The Rest of Ireland to Monday July 6

This is a long one..no pictures again..hold on


Day 12 Friday July 3rd Cliffs of Moher, Gallway and Sligo

While this trip takes us through Galway, the region made famous for the filming of the Quiet Man (John Wayne and Maureen O’hara), and the village of Knock (where the shrine attracts village from all over the world) the most interesting part was the visit to the spectacular Cliffs of Moher which rise 668 feet above the Atlantic. The day cleared as we arrived and we were able to follow the various paths along the cliffs and take some great (I trust..) photos.
We then continued on to Sligo and another Clarion Hotel where once again I fail the internet test.

Day 13 Saturday July 4th Into Ulster and Belfast


On the bus again we have an interesting day stopping in Drumcliff to see the grave of W.B. Yeats, and visit the Belleek Pottery Factory (home of the cream colored Parian china…Anne buys a cup). We stop for lunch in Derry (Londonderry), walk the walls of this “walled” city, viewing the catholic areas and the murals depicting the “troubles”. Our guide, Michael is not keen on giving us a history of the troubled times as there are still mixed feelings held by many as to the interpretation of the events. One person does listen in at one point, however, and shakes her head, and lets it be known to all that Michael is lying to us.

The highlight of the day is a hike along the awe inspiring Giant’s Causeway (again a myth exists explaining the origin as being the result of an almost altercation between an Irish and a Scottish giant) composed of thousands of strangely symmetrical basalt columns jutting out to sea. Anne and I walk the entire area..down and back up and just make it back in time to make the coach (Irish for bus). Hopefully some of the photos turn out ok.

It is then on to Belfast where we again stay at a Hilton and face their $15 euro internet fee..and resist once more.

Day 14 Sunday July 5th Belfast tour, St. Paddi’s Grave and Dublin

Belfast proves to be a fascinating city and it is unfortunate that we were unable to stay another day. We do, however, enjoy a great bus tour with a local guide before heading off to Dublin.

Some interesting info..

The titantic memorial commemorating the building of the titantic..the locals claim that it was fine when it left and that lifeboats were removed to make more room for the elite passenger deck.
The existence of a ferris wheel similar to the London Eye.
The claim of being the home of country music.
Lots of construction and the largest dry dock in the world now refitting and rebuilding ships instead of building new
Home of Queen’s Universty and 24,000 students;
2nd most popular port after Barcelona;
Largest film studion in the world.
Home of the famous Royal Victoria Hospital where among other things the defibrillator was invented (they claim they had to since they are second only to the Scots for being the least healthy people).
It has the same latitude s the south of Hudson Bay but a much more temperate climate.
The Northern Ireland Assembly buildings are impressive and sit back a mile, along a paved route from the main street.
With a population of only 1.8 million, northern Ireland has a staggering 108 politicians.
In 2006 housing values increased 54% and this year have fallen almost as much.
Unemployment is about 9% today.
They brought some Canadians over and now have the most watched and followed hockey team in Europe, the Belfast Giants.

The tour guide is careful to explain how much things have changed as we witness English, catholic and protestant areas, many murals depicting the fighting, and the multitude of flags from all sides and particularly the presence of the Union Jack.

One notable painting is of Bobby Sands, the first of 10 to die (May, 1981) after a hunger strike lasting 27-66 days. The visit brings home the reality of the times and the change. Of note is the fact that during the “troubles” Belfast had the lowest crime rate in Europe and it is higher today than it was then.

We then headed off to Dublin, following the shores of Strangford Lough and stopped in Downpatrick and to view the grave of Saint Patrick and the Down (Holy Trinity) Cathedral.

Arriving in Dublin we again stay at the Clarion and once again I am unable to use the internet effectively. This evening we head off to a dinner and night of Irish dancing and song from a great group and entertained by an Irish comedian of note who regales us with Murphy jokes.


Day 15 Monday July 6th Dublin and Guinness Brewery


Finally a day with almost no fixed agenda and nothing planned before 9:30 am. We start with a quick orientation bus tour of the centre of Dublin, the capital city on a bright and sunny day. We are dropped off at Trinity College Library, home of the famous Book of Kells, “turning darkness into light”, a lavishly decorated copy, in latin, of the four gospels, produced early in the 9th century by the monks of Iona. It survived the attacks of the Vikings, the real settlers of Ireland (it is suggested that all of British, Scot and Irish ancestry carry Viking blood in their genes) buried in the bog and given to Trinity College in 1661. Unlike other such treasure in museums around the world it is quite accessible for viewing and very well preserved. The library, unfortunately no picture allowed) is located in a large 3 tiered building housing hundreds of thousands of old books and well worth the visit.

We then tour Dublin on foot seeing many statues of note including that of Daniel O’Connell himself at the foot of O’Connell street. Other sites include St. Patrick’s Cathedral (Church of Ireland..the catholic cathedral of the same name is in New York City). Jonathan Swift was once Dean of the cathedral but was ousted by the elite, who worshipped there, due to his affiliation with the less fortunate and tendency to berate the rich and famous during his sermons. He went on to pen “Gulliver’s Travels” which is actually a parody of his experience with his detractors and their way of life.

Other interesting sites include the splendour of the the doors of the Georgian homes that once housed the wealthy and were designed as to differentiate the home from the many identical houses. The major post office in Ireland is located here and proved quite historic with bullet pock marks on the stone columns and housing welfare offices and other government services. We buy one stamp.

Captain Bligh of the Bounty relocated to Bounty as a civil engineer where he transformed the wide river Liffey running through the centre of Dublin into a navigable canal and rebuilt the harbour.

There is a remarkable statue of Molly Malone and her cart..lovingly referred to in Dublin as the “tart with the cart”. This is the site where the thousands of starving families were sent off during the “hunger” to other lands..including the United States and Canada. There are remarkable bronze statues depicting the victims with plaques that include one laid by Jean Chretien, former prime minister of Canada. There is also a working ship that is a copy of one of the aptly named “coffin” ships that transported the emigrants.

We finished the day with a tour of the immense Guinness Brewery, one of the tallest structures in Dublin with a bar at the top in a glass enclosed area with a panoramic view of the city. We are given a private tour and dinner (a rare event and almost exclusive to Globus) in a separate dining area, many tasting their first Guinness. It is well worth the visit but I did not find it as interesting or as entertaining as the tour of the Keith’s Brewery in Halifax. Good time was held by all and I make my first purchases..a rugby shirt and fancy boxers with the Guinness name of course.

Back to the hotel and a nightcap with Cheryl and Graham, Jessica, and Kevin and Julie before heading off to our rooms in anticipation of our earliest departure yet in order to make the ferry.