Country Roads of Ireland ~ Sept 5 Sept 17 2014 ~ ixir8

Not a full day as we left Canada late for Ireland. First tip; add on an extra day to rest up and see the sights on your own in your arrival city; more on that below. To answer the big question: What do I wear in Ireland? Bring a little of everything so you are prepared for just about everything; we were lucky and had no rain and temperatures in the low 20’s some days. So shorts and t-shirts can be worn but places like the Cliffs of Moher are high and exposed so layers are usually required. Then again someone from Calgary will normally dress differently than someone from Singapore.

Arrived Dublin 7AM and met up with our Insight rep about 8. Paul then drove us to our Doubletree hotel, there at 9. If you have the time, take the scenic route to the hotel; we had a chance to see Croke Park and drive down O’Connell Street. Katie Vaughan, our tour director, was at hotel when we arrived and answered our many questions. Left luggage and headed for a short walk down the street to Café Java for breakfast. We then decided to head downtown to see the sights. Down Leeson , through St Stephens Green, down Grafton, visited 11 of 18 pubs and bars on my list, along the river to Brazen Head pub, then uphill to Guinness Storehouse for a stout and a rest, then along Dame St. and ‘home’ with photos of just about everything along the way. A nap then down for Welcome Dinner in the hotel. I don’t recommend this walk for anyone as we did it. Too long and too tiring a walk which should be broken up over two days. Please note, you will not visit the Guinness Storehouse nor the Jameson or Bushmills distilleries during this tour. If interested plan to visit on your own. Also, do your homework and know what you what you want to see and what you will be seeing on the tour. It will save disappointment later. Met our fellow travellers during the evening. I suggest it would be beneficial to have all travellers stand up and give a little bio of themselves at this time. A simple ‘my name is’, ‘I am from’ will help break the ice; it worked for us in the past. 

Our first Irish breakfast to start the day; it will not be your last or only Irish breakfast as you will be offered this breakfast every morning. Then a bus tour of Dublin, after, off the bus and to Trinity College. Back to the hotel and our first paid excursion, this time to Glendalough. Plenty of time to tour the site, walk the trail to the lake and shop. Back to the hotel in time to watch the All Ireland Hurling Championship in the hotel bar. The evening was spent at Taylor’s Three Rock outside Dublin for our first of three excursions on this tour featuring a meal and entertainment. Taylor’s did an excellent job; a huge room; I estimate 300-400 people in attendance. Food was very good, and considering the size of the crowd; hot and quickly served. We have become spoiled; other Insight spots we were up front; this time at the back. Wonderful tablemates helped make the evening. 

We hit the road. And then it happened; a voice said: “Are we there yet?” Hopefully this was an innocent comment from a first time tourer. Thankfully, it was the only time we heard ‘that’. Remember to enjoy the scenery as we roll along, listen to your tour director’s commentary and use the toilet whenever given the opportunity. Insight does not make a point of telling you about the toilet on board. It is there and can be used; never was told why but I assume if it isn’t used then there is less down time while the tank on the bus to be dumped. Off the bus to tour the Irish National Stud wearing our Vox and ear piece for the first time and then we hear, “Do you put it in your left ear or your right ear?” It’s going to be a long trip for somebody. It’s amazing how captivating a tour can be with a knowledgeable guide telling us about a subject, this time stud service, we know hardly anything about. One of the side benefits of travelling with Insight. Then back on the bus and off to Kilkenny. Toured the town on our own with time for sightseeing, shopping and refreshments. Later a stop at Cahir; many of these stops are purely pee stops but most times mandatory rest stops for Eugene. And how did I manage to not mention Eugene before? Eugene Hughes is an amazing driver with years of tour bus driving experience. As I told Eugene at the end of our trip, ”I don’t think I saw you make a wrong turn.” Short on words, long on wit and from Kilkenny to boot. But it’s Katie who has to sort out the seat rotation mess. Once you know where you are seated, remember to move two seats clockwise every day. Out of town at the Blarney Golf Resort for the night and a hotel dinner nothing to rave about. One of the few hotels with Internet service only in the lobby.

First stop Blarney Castle. We are the first bus at the castle and as a result of being near first in line finding your way to the top is an adventure, but fun. Enjoy kissing the Blarney Stone; you are well looked after. Much time for shopping later for quality crafts at Blarney Woolen Mills. Some of the crew off on a paid excursion to Cobh, others dropped off at Cork for part of the afternoon. It’s nice those choices are available. Off to Killarney Towers for the night. Our first night to find a meal on our own if not interested in hotel food. Do your homework, ask your tour director or one of the locals and you are sure to find a spot nearby with good food, drink and entertainment. Be sure to try local food and drink whenever possible. No packing tonight, another night at Killarney Towers.

We find out what a jaunting car is first thing this morning. Dan and Oscar haul us around a portion of beautiful Killarney National Park providing wit along the way. Then headed around the Ring of Kerry counterclockwise with a stop at Moriarty’s near the Gap of Dunloe, a shop filled with classic Irish crafts. A group photo in the parking lot and then a glass of Irish coffee as we arrive inside. Lunch stop at Thatch Cottage in Strandsend. Later, several pulloffs to get out and take photos of scenic lookouts along the way and of course buy treats and gifts if you so wish. Lots of tour busses on Ring of Kerry, so much so some lookoff spots are too full to pull over and stop. Every now and again though Eugene will see a spot somewhere else and stop for us to get off and have a look, and a stretch; that’s important, too. Paid for our optionals/excursions today. Do your homework and know what you want to do. An evening out at the Muckross Estate School out of town abit. Not a great meal, food items are beginning to get a bit repetitive; but, an educational, entertaining and emotional evening. Every now and again your tour director will treat you; sometimes you may not even realize the fact; when you do say thank you. 

