Guide Michael Benoit
Cheryl and an Irish Weaver
Nicole and Gabrielle
Irish Red Deer
Irish fisherman
Muchross House
Princess Kareen and new friend Mick
Anne and new friend Jimmy
Globus tour boat
Safe on land
World's first suspension bridgeLands End..Can't go any further west
Friar Garry
Coach Driver Anne
Day 8 Monday June 29 - off to Killarney
The tour originally included a visit to the Waterford Crystal Factory but it is now shut down and the tour replaced by a walking tour of Waterford with a very good local guide, “Jack”.
We pass through the port city of Cork which has two towns on either side of the harbour, Hook and Crook. When Cromwell invaded (one of most hated persons ever in Ireland) he was asked which way he was going to attack and he replied..by Hook or by Crook (so we were told!).
We first stop at Blarney, renowned for its magical Stone of Eloquence, the Blarney Stone. Here, some of us visit the castle, climb the circular, winding stone steps inside to the top and then, with the help of another “Jack” (who, apparently has been doing this for years), bend over backwards, lean back over the castle walls, and kiss the stone. Apparently, we now have the famous blarney, or gift of gab. The castle itself is quite striking and set in a park like setting on a hill. We are here for about 2 hours and have time to visit the woolen mills and have lunch.
It is then back on the coach and through the Cork and Kerry mountains to Killarney, our Kerry base (land of the Kerrymen..many of whom seem to be named Murphy) for the next three nights.
Some of the group take the optional pub visit (and all seemed to enjoy it) while the rest of us head to the hotel. The hotel, “Scotts Hotel”, is very modern and proves to be one of the best so far. Our room on the third floor, opens onto a streetside balcony with access from other rooms on the floor. Unfortunately, no internet access.
After dinner we head off with 4 Australians (Kevin and Julie, and Jessica and Margaret) to a nearby pub, the Danny Mann for an evening of Irish music performed by a fiddler and singer-guitar player. I have a guiness and finally get the chance to sing along, to my own amusement, of course.
After dinner we head off with 4 Australians (Kevin and Julie, and Jessica and Margaret) to a nearby pub, the Danny Mann for an evening of Irish music performed by a fiddler and singer-guitar player. I have a guiness and finally get the chance to sing along, to my own amusement, of course.
Day 9 Tuesday June 30 Killarney
The Group…we have finally met and spoken with all of our fellow travellers and the 44 of us include driver and guide, 3 Canadians, 4 New Zealanders, 10 Americans and 25 Australians.
Driver Bob from Sheffield, and guide, Michael Benoit from London;
New Zealanders, Trevor and Alma, and Pat and Ellen;
Canadians, Anne and Garry, Ottawa, and Barbara from Toronto
Americans, Estelle and Marty (San Diego), Dick and Bonnie (Arkansas), John and Gloria (Pennsylvania), Ken and Gale (Florida and Illinois) and Roger and Susan (Maryland);
Australians, Graham and Cheryl, Margaret and her granddaughter, Jessica, Kevin and Julie, Corinne and Sonia, Gordon and Mitzi, sisters Gabrielle and Nicole, Don and Allison, Graham and Jennifer, Betty and Fay, Lu and Yy, sisters Rita and Helen, and Joan, Janine and Marj.
Finally, after a late breakfast, we leave by pony and cart to Killarney National Park. This is our first day of rain and fortunately it is light and not steady and the day is warm. I do get to don my bright yellow rain hat straight from Newfoundland which I am told makes me look like a fireman. We luck out, getting a cart and pony (Jimmy) driven by one of the old hands, “Mick” who has fun teasing the ladies in our group which consists of Anne and I, John and Gloria from Maryland, and Australians, Corinne and Sonia. Corinne and Anne seem to be his main targets and Anne is called “Ducky-duck” and Corinne, “Princess”. The ride is quite enjoyable and when we arrive at the ruins of Ross Castle we board open boats about 20 feet in length, sturdy and holding about 12 per boat. The boatmen again are locals, and very knowledgeable about the area with the usual Irish humour. The park, once private, was used by families of the owners and friends for hunting and fishing. Irish red deer (which we see from the carts) are still to be found, and the Lakes are 320 feet deep in places and fish include Salmon, brown and rainbow trout. We travel a good distance on the Lakes of Killarney visiting Innisfallen Abbey and stopping at Muckross House. The large House was privately owned and once was visited by Queen Victoria and her brood. We stay for lunch and a tour. The rain gradually lets up and the coach picks us up and back to the hotel for a free evening.
