Oct 27, 2011 - Finish of my trip

We got home in one piece despite the leg. It took a good ten days to get over the jet lag. I went to the hospital the following day after I arrived home and the first thing they told that I could now put the second leg down on the ground, what a relief. The following Monday I was back in the Hospital again for a Physiotherapy and this time I was told the I could forget about the crutches.This was truly amazing as I expected to be in the crutches or wheelchair for another few weeks. The space boot is still on all the time including nigh-time...

Sep 17, 2011 - Dingle, Inch and Limerick

There was a young man from Nantucket...guess where we are! Indeed the fine and grand Irish city of Limerick. It has been quite a drive from Killarney today. The Irish weather changes constantly and drastically within a few minutes and a few miles. From sunshine to pouring showers to sunshine and then pouring showers; again and again. And everywhere it seems there is that howling biting wind from the Atlantic. After leaving Killarney we visited the rugged Dingle Peninsula, just north of where we visited yesterday, the Ring Of Kerry. The...

Aug 28, 2011 - Limerick

Not much to say about Limerick, as arrive late in the day, but no doubt will do a local tour in morning. Did how ever go tonight to a evening based on family home life, with meal, singing, dancing etc, except I got picked on as they wanted one person from each country to participate, well as I am the only kiwi of a bus of 50% Australians and the other 50% either Canadian or USA I had to do a number of things tonight. first I had to play the spoons for a jig, they I had to do a reel, so there is video. Now I know I am in Ireland, our lift at...

Jun 7, 2011 - The ring of Kerry

This morning we set off on what is supposed to be the most scenic trip in Ireland – unfortunately the rain has set in and it is going to be a wet and misty view. This route is called the Ring of Kerry and takes us through some rural areas but mainly coastal views and through some wonderful Irish wind swept rocky mountains. We are advised to do the trip in an anti clockwise direction Early on we stop at a Peat Museum – not much really. In some of the ‘dwellings’ are musicians playing Irish music with their ‘tip’ bucket out. Not much room for...

Sep 26, 2010 - Limerick

@@@@@@@ Background Limerick has a reputation as a tough, gritty city, one that most people would choose to leave as soon as they were able. The hard life here was portrayed in Frank McCourt’s novel Angela’s Ashes. Efforts are being made to turn this around, with a revitalization project underway, though this will probably be stalled by the economic recession as it has been in other places worldwide. It’s on a strategic site beside the Shannon River and is the third largest city in the Republic. I read that many technological and services...

May 1, 2010 - Western Ireland

Saturday We awoke in Killarney but soon left for a long day of driving. We went to Adare and saw many thatched roof cottages for which they are known. Very much what I anticpated, it is what we all picture Ireland to be. We basically drove thru Limerick and saw John's Castle ruin and St Mary's cathedral in the heart of Limerick along the shores of Shannon. We then went to Bunratty Folk Park which was a castle and village. They have recreated the homes and lifestyle of rural Ireland, along with a restored castle, village shops and local pub...

Sep 6, 2009 - I love Ireland!

*Just a disclaimer, this is not going to be very well written or structured… I am just getting all my thoughts out at the moment :P * Hey everyone! Sorry it’s been a while. So far I love Ireland so far. I’ve got amazing housemates. There are 4 guys from Ireland; Val, Owen, Sean, and Garòd, and an American guy from Pennsylvania (at Penn State) named Nico. There is an Irish girl who’s a junior and just came and dropped off her stuff at some point named Emma but I haven’t met her yet, and a Canadian girl named Miranda, who I love. Every one is...

Jul 9, 2009 - Day 7 - Adare and Limerick

We were greeted in the morning by the sight of five Irish red deer bucks eating in the field outside our 1st floor patio. We took some pictures and watched these magnificent creatures graze, until something spooked them and they moved off down into a glen of trees. After breakfast, we said goodbye to Cahernane House and headed toward Adare. It wasn't a long drive (in theory) but the amount of tractors and RVs on the road made getting up to speed (100kmh) difficult. Apparently this weekend is the start of the Festival Weekend for rock...

Apr 29, 2009 - Limerick

So here we are in Limerick City. We arrived late last night and decided to take a night off from the nightlife to rest and get some sleep. It was glorious. We got up this morning and had breakfast and found this internet cafe so that we could update all of our loved ones (we knew you were just dying to know what we are up to!). Today we are heading to Bunratty Castle and then on to Dingle Town. We are hoping to do a bike tour of the Dingle Peninsula. That means possibly a 30 mile bike ride, but we worked out last night in our hotel room....

Apr 5, 2009 - We made it!!

We arrived at the Cedar Rapids Airport in fine shape thanks to our chauffeur, Wendi. We were able to check our bags through to Shannon, so that was a good thing. Now the hurry up and wait starts... Our flight out of CR was at 6:30 AM into Chicago. We arrive and have about 5 hours to wait so we go to the Delta Crown Lounge using our Priority Passes - only way to go!!! We all enjoyed a free beer on Delta (a couple had more than one but who's counting!), comfortable seats and a TV to ourselves. Our flight is scheduled to leave Chicago about 2...

Jun 30, 2007 - Limericks

Well, I awoke to the sun actually shining but the rain and clouds have nothing to do with getting over to the Skelligs! I phoned teh guy who was taking us and he said "nope, we're not going today". :-( So we went to the Skellig Information Centre to ask them and to get a book or something on the Skelligs. The guys there said that the the forecast is bad for the next few days so we are not going to hang around here waiting - so off we set. The plan is Galway for tonight which is QUITE a drive. The only real thing I wanted to see in between...

May 24, 2007 - Kenmare - Limerick

Headed off to Limerick today. Stopped at Killarney for a couple of hours which gave us the opportunity to go on a "Jarvey" ride (horse and cart). It was great fun - we had Ben a 7 year old Irish Clydesdale. After we headed to Limerick we went to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. Great educational experience for the girls. We climbed yet another set of spiral stairs, then wandered through the folk park. The exhibits were of the type of housing people used to live in from one bedroom thatch roof houses to Georgian manors. I don't know how they...