Trip to the North of Ireland
Mike & Barb - Slieve League (Click to Enlarge)
Traffic Jam in Donegal (Click to Enlarge)
The Swedish Leprechaun - Tom (Click to Enlarge)
St. Mary's Catholic Church - Kilybegs (Click to Enlarge)
Rock of Cashel (Click to Enlarge)
Killybegs town (Click to Enlarge)
Town of Kenmare (Click to Enlarge)
Fuchsia bushes (Click to Enlarge)
Ashford Castle (Castle to Enlarge)
ALL PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY WENDY SVENDSEN
Well we are still alive!!! We met up today in Kenmare
and are now shopping and Mike is taking a nap (getting ready to drink
some more Guinness for strength). We came all the way to Ireland and
three of us got the stomach flu - of course the one who is drinking the
whiskey
doesn't get sick-that would be Mike. Barb had 7-up for her anniversary
meal - who thought we would go on vacation and lose weight.
Tom the Viking is pillaging his way across Ireland - hope you like
your presents!
The towns are beautiful and very colorful. For food - we have tried
many different things lamb,mussels, oysters, duck, goose, prawns, and
their steaks aren't too bad either.
We're taking lots of pictures and will make sure they get on the web
site. We brought two cameras and one broke on the way so hopefully we
will finish with one still working
Barb's message while in Ireland
Catholic Cemetery in Killybegs (Click to Enlarge)
Croah Patrick (Click to Enlarge)
Tall Celtic Cross (Click to Enlarge)
Hangin' Around...Wendy on the Cliffs (click to enlarge)
Dingle Peninsula (Click to Enlarge)
Barb (LEFT) acting her age with Wendy (RIGHT) (click to enlarge)
Looks like Alaska - Tom & Wendy (click to enlarge)
Our favorite jailbirds (Mike & Barb)
Barb writes of their journeys:
We arrived home late Sunday night and have really just
recovered. I'm the only one of the four of us that didn't have to work
and I really have no room to complain.
Bed and Breakfasts are the only way to go in Ireland . The
host/hostesses treat you like true guests-it almost makes you feel
guilty. As we were sitting at an outside table with a view of the ocean
at Killybegs, Ethna, our host, notices us and brings out a bottle of
wine. There was no extra charge, she just wanted us to truly enjoy the
experience.
There was a noticeable absence of any other nationalities - it was just
the Irish. I'm sure the cities are different, but the heartland is
still run by mom and pop businesses. It reminded me of how things were
in the 60s. The grocery stores were interesting as well. They don't
have a large selection of goods and the choice of fruits and vegetables
was quite limited. They do have a great bread supply though and every
town has several butcher shops-which Mike checked out. They take great
pride in selling the local meat products.
Ireland is very ancient. You see a modern house
and right next to it is an old castle or building. They don't have a
park system to protect their treasures as we do. Many of the ancient
sites are located on private land and they have an entry fee based on
the honor system. They just trust you to put your euros in the available
box and leave what is there alone. We were at one round stone fort
that was thought to be over 2000 years old. There was a sign that read,
"Please do not climb on top of the rock walls." You would have thought
it said just the opposite as so many tourists were ignoring the
message.
They love their politics. The radio has mostly talk stations and they
constantly discuss their government and the world. Clinton is very
popular in Ireland because of his involvement with the peace truce
brokered with Northern Ireland. They agreed it should have happened
years before, but no one had offered to be the mediator.
We'd love to go again, but we would do things differently. We would
drive directly north and park ourselves at a place and just do day treks
and hiking. This area is still so unaffected by the tourism and
economic growth of the rest of the country, but that too will change in
the next several years.
I brought back some holy water from the Holy Cross Church in Kenmare.
Even Mike went to church there with me because it was so amazing. We
now realize why when our ancestors moved to America it was so important
for them to build a beautiful church. Their houses were plain, but some
of their churches are works of art. They have their cemetery on the
church grounds and they bury entire families in the same plot. Twins,
did you know that there are several Ryans buried at the Rock of Cashel
in county Tipperary? Could they be some relation?
I've rambled on long enough - just thought I'd share some observations
of the "Motherland."
Have a good summer....... BARB AND MIKE
Cliffs of Moohrer - Click to Enlarge
Garden Ground (click to Enlarge)
Irish Beehives (click to enlarge)
Murrin & McGonigle Home
Donegal is the traditional homeland of the Murrin and Mcgonigle families, and Killybegs is the origin of our family line, in particular.
Our first day in Ireland (click to Enlarge)