Le Voyages: May 2012

I don't know where to begin with our recent trip to Ireland. Words cannot explain how captivated we are with that tiny green emerald isle.

This was the pinnacle for S...a chance to go back to his Irish Mahoney roots (which we found were a clan that ruled the South West of County Cork).

We spent five days driving around the south and west of Ireland with our good friends Mark and Bridge and what we found was one of the most unique, beautiful and welcoming countries we have ever travelled to.

Because I could go on for days and days about everything we did and saw, I thought I would highlight a few of our highlights:

the stunning Cliffs of Moher that could bring a tear to your eye
walking through acres of fields without seeing another human sole along the way
the enchanting Burren with its limestone rocks that stretch as far as the eye can see
the Galway Bay coastline
the Ring of Kerry near the Kilarney Lakes and more specifically Ladies Lookout
generally, the dramatic landscape with its fifty shades of green
good old fashioned Irish hospitality at the pubs and b&b's (particularly that of Mary at the Atlantic View B&B on the Cliffs of Moher who even drove us to her husband's field in order to shortcut and avoid paying entrance fees at the Cliffs). They Irish love to have a chat.
seafood chowder in Dungarvan
soda bread
the brightly painted fishing town of Kinsale
kissing the blarney stone at Blarney Castle
staying on a farm with baby lambies, goats, bunnies, horses, donkeys, deer, geese and chickens
how can we forget.....real Guinness.

We covered a lot of ground from Kilkenny to Waterford to Cork to the Ring of Kerry and Kinsale, Kilarney, Waterville and Ennis, Liscanoor and the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, Galway Bay, Galway and Dublin.

It was a calming place - so fresh and lush. A welcomed break from the bustle of London. Its scenery was dramatic and mysterious - the type where you could imagine leprechauns and fairies to belong. One thing that stands out in my mind is the abandoned/neglected stone cottages, monastery's and castle dotting the skyline and untouched by humans for what seems to be hundreds of years. Moss covering their walls and trees growing inside, they probably haven't been used since Cromwell and his English forces ransacked the country centuries ago.

Before we leave you, I wanted to share just one of the towns with a very funny name. Would you beleive there is a place called the Ringaskiddy (hehe). As the Irish would say...best of luck to you (especially if you find yourself in Ringaskiddy). Enjoy the photos below.

E&S
xoxo