Driver Bob from Sheffield, and guide, Michael Benoit from London;
New Zealanders, Trevor and Alma, and Pat and Ellen;
Canadians, Anne and Garry, Ottawa, and Barbara from Toronto
Americans, Estelle and Marty (San Diego), Dick and Bonnie (Arkansas), John and Gloria (Pennsylvania), Ken and Gale (Florida and Illinois) and Roger and Susan (Maryland);
Australians, Graham and Cheryl, Margaret and her granddaughter, Jessica, Kevin and Julie, Corinne and Sonia, Gordon and Mitzi, sisters Gabrielle and Nicole, Don and Allison, Graham and Jennifer, Betty and Fay, Lu and Yy, sisters Rita and Helen, and Joan, Janine and Marj.
Finally, after a late breakfast, we leave by pony and cart to Killarney National Park. This is our first day of rain and fortunately it is light and not steady and the day is warm. I do get to don my bright yellow rain hat straight from Newfoundland which I am told makes me look like a fireman. We luck out, getting a cart and pony (Jimmy) driven by one of the old hands, “Mick” who has fun teasing the ladies in our group which consists of Anne and I, John and Gloria from Maryland, and Australians, Corinne and Sonia. Corinne and Anne seem to be his main targets and Anne is called “Ducky-duck” and Corinne, “Princess”. The ride is quite enjoyable and when we arrive at the ruins of Ross Castle we board open boats about 20 feet in length, sturdy and holding about 12 per boat. The boatmen again are locals, and very knowledgeable about the area with the usual Irish humour. The park, once private, was used by families of the owners and friends for hunting and fishing. Irish red deer (which we see from the carts) are still to be found, and the Lakes are 320 feet deep in places and fish include Salmon, brown and rainbow trout. We travel a good distance on the Lakes of Killarney visiting Innisfallen Abbey and stopping at Muckross House. The large House was privately owned and once was visited by Queen Victoria and her brood. We stay for lunch and a tour. The rain gradually lets up and the coach picks us up and back to the hotel for a free evening.
We rest up then a bit of shopping and Anne finds an Irish knit sweater. We meet up with Estelle, Marty, Ken, Gale, Roger, Susan, Cheryl and Graham at an outside patio near the hotel and then we are off to dinner with Graham and Cheryl where our first lamb is found on the menu. Then off to Danny Mann for another evening of Irish music, this time with the Irish Weavers. A great time and Graham and I finish off with a “Jamie” and we buy one of their videos, which Cheryl has signed while I take the photo. Then back to the hotel after a busy and fun day. The weather is still warm and cloudy.
Some more data..
94% of the republic are roman catholic, in Britain 49% are listed as Church of England…the difference being that the Irish actually practice their religion.
200 years ago the population of Ireland was 8 million but it decreased every year since 1740 until the trend was reversed in 1995.
Northern Ireland is referred to as Ulster with 2 million inhabitants compared to 4 million in the Republic
Police are called Garda and do not carry firearms.
We shift from miles to kilometres and from pounds to euros.
Paid hotel bill and exchange was 1.677 dollars per euro..better than pound.
Ireland appears to be in fairly bad economic condition with billions in debt and only 4 million people to pay it. Unemployment is closing in on 20% and they are about to come out with a new economic plan that will see huge service cuts, benefit reductions and cuts to civil service in jobs and pay. Average government salaries are 50,000 euros (close to 85k Canadian) but taxes are higher as are living costs. One estimate of a living wage is almost 40k for a family. Private sector average is just under 40k (euros).
94% of the republic are roman catholic, in Britain 49% are listed as Church of England…the difference being that the Irish actually practice their religion.
200 years ago the population of Ireland was 8 million but it decreased every year since 1740 until the trend was reversed in 1995.
Northern Ireland is referred to as Ulster with 2 million inhabitants compared to 4 million in the Republic
Police are called Garda and do not carry firearms.
We shift from miles to kilometres and from pounds to euros.
Paid hotel bill and exchange was 1.677 dollars per euro..better than pound.
Ireland appears to be in fairly bad economic condition with billions in debt and only 4 million people to pay it. Unemployment is closing in on 20% and they are about to come out with a new economic plan that will see huge service cuts, benefit reductions and cuts to civil service in jobs and pay. Average government salaries are 50,000 euros (close to 85k Canadian) but taxes are higher as are living costs. One estimate of a living wage is almost 40k for a family. Private sector average is just under 40k (euros).
Expensive little country isn't it. Definitely more expensive than England, except London of course.
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