Thursday, April 30:

After an early wake-up call, bags out, and breakfast, we made our way to the airport at 8:15 a.m.  We bid farewell to Phil Dargan - our fabulous tour guide!! We bid farewell to Beth and Elena goodbye. They had a flight that would take them through Paris on the way home. We all checked in - made it to the gate - and waited for our flight to JFK in New York City. Sense the flight was during daylight hours - folks took the opportunity to watch movies, play games, etc. Arriving in New York City, many made calls home prior to our departure to Atlanta. 

It was a great trip with a great group! 

Looking forward to visiting Ireland again!!

Wednesday, April 29:

Today was a free day in Dublin for some. Most folks took the optional excursion to the Guinness Storehouse. The storehouse was a fermentation plant from 1904 to 1988. Now, it is a 7-story visitor experience dedicated to the history and making of the world's famous beer - Guinness. We discovered what goes into the making of each and every pint, and learn about the incredible brand history stretching over 250 years. 


On the ground floor was a copy of the famous lease Arthur Guinness signed on December 31, 1759. The 9,000 year lease was for an annual rent of £40 to take over the St. Jame’s Gate Brewery, which had been vacant for almost ten years. Guinness is a black beer, known as “stout,” renowned for its distinctive malty flavor and smooth creamy head. It is the largest brewery in Europe and exports beer to more than 120 countries throughout the world – about 1.8 billion pints. A few discovered how to pour the perfect Guinness. Others made their way to the Gravity Bar which allowed them the opportunity to have a pint and view the sites of Dublin - a lovely view! A great vantage point to begin a tour to Dublin if it is your first visit!


Following our tour, we went to The Brazen Head for lunch. The Brazen Head is Ireland's Oldest Inn/Pub. It was established in 1198. Here, several enjoyed a choice of Irish stew, Bangers 'n' Mash, or Fish 'n' chips and even another pint of Irish brew!! For dessert - an apple crumble! 




By the time we got back to the hotel, we had a few hours to get bags together for the journey home, take a nap, or get ready for the night ahead. At 5:30 p.m. we departed for our farewell Irish night at The Merry Ploughboy - a traditional Irish pub that offered dinner and entertainment. There was singing of Irish songs and Irish dancing. It was a fun evening! We bid farewell to fellow travelers we met. After dinner and entertainment, it was back to the hotel. On the way back Banner Smith entertained us on the harmonica. We sang together "You Are My Sunshine!" Back at the hotel - folks got their stuff together for a morning departure to the airport. 

Tuesday, April 28:

Today begins the last leg of our Ireland adventure as we make our way to Dublin. We made a morning stop in Kilkenny, a charming town on the River Nore. Approaching Kilkenny I saw a sign in one of the local homes: "We may not have it all together but together we have it all". Among the sites in Kilkenny is the Kilkenny Castle, built in the 1190's, and St. Canice's Cathedral. We only had about an hour in Kilkenny but during that time many took advantage of visiting the craft and design workshops and gift shops. During my walk I spotted the butter slip - a small alley way named after the butter stalls that once lined this small market place. I also saw The Kyteler's Inn, named after a former resident, Dame Alice Kyteler. In 1324, Alice and her maid were pronounced guilty of witchcraft after four of Alice's husbands had died in mysterious circumstances; although pardoned, Alice was again accused but escaped, leaving her maid to burn at the stake. I did make my way to St. Canice's Cathedral and the Round Tower but it was not open when I arrived. Kilkenny is the home of Smithwick Beer since 1710. 

     

Leaving Kilkenny, we were off to Dublin. Arriving in Dublin, we stopped at our drop-off and pick-up point for lunch. We made our way in different directions for lunch. A few of us ended up at The Lincoln Inn for lunch - a pub that was frequented by James Joyce during his day. While we were eating the power went out for several blocks in town. We had ordered soon enough for us to eat our food via light from the windows and use the restroom via candlelight. Back on the coach, we had a driving tour of Dublin pointing out the key sights and ending up at St. Patrick's Cathedral. The Cathedral has been at the heart of Dublin and Ireland's history and culture for over 800 years. For long periods it was the largest enclosed space on the island it remains the largest Cathedral in the country. It has been visited by some of Irish history's most influential individuals from Cromwell, William of Orange and King James I, to Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. It is the final resting place for one of Ireland's most famous men, Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver's travels and Dean (head) of the Cathedral. It has witnessed the birth of the expression "to chance your arm" within its walls as well as being the site of the very first school in Ireland, the Cathedral Choir School (Bono attended this school.) 

Death mask of Jonathan Swift

Throughout Dublin the doors are multicolored. It was said that at one point all the doors were painted black. Drunken men were having a problem finding their houses after a night at the pubs so they painted their doors a different color to distinguish their door from the others. 

After our tour of Dublin, we went to the hotel to freshen up before dinner. Tonight was an optional excursion called "The Taste of Ireland" - a farm to table restaurant in Dublin - O'Connell's. The First Course allowed us to try any or all of the following food items: Silver Darling Herrings, Deviled Granstown Farm Free-range eggs, potato & spring onion salad with wild wicklow garlic relish, roasted Keelings Farm red peppers