Ireland 2015
October 10 - 18, 2015
I have traveled to many places in 2015. This was a long planned return trip to Ireland. It was a simple short trip with other photographers and their significant others. The total group was 16 and was led by fellow photographers and friends Joe Wagenhals and Gary Walker. Linda and I traveled to Dublin via Charlotte and returned to Columbus via Philadelphia. Our first day and evening was spent in Dublin at The Gresham Hotel. We wandered around Sunday afternoon and evening. I had a tasty cottage pie for lunch.
Day 2 found us traveling from Dublin to Galway, via Killbeggan and Clonemacnoise.
Day three found us traveling to a sheep farm near Louisburgh where we enjoyed watching their sheep dog maneuver a portion of their flock. We also enjoyed scones and tea. From there we traveled through the Connemara to Kylemore Abbey before returning to Galway another evening.
After Galway on day four we visited the Cliffs of Moher on our journey to Tralee where we stayed in a 1590s castle. The Ballyseede Caste was equipped with all the modern luxuries. The inside of our rooms looked like most hotel rooms you are used to. This was a one night stay.
Day 5 we ventured to the Dingle peninsula where our bus hugged the shore for some exciting views of the sea. This short loop road found us back in Dingle for a fine lunch of fish and chips followed by some shopping and photography. We then headed to Killarney for two nights at The Plaza Hotel.
Day 6 was a trip on the Ring of Kerry. We had lunch in Watertown and stopped at several view points overlooking the sea, farm fields, and stone ring forts. The last stop that day was in Sneem for an icecream and photography break.
Day 7, our last day of photography, found us traveling from Killarney to Dublin via the Blarney Castle where some of our fellow travelers did kiss the stone. From there we ventured to the Rock of Cashel and St. Bridgid's Cathedral in Kildare.
It was a fun trip with only a smidgen of rain on our first day. And as you'll see a couple of very sunny days. The food was good and plentiful. I hope you enjoy this collection of images from this trip as much as I enjoyed creating them. There is never enough time no matter where you go and how much you plan.
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Day 1 - Dublin
Fun in daylight and even more fun at night. Seems those Irish really know how to party.
Day 2 - Travel to Galway
We visited Killbeggan and the Killbeggan distillery where we toured and tasted their Irish Whisky. We also had a simple lunch in their restaurant. After this stop we visited Clonemacnoise which was founded in 544 by St. Ciarán..
Day 3
We traveled to Louisburgh for the sheep farm demonstration preceded by a short stop at Murrisk where we saw the National Famine Monument - Coffin Ship. From there we travel through the Connemara to Kylemore Abby. At many places along our travels we saw families harvesting peat where is still used to heat their homes in winter. We even saw the Connemara Giant which is reported to have been "built in 1999 by Joyces Craft shop for no apparent reason". It is located in the village of Recess. Back in Galway we had a nice pizza dinner and did some wandering around town catching the night light.
Day 4
We stopped for a photo op in Kinvarra to view Dunguaire Castle. In Ballyvaughan, while some had a coffee break, I wandered around the little town and made a few special images. From there we hugged Galway Bay and the Atlantic Ocean on the coast road towards the little town of Doolin. Just around the corner (there are many) and down the road is the Cliffs of Moher. We had a small lunch and wandered around for some time making images of the cliffs and ocean. Hard to believe but there were a dozen or so surfers enjoying the icy cold water of the ocean. They had to really want to surf there as they must climb in and out over 700 feet. These cliffs stretch for nearly 5 miles. We then took the ferry at Killimer to cross the the Shannon Estuary and headed for Tralee.
Day 5
Morning views at the castle before heading on our tour of the Dingle peninsula. We had an awesome lunch in Dingle. It is a photogenic place with some whimsical Irish humor tossed in. After Dingle we headed to Killarney for two nights.
Day 6
Views of the Ring of Kerry. In Waterville there was a street performer/entrepreneur entertaining the visitors from around the world. In Sneem there was John and his goat Billy. I looked up just in time to see the local butcher carting in a lamb ready to be carved into various cuts for dinner.
Day 7
Below are views of the Blarney Castle and gardens as well as the area around the Rock of Cashel. We enjoyed a late afternoon visit to St. Bridgid's Cathedra in Kildare before heading back to our airport hotel.
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