Touring Ireland

 Dear Family and Friends,

There is no place more beautiful than Ireland when the sun is shinning, and few places more miserable when a storm blows in off the Atlantic with sheets of rain and gale force winds. We’ve had a few days like that lately. Yesterday was beautiful and no wind. I took a nice long walk. 

Our dear friends Todd and Karen Wolfley and their daughter Elena came to visit us. They flew into Dublin March 16. They planned on staying there 2 nights to see some sights in Northern Ireland. When they looked into getting a room they were surprised as nothing was available unless you were willing to pay several hundred Euros. They couldn’t figure out what was going on in Dublin until they learned, it was St. Paddy’s Day! They felt a little foolish and had a good laugh. They stayed in Belfast instead, on Wednesday they took the train to Galway.

We had such a wonderful visit, reminiscing, laughing and sight-seeing. On Thursday morning we went to see the Cliffs of Moher. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day for viewing the cliffs and seeing the countryside. 

That evening we went down to shop street in Galway. It is definitely a must see with a charm all its own. There were a few musicators out entertaining passers-by but shops were beginning to close up for the night. We managed to pick up a few souvenirs. 

Friday morning we left early for Blarney Castle. It was a lovely day for a long drive. We arrived about noon, had a bite to eat then walked to the castle. We are pleased to announce that all 3 of the Wolfley’s made it up the narrow, winding stone staircases to the very top of the castle and kissed the “Blarney Stone.” Now they have the gift of eloquence, if they didn’t have it before.

You did it Elly. You kissed the Blarney Stone! Poor Todd, he's been thrown in the Blarney Castle dungeon. What did you do now Todd?

For the next couple of hours, we enjoyed a leisurely walk around the castle grounds and took some amazing pictures. It is a beautiful setting.  

This is a view of the grounds from the top of Blarney Castle. It is a beautiful place!

The unusual hanging rock is actually a passage tomb. (A passage tomb forms a narrow passage, wide at the front and narrow at the back. It is usually made with large stones and has one or more burial chambers covered with earth or stone. These tombs date from the Neolithic Age.)  Emily Pillo is underneath. The amazing tree on the upper right is a Western Red Cedar. There were several on the grounds. The castle-like structure is the Blarney Mansion. 

On Saturday, we went to the open market in city center. Dozens of vendors set up booths  on Saturday morning and sell – fish, fresh vegetables, homemade breads and pastries, soups, jewelry, clothes, candles, handbags, flowers, pictures and etc. It is an adventure to walk through. 

A Fish monger is on the left and on the right is a candle booth and behind that is a large produce area.

That afternoon we went to a baptism in Limerick. All in all we had an amazing week with Todd, Karen and Elena. We had a grand time and good ole craic!  You won’t believe this, it didn’t rain all week! But the day they left, it began raining again.  

There is one thing you can be sure of in Ireland and that is the rain!

Love,

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Elder and Sister Weber