For Fall break this year we decided to play Ryan Air roullette. Ryan Air is the Southwest knock off of Europe and they have crazy low prices on airfare. We looked to see where the cheapest airfare was going and that is how we decided where to visit. Ireland won and that stuck with our "why go anywhere warm" theme of travel. Josh out did himself with the planning of this trip. We had five days to see as much as we could so here was our schedule:
Arrive at 9PM in Dublin and spend the night
DAY 1
Leave at 7AM and drive South to Waterford to visit the House of Waterford (crystal factory)
Hop in the car and head west to Blarney Castle to kiss the stone.
Hop in the car and head west to spend the night in Killarny at Darby O'Gills Guest House.
DAY 2
Leave at 7AM and head to the ferry. Drive to the Cliffs of Moher.
Hop in the car and travel East to Bunratty Castle to tour the castle and grounds. Hang out and eat at the castle for dinner - 14th century style banquet.
Hop in the car and drive East to Dublin.
DAY 3
Wake up at 8AM and head out to Dublinia - hands on museum.
Visit Guiness Factory and take the tour.
Visit the Leprechaun Museum.
DAY 4
Leave at 7AM and head North to New Grange - Neolitic burial site
Hop in the car and continue North to the Giant's Causeway
Hop back in the car and head South to Belfast for dinner and sleep.
DAY 5
Leave at 8AM and head South to Dublin and the Dublin Zoo
Drop car off at rental office and head to the plane.
It was a BUSY trip but we saw all 4 coasts and so many wonderful things. There are quite a few posts about what we saw and tons of pictures, so please read up and enjoy our adventures!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
House of Waterford
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Waterford Crystal Pictures
This is a 5 foot tall champange flute![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUxfZyZvaJAWIFIpJcN7pLkRW0VvTjUJFxe5Bc88YxZ1596QMxHbhKQM_0uE6g4VyqFyQxws4XT0VG4GNpc5hyuPtRVnERN7otOdn0DBeweOHiuleayeVclBHQ_l9O5N27_qEhXHZdae7K/s400/waterford+and+blarne+042.JPG)
The wooden mold the master blowers use when shaping items
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0xnugDes8GgJTrLpBNmEMeo4ENiFP9scY7ASnEtLyq7zdCWCpkdIdzk68HSPihBfv8pex5pEjjg85lgAz2HxkrgDbk333AD3Hbtu7EK-_ATuxS7odEclzh85770h6oDKL7jVhUNp0SAWI/s400/waterford+and+blarne+047.JPG)
One of the master blowers working on a vase
The wooden mold the master blowers use when shaping items
One of the master blowers working on a vase
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Blarney Castle
Cliffs of Moher
It is a faboosh natural wonder to visit. It was made even cooler by Jaxon. He recognized the cave in the cliff wall as one that was used it the movie Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Even the fairly steady rain didn't bother us. Enjoy the pictures!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty was restored during the 1950's and opened to the public in 1960. It was lovingly restored and has lots of period furnishings and a very informative tour.
The folk park is huge! There is a main street area with stores, a working pub, a doctors house and even a school house. There are several examples of cottages from the very poorest to the wealthy land owner. There is a blacksmiths house, a mill and even a church. All are open to the public to walk through, look at and many times have actors ready and waiting to talk to you.
There were two highlights to visiting this castle. First were the castle hounds. I have been intrested in Irish Wolfhounds for a few years now, and have always wanted one but never had seen one in person. The castle boasted two that live on the grounds - Finn and his sister. (We were told the sister's name but the accent made it impossible for me to catch) These were some magnificent and SMELLY dogs. Josh is still telling me no but I am making it my mission to get one of these dogs some day!
The second highlight was ment as a suprise for the kids. Twice a night a banquet is held at Bunratty Castle. We were met in the hall and offered a glass of mead or punch and while waiting to be escorted into the dining hall, we were entertained by a fiddler, a harpist and some very talented singers. Once taken into the dining hall, we were treated to a feast of soup, chicken veggies and dessert as well as red and white wine and water. There are no utensils but that is in keeping with the time period where they only had knives to eat with. There was also entertainment during the meal with lots of singing that ranged from bawdy to beautiful. It was a really cool way to end our visit to the castle and Jax and Skye both had a great time. Jax made the night of some Australians that were visiting. Apparently my kid is really funny and quick with his one liners.
I posted more pictures below so check them out!!!!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Bunratty Castle Pictures
Dublinia
Dublinia is an interactive museum, geared towards students and children, in downtown Dublin. It covers Viking Dublin and Medieval Dublin as well as touching on the way archeologists unearth the treasures that are either displayed or mentioned in the museum. In the Viking section, the displays are lifesized and include a typical Viking house, ship and dockside market. You can try on different types of helmets and even spell your name out in runes. In the Medieval section of the museum, there is a scale model of Dublin and lots of information on the Black Death which swept through the town. The final section of the museum is dedicated to the field of archeology. it shows many of the items found in digs around the city of Dublin. It is totally worth the visit and both Skye and Jax seemed to enjoy it.
Information on The Black Death
Guinness Storehouse
This brewery turned museum is spread out over 7 floors filled with large video displays and tons of information culminating in a free pint of Guinness or soda at the very top of the building in the Gravity Bar.
The first floor covers the four main ingredients of Giunness - barley, hops, yeast and water. The next few floors cover the history of brewing and the brewery with large displays and lots of information. Floors five, six and seven have various corporate offices, meeting rooms and a number of bars. From floor seven, you can take an elevator or two flights of stairs up to the Gravity Bar that has a 360 degree panoramic view of Dublin which is spectacular.
Is The Guiness Storehouse worth the visit? Well, it was interesting and I am glad we did it, but really it is a much hyped museum with very little interaction due to an assumed high visitor preference. It is very impersonal and I think much of the attraction to this museum is the free pint of Guinness at the end. The way I look at it is we have been so blessed in the exciting things we have seen and done on our trips that there was bound to be a dud eventually.
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