From Dublin to Limerick to Galway and back. Traversed the Ring of Kerry. Kilkenny and Kilarney. Rock of Cashel and Connemara. Darryl, our bus driver and guide was delightful. He dutifully drove us all over the country. Cliffs of Moher would have been a highlight but they were completely fogged over when we got there. However riding through the small villages and scenic countryside was worth the while. To the east I favored Dublin. St. Pat’s Cathedral was more colorful than I had imagined. I visited Trinity College to see the Book of Kells, another highlight. I briefly hung out in Temple Bar at Gogartys and walked across the Liffey River Bridge. Finally we visited Guinness Storehouse before leaving the city. On the west coast, Connemara is most memorable with it’s lush green countryside and marble shops. Galway was busy and diverse, a mecca for Irish artists. Driving through Lisdoonvarna where the annual Irish Matchmaking Festival was underway was a kick. Gypsys, faerie trees, the Irish’s rugged history with the Brits, the blend of Celtic and Catholic, all this and more in a little over a week.
