Oh, how I would love to go back again.
Lovely to discover your blog and many thanks for visiting me. Also for taking me away to Ireland.
I really enjoyed seeing all your wonderful photos – it is on my list of places to visit one day. Yes, I am sure an umbrella, woolen tweeds and sensible walking shoes would be most important here. Thanks for sharing the lovely post,
Happy weekend
Carolyn
What a lovely trip. You must have had so much fun.
Enjoyed your tour! Ireland is gorgeous!
~ Violet
What a wonderful trip…both then and now! I enjoyed it so much, and would have been right there with the 'Wool' therapy, rain gear and the 'Fairy Glen'. Look forward to the next posts.
Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
Oh how lovely to see your comment this morning amidst this lovely rush of friends visiting one another! Enjoy the day and the week of linking to EUROPE! Anita
A lovely journey to a beautiful country – so glad you let us go along. Your impressions are wonderful!
YES YES YES! And to learn that someone would really be wearing a tweed suit is enchanting, and not just a dream or a stereotype! I thank you kindly for participating in this link party and I hope you will have a chance to visit the others! Thank you as well for that luscious photo of the beef dish! Anita
Awwww . . . bringing memories back to me too!
Trinity College . . .
Book of Kells . . .
Temple Bar Area . . .(we visited and had a pint at Temple.
(touristy treat)
Rock of Cashel . . .
Our favorites on our Ireland visits are
going off the beaten track,
stone circles,
cemeteries,
making wax rubbings of Celtic grave stones,
churches
hiking the hills,
finding abandoned stone houses,
libraries
Thanks for the memories Sandra . . . I look forward to part two!
What a great little trip, without leaving my cottage. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience you had. I love the architecture and I bet the food and drink were delicious!
Have a nice weekend ~ FlowerLady