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Sundancer 2000...

IRELAND

September, 2008...

 

We planned to dance, but poor Ronnie pulled his ACL two weeks before we left

and had to scratch, maybe next year.  But that didn't keep Kathy from dragging

Ronnie to every castle all over Ireland for two weeks...

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IRELAND...what a trip!

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Maguire Restaurant & Bar in Dublin

The Maguire Pub & Restaurant could be owned by one of Kathy's relatives.

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Christ Church in Dublin built in 1038 & rebuilt in 1171

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The Cliffs of Moher (below) are one of the most visited site in Ireland. We were very lucky that the weather held for us and it was a clear day.  Some people travel to the cliffs on a foggy day and they are not visable.

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Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Western Ireland

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Ronnie & Kathy at the Cliffs of Moher - County Clare Ireland

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Below are photos of the Enniskillen Castle built around 1400 by Hugh Maguire, Kathy's ancestorial home.  They lived in the castle for about 200 yrs. until the English ran them out.  The military took it over and today it is a museum.  The bottom floor (some of the original castle) is dedicated to the Medieval Maguires. This was very interesting.

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Enniskillen Castle built by Hugh Maguire 1400's

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Kathy's family castle in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Ireland

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Thatched roof pub in Bettystown

Thatched roofs are very common all over Ireland.

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St. Patrick Cathedral in Dublin built in 1191

Poor poor pitiful Ronnie...
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standing with his cane at the corner of Grafton Street famous for shops & street vendors.

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Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney Stone...must climb to top of castle & kiss it...we did.

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What remains of the pier used by the Titanic passengers on the last stop before sailing into history. 

 

Also, earlier in the 1800's our Irish ancestors set sail from this pier for their new homeland in Canada and the US.

 

Located in Colb in County Cork...this town was also known as Queensland in earlier years.

 

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Remains of the original pier in Queenstown, County Cork, Southern Ireland

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Kathy inside her family castle at Enniskillen

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Stables of Enniskillen Castle

There is much to see and do all over Ireland, in both the Republic of Ireland, as well as Northern Ireland (still under British rule) and we nearly did it all...

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Double-decker tour bus in Dublin

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Clontarf Castle Hotel - Dublin...where we spent last 2 nights of our trip.

 
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Below is in Northern Ireland on the Antrim Coast of the Irish Sea.  Famous Carrick-a-Rede suspension bridge that goes to nowhere.

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Long walk down to the Carrick-a-rede rope bridge

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The Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, County Antrim in Northern Ireland

 

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Below, the GIANT'S CAUSEWAY...according to the official Giant's Causeway site, sixty million years ago Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity and extreme cooling caused crystalization of the lava flow.

 

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Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland

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Giant's Causeway on the Irish Sea north of Belfast in Northern Ireland


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Fine example of an old castle on the roadside as we traveled through Ireland.

There are many centuries old castles all over Ireland and we saw some of the best...