Erin Go Bragh

The trip to IRELAND was a lot of planning. Andee left early for Russia with her fiancee and family. She then went to Paris to spend 2 days with the family she had stayed with last year. Barbara left next and flew to Italy to meet Andee. Then they flew to Ireland to meet with Garn and I and Ciera & Bridger. Needless to say we spent lots of time in airports. But then we got to fly in first class so the 8 hr. flight was not all that bad. The Flat we rented in Dublin was Christ Church Hall. Sooooo Nice. The car we rented was big for Ireland but very small for a family of 6.

The city of Dublin was a very nice place to stay.

We really enjoyed seeing the statues, monuments, bridges and buildings.
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Traveling the roads in Ireland was certainely a new experience,

what with driving on the left side of the road, if you can call them roads,

and watching out for the foliage trimmer.

The colored sheep and swans were beautiful.

The Pubs are a big part of Ireland culture.
Our very best meal was in this Brazen Head Pub.

We tried to teach the kids the penalty of drinking,

then listened to very good music

We found many places with the FLANIGAN name.
Drove to Tramore where we think my

Great Grandfather Thomas Flanigan was born.

Took pictures of the church and headstones of possible relatives.

The Irish Sea, really cold but beautiful.

This is the engraver that has worked for Waterford for 42 years.

He is engraving names on the few pieces we bought. The HUNTINGTON CASTLE had the most beautiful grounds of all the castles we visited. The Castle was built in 1620 and is the only one in Ireland still owned and occupied by family of the original owners.

This is the Hill of Tara, one of the many mounds or tombs that are 5000 years old. This one we could peek inside through a small opening.

 Newgrange Mound is

over 5000 years old and was excavated between 1962 & 1975
 This is the entrance stone in front of the Newgrange tomb.

Inside the chamber they explained the winter solstice and the burial ritual.

Driving down this road to the Dingle Peninsula, you can rent this lovely rock house, ride the "Bottle Nose Dolphin" or play in the Atlantic Ocean.

This statue in Christ Church Cathedral.

The kids said "Look he is talking on his cell phone."

SILLY KIDS

The Cat and the Rat. They became trapped in and organ pipe

in the 1850's and were mummified. Trinity College we saw the Book of Kell and the Long Hall Library

There were many many old castles, here are only a few.

The Blarney Castle was interesting.

Everyone had a ball kissing the Blarney Stone.

There was fun shopping at the Woolen Mills

Ciera ready to kiss the Blarney Stone. Had to hang up side down. What a big castle, and next to the beautiful River Shannon

The most photographed place in Ireland is the Cliffs of Moher.

One of the most interesting places was the Dolmen Poulnabrone

(tombs from rocks

For miles and miles all you could see were these big flat rocks (tombsTHANKS AGAIN BARBARA FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION