Ireland

We've been to Ireland a few times, but never to see the beautiful countryside along the western coast of Ireland.  It's been on our list for a while, but with sun and warmth nearly always at the top of our travel must-do list, the emerald isle just never seemed to make the cut.  But this year we finally made it a priority and planned a busy, 10-day road trip adventure along the western and southern coasts.  It was honestly really tricky to plan even for a travel veteran, and a fairly exhausting journey to make planning the route each day and changing hotels nearly every night.  But it was well worth the effort.  The trip came at a pretty chaotic time for us still in the midst of a fair bit of chaos being in housing limbo and getting ready to say goodbye to Dallin.  We had to take Scott an Dallin to the airport a couple days early so they could begin the journey to Utah to start college.  I never thought I'd say goodbye to my kid from the hills of southern Ireland, but like the dense fog that closed in on us the last two days it certainly added a surreal element to the last part of the trip. 

We flew into Shannon, which was really kind of fun.  Seeing my name all over the airport and then driving around the town was pretty cool.  It was a fun way to start the trip.  

Our first stop was to the town of Cong with beautiful ruins and charming streets, where the Quiet Man was filmed.

We spent our first night in the town of Westport

The Coffin Ship in Connermara

Croagh Patrick, pilgrimage sight to the spot where believers claim Patrick expelled snakes out of Ireland.

Simple cross memorial remembering some of those who tragically perished in the great famine

Stunning scenery!

Bouncing on the peat bog

Kylemore Abbey

Overnight in the charming town of Kinvarra

Exploring the rocky, limestone Burren

Stone Age tomb in the Burren

After a neat day touring the Burren we spent the afternoon exploring the Cliffs of Moher, which was nothing less than spectacular.  

Crossing the River Shannon by ferry

We made it to Dingle

Touring the famed Dingle peninsula, full of beautiful sights, ancient relics and tragic beauty.  

First of many ancient round stone forts

Picture Tom and Nicole, Far and Away

Blasket Island across the bay

The outlines of the final, ill-fated potato crops can still be seen today.

Experiencing Irish folk music in a dark pub over a hot bowl of Irish stew, just perfect.

Killarney National Park

Ladies View, Killarney National Park

The gorgeous drive around the the Ring of Kerry begins . . .

Famine ruins

Stunning Cliffs of Kerry

The Skellig Islands

Portmagee

Our last night together in the hotel before Scott and Dallin left, in Glengarriff

Picking blackberries in Baltimore, County Cork

Just the three of us now, exploring Baltimore

Ferry to tiny Sherkin Island for a day of exploring

Lovely hike around Sherkin Island, the fog cleared giving way to warm sunshine just as we arrived

Magical afternoon at this completely isolated cove all to ourselves on Sherkin Island

The fog rolled back in just as we were getting ready to leave

A few hours in Kinsale before heading to the airport