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.