Remember to take a photo of your tour director’s next day itinerary; it’s usually posted near an elevator. That way you will know what time you have to have your bags out and head to breakfast. Today it’s bags out at 7 AM ‘cause the bus leaves at 8:15 this morning. For those that have the front seats today they are the lucky ones because this is one of the most scenic drives of the tour. It takes most of the day to do the Dingle loop. Many photo stops, lunch in Dingle town. Today you get your photos of sheep and stone walls and more. Now is the time to try the oysters at John Benny’s pub washed down with Locke’s Irish Whiskey. Then, a couple nice stops and we head north to the George Boutique Hotel in Limerick for the night. An hour to settle in then off 5:15 to an optional evening in a castle. Jane noted this optional excursion was one with some negative comments which seemed to be directed at a location with Shannon in the title. Our ticket states dinners can be had at three different castles under the Shannon Heritage name, no Shannon Castle listed. Our enjoyable evening was at the Knappogue Castle near Quin, some distance from Limerick. My notes state “some said best food of the trip”. There was a different variety of food thankfully, tastefully done and the entertainment was different with more harmony and humour added at the expense of willing bus tourers. 

An early AM with breakfast at 7 and on the bus 8:30. Off to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. A personal favourite as it illustrates the history of Irish Settlement in a few acres; from a settlers thatched cottage to an entire town; from an estate to a farm and just about everything in between. Many photo opportunities here and be sure to talk to the ‘locals’. Watch ‘your’ scone being baked and come back to eat it later in the morning. Then off to Kilfenora for lunch at Vaughan’s Pub. Hope you have Katie as your tour director because this is her family’s pub and everything is good. Haven’t had a bad seafood chowder or smoked salmon salad yet. Then before you know it ahead are the Cliffs of Moher. Some walking involved but we found walking a long distance in either direction does not increase the impact of the scene in your photographs. Next, we skirt the Burren and arrive in Galway. A walking tour with a knowledgeable and charming Conner who took the time later to show us the Spanish Arch and the Blind Arch and then came with us to have a beer at the King’s Head Pub up the street. If you feel you local guide has done a good job let him know, even a Thank You is appreciated, a Euro more so. Off to the Connemara Coast Hotel right on rocky Galway Bay for two nights. Hotel dinner tonight. slow service; all staff really seemed unprepared; not what we Insighters are getting used to. Another late night but remember; when on tour you live every day to the fullest.

We leave the hotel and visit the Connemara Marble Factory then on to Kylemore Abbey. We have time there to visit the abbey, church, mausoleum, walk to the walled gardens and still have time for a drink and pastry at the café. Back to the Connamerra Coast Hotel and our second night finding dinner on our own. A few of us take a taxi to Barna and enjoy seafood at one of several local food spots in town.

An interesting day filled with trivia. First stop is Clonalis House; actually a visit to a private home except this is home for an ancestor of the O’Conor family with lineage dating back 1500 years . Then off to toast W. B. Yeats at his graveside in Drumcliff, to Harrisons, a modern restaurant, for lunch, then across the Erne River and a dip into Northern island and the Beeleek Pottery complex. Very impressive expensive pottery is created here but always something reasonable for an Insight tourer, although browsing and purchasing time seemed short. It is then off to Derry and our City Hotel. An interesting optional took us to a pub and where we sit inspired by Kieran and The Spirit over a drink. Hotel meal tonight but dinner can be walked off with a stroll over the Peace Bridge steps from the hotel.

Hotel breakfast again today as are all our breakfasts. Bus tour of Derry and then, for Jane and I, the best city walking tour of the trip. A very well spoken Ronan told us the story and the problems of the area as seen from the eyes of a child and a father. A bit of time on our own to explore the Guild Hall, organ pipes, mayor’s chair and Queen Vitoria, check out her hands. Then off to the Antrim Coast and a stop to view Dunluce Castle and the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, both from a distance. In between we stop to explore the Giant’s Causeway. Some walking involved to get to the popular spots. but like Cliffs of Moher we found walking a long distance in either direction does not increase the impact of the scene in your photographs. Regardless use care walking over the unique landscape. Nice little treat from Katie before cruising through Antrim’s glens and we then burst onto the shoreline for an impressive drive between the sea and cliff to BallyGally Castle, our home for the night. This hotel provides many opportunities for photography both inside and out. Insight Reception tonight provides a good opportunity to mingle with those we haven’t had a chance to catch up with recently. Hotel meal again tonight.

Nice hotel breakfast, then on the road at 9. A photo stop at Carrickfergus Castle and on to Belfast. A city tour then lunch on our own in downtown Belfast. Most of us did the Titanic optional in the afternoon; the walking portion with references to the Titanic was a bit of a stretch but we were impressed with the Titanic Belfast complex. Celebration Dinner in the hotel in the evening. Goodbyes to our bus mates and lights out early due to a 5:30 AM breakfast time.

Surprised with a nice selection of breakfast items before getting on the bus at 6 AM. A few fellow travellers off to the Belfast airport but most of us on a quiet, dark Insight bus to the Dublin airport and final good-byes. Again, do your homework and plan to stay longer to visit some of the sights not included in this tour. Although a touchy subject on this site, please don’t forget to tip if you are impressed with your tour director and driver.