Ireland Trip Overview

We just got back from a 2-week trip to Ireland. It was really fun and great that my Dad, Grandpa Richard could join. Here is the rough itinerary. Fortunately Jeff is a great driver, on the wrong side of the road!

Oct. 22 - flew to Dublin, spent night in Kilkenny

Oct. 23 - Kilkenny Castle, Rock of Cashel, B&B in Killarney

Oct. 24 - Ross Castle, Dingle Peninsula, B&B near Castlegregory

Oct. 25 - 26, Ballybunion - Jeff golfed Old Course & Cashen 

Oct. 27 - ferry, Cliffs of Moher, B&B in Galway

Oct. 28 - Connemara scenic drive to Westport

Oct. 29 - scenic drive to Sligo, music in Sligo pub

Oct. 30 - 31 Dublin - Temple Bar,  Marathon

Nov. 1 - Royal County Down (UK), Championship Links, Slieve Donard

Nov. 2 - Spa morning for Liz, drive to Portrush 

Nov. 3 - Giants Causeway & Bushmills, Jeff golfs Dunluce - Derry night

Nov. 4 - Meath near Dublin to see Newgrange Site

Nov. 5 - fly home

It was a fabulous trip, and great to spend quality time with Grandpa.

Newgrange

Our last night we spent at a B&B outside the Bru Na Boinne Neolithic site. This site is a thousand years older than Stonehenge and is considered to be one of the most important prehistoric human achievements. The complex was built to house the tombs of the society's elite. The Newgrange site which we toured is 80 meters in diameter and 13 meters high. The stones date from around 3200 BC - predating the pyramids by 6 centuries! It is a ritual burial place and its exact purpose is unknown.

It was an interesting tour inside and Jeff carried Bella in. The girls were great even when they turned the lights off to show how the thin ray of light during the winter soltice would illuminate the tomb chamber for 17 minutes.

Dunluce and Giants Causeway

Jeff's favorite golf course was Dunluce and again he played great! Unfortunately the weather was rainy, but he still enjoyed it. Grandpa, the girls and I went to the geologic amazing site of Giants Causeway. We had a nice walk down to the water but he poured rain on the way back up. We stayed indoors afterward at the Bushmills Factory and then picked up Jeff and we drove to Derry.

Royal County Down - UK

We left Dublin early in the morning so Jeff would have enough time to warm up before playing #4 ranked course, Championship Links at Royal County Down. That night we stayed at the luxury Slieve Donard Spa and Hotel. Jeff had a cold and windy golf day, but fortunately the stormy weather waited until after he played. Again he played a great game - just a few shots over par for the course.

Grandpa and I drove around. By this time - day 2 without Jeff - I had gotten hang of driving on the left and using a stick shift. We also found a playground for Mo to play at.

The next morning Jeff insisted I get a massage - post race treat - and enjoy the saunas and thermal pools. It was fabulous!!

Sligo and Dublin

We had a great time in Sligo and were happy to find a pub with live music in the early evening. I believe there were 12 highschool/college age musicians playing who were fabulous!

From Sligo we drove straight to Dublin for the marathon. The marathon was on Halloween, a national bank holiday. There were over 14,000 entrants, and I finished 96th overall for women, 62 for my age group with a fast time of 3:26:56 - a Boston Qualifier. I ran so fast Jeff and my Dad were still at the Guinness Factory when I finished so I missed them and walked back to the hotel in the rain with out them.

After taking a hot shower and all of getting out of wet clothes we went out for a celebration beer on Halloween.