2025 IRELAND Dublin June 6

 After a nice buffet breakfast in the Beresford Hotel dining room which looks like a cave, we left at 9:00 for the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour around Dublin. We got off to see the Little Museum of Dublin which the bus driver recommended, but it was closed for renovations.  Walked around the corner to the National Archeological Museum which had ancient artifacts (Viking-Medieval). It was very interesting and we spent quite a bit of time there.  

Dublin street

Outside National Museum

St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

We stopped at St. Patrick's Cathedral, but did not go in for the tour. It was quite busy and there were quite a few people enjoying the adjoining park. We walked around the grounds and garden at Dublin Castle, not too much to see there. Back on the bus, we went past the Guinness facility- there were block-long lines to get in and reservations were needed so we didn't get off. We rode into Phoenix Park and saw the Wellington Monument. 

Then we went to the riverfront to see EPIC (Emigration) Museum, which was very well done and included the replica Jeanie Johnston ship tour. The guide and tour were fantastic- this emigrant ship made 16 voyages to north America, with 200 emigrants on each, and no one died because the owner, captain and onboard doctor took very good care of them.

The Emigrants sculpture

We walked back to the hotel, just missing a rain/hailstorm.  Spent time relaxing and packing before heading out for dinner. We walked down to O'Connell St. and decided on Madigan's Pub for dinner- neat decor but food was mediocre. We went back to the hotel and had one drink before saying goodbye to Larry and Marilyn. Travel day tomorrow!

2025 IRELAND Blarney to Dublin June 5

We left the Davmar House (no breakfast) and headed towards County Cork- then north on M-8 towards Dublin.  We stopped for a nice "fry-up" breakfast at Cahir House Hotel in County Tipperary- a very cool old 1770's manor which has been a hotel since 1927.  Many famous people have stayed or drank there!  

The Celt, Dublin

Back on the road at 10, got to Dublin and checked into the Beresford Hotel on Store Street. 

Marilyn and Larry took the car back to the airport and came back by taxi.  After they checked in, we walked to the Celt Pub to reserve a spot for dinner and have a pint.  Then we shopped on the riverfront, bought some souvenirs and stopped in for one at J.R. Mahon's.  Very cool old place with beautiful woodwork and decor. It was quite busy for a weekday. 

J.R. Mahon's Dublin

We went back to the Celt for dinner and stayed for the music- guitar and banjo trad/folk music.  We left at 10, very tired!

2025 IRELAND Dingle to Blarney via Kenmare June 4

We left Dingle after a lovely continental breakfast at Duinen House. We drove along the coast of the peninsula with beautiful scenery.  We stopped at Kenmare in County Kerry (southern Ireland) and saw a stone circle with a wishing tree and a funny man who gave the guys lessons in Hurling (a sport like lacrosse and hockey).  We did a little shopping in a street market in town, then drove to Davmar House B&B in Blarney around 1.  We checked in, dropped our car and got a ride to town. We walked to Blarney Castle, decided not to stand in line for 90 minutes to kiss the Blarney stone. 

We spent about an hour walking around the huge gardens. We walked up the hill to the Davmar House before getting a cab to go to dinner at the Muskerry Arms. It was very busy but good food. Roast turkey with mashed and veggies, an Irish Stew.  We had a drink at Blarney Castle Hotel and got a cab back up the hill. We did not find any music in town, because it was mid-week.

2025 IRELAND From Galway to Dingle via Cliffs of Moher June 3

 

We left the Galway apartment at 8 am and headed to Dingle along the coast.  We stopped at the Cliffs of Moher which had a very informative Visitor Center built into the hillside. It was SUPER windy walking up to the cliffs, and it's a big attraction so there were lots of people there. We tried to stop for lunch in Ennis but there was no parking available. We ate outside a gas station with a deli- most of them have food.  

We got to Dingle after driving around mountains with lovely sheep and cow-filled valleys. Duinen House, our  B&B, is a beautiful home on a hillside above the town, with a sheep pasture next door.

Host Patrick was lovely- a former teacher and author, he sat and visited with us in the sunroom while we waited for a ride to town. We ate roasted lamb shank and veggies at Lord Baker's Restaurant, the oldest one in town. Food was great and the waiter was very attentive and friendly.  We walked around this fishing harbor town looking for a pub with music but the places that had it were packed. We ended up at Paddy Bawn Brosnan's where we had a good visit with some locals and two guys from Montana. Back to the room at 10:30

2025 IRELAND Donegal to Galway June 2

We woke up to 49 degrees, sun and calm winds. We had a light breakfast, cleaned up and packed. Left the VRBO at 8 a.m. and headed south along the west coast towards Galway. We stopped at the Museum of Country Life but it didn't open until noon. Walked the grounds to stretch before stopping for lunch at Veldon's Seafarer Restaurant in Letterfrack. We both had chicken sandwiches with chips and coleslaw. Cute little place with several rooms and low ceilings. 

 We then stopped at Kylemore Abbey, a huge estate built in the 1860s.  We toured part of the inside, and walked to the private church. It was a very windy walk with some rain. Continued on our way and had to avoid lots of sheep along the road. In Galway we stayed at Geata na Cathrach Lakeside Apartments. Very hard to find, and lots of steps to second level. Had to check in on a kiosk. We went to An Pucan's Pub and listened to some trad music with a young dancer.  Then to Murty Rabbitt's for dinner where a single guy was singing. Steak sandwich and Cottage pie, both were good. Went to Darcy's Pub for one more before bed. It was a very rainy night.

2025 IRELAND Northern Coast Drive to Donegal June 1

 Larry drove the rental car north out of Belfast- some light rain and light traffic.  We got to Giant's Causeway and took the long walk down to see the strange basalt columns.  It was windy but we enjoyed climbing on the rocks.  Marilyn and I took the bus back up the hill.

Continued on our way along the north coast and stopped at a viewpoint with very high cliffs.  

We stopped in Coleraine at a Tim Horton's for lunch, then on to Derry/Londonderry which is partly in Northern Ireland and the other part the Republic of Ireland. We parked on a side street to see the old city wall and it started raining so we stopped into the nearest pub, (George's) for a pint.  We enjoyed talking to the locals while we waited out the rain.

Auto rifle from a cabinet by the door of pub

Continued on into the Republic of Ireland towards Letterkenny.  Pretty countryside- sheep, cows, and hilly.  We stopped for the night at Dromore House near Donegal. Got settled in, we then went to dinner at Jimmy's Tavern in Mountcharles. Good food- we had seafood platter with smoked and baked salmon, mackerel, shrimp with potato salad and rye bread. We stopped for some groceries and ice cream. Went back to the house and played cards, did laundry and planned our route for tomorrow. House was new, with huge rooms, a full kitchen, large sitting area and dining area. We had a quiet sleep in the country.  

2025 IRELAND Travel Day May 31

 Our flight from Keflavik to Dublin left on time at 9:40. When we arrived we took a coach bus to Belfast. It was a very relaxing ride and we got a lot of tips about Ireland talking to an older local couple riding along.  We met Larry and Marilyn V. on the street and walked to Best on the Row B&B which they had stayed at the night before. (we missed a whole day in Belfast😭). Larry took us on a long walk to find a restaurant and finally some nice folks recommended Villa Italia, which is a huge beautiful restaurant with excellent food.  After dinner we walked around and stopped at Lavery's Pub for a drink before heading back to our 2 bedroom/1 bath with living/dining upstairs place.  Very cute and simple.