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Mystical, Magical Ireland


Follow me up to Carlow

Finally, we head over from Cairnryan Scotland on  the Stena line to Belfast and then Galway  and another family branch
 Ailsa Craig in the Irish Sea


Belfast Lough



Carrickfergus Castle in County Antrim

Dock on Belfast Lough, County Antrim


Titanic Museum in Belfast

Grand Staircase































Belfast Sentiments

We spent only one night in Belfast  with the intention of going to the wonderful Titanic Museum. It was very touching to stand close to the berth at Harlan and Wolf shipyards  where she was launched 100 years ago and feel the hope that so many emmigrants must have had after suffering through the famines and political strife of Ireland's history, to be going off to a new country to start again. So with our luggage in tow ( Lady, we don't have lockers in Belfast !!) we spent a few hours at the museum ( well worth it!!)  before heading off on the train to

The wonders of Galway and County Clare after switching trains in Dublin






Leprechaun in the rock

a tour of the Ailwee caves 

                                                                                                              

  





The Burren

The Portal tomb at Poulnabrone on the Burren

                                                                                          

windswept Cliffs of Moher


These are a must see and if you are lucky as we were, the light and shadow danced on the cliffs as the sun played a peek a boo in the clouds. In spite of the fine Irish weather it remained warm through our holiday.



the fairy fort or mound outside Galway ( Ballyalban)
Perhaps it was at a place like this that Oisin entered the land of Tir-na-nog

At home in Ireland

in Dunguaire Castle or the thatched cottage


      






















 always time to stop at the pub for a delicious lamb stew and a pint!!- Like you died and went to Heaven!

Slainte!!
It was such a blessing to be able to share it all here our family histories ( from Galway to Blairgowrie and back again at one time) and just plain adventures with my daughter and even her penchant for
Shopping on Shop Street in Galway!!!
Yayy!! Go easy we don't have a fortune!
her euros soon gone



Shop Street

Bunratty Castle and Park in County Clare
Bunratty toilet


this lovely park is a medieval style village  around the castle whose history dates back to Viking settlements but was built in present form by McNamara family in 1425 and later came into the O'Brian family. There was confict as royalists and rebels were played off against each other in the rebellion of 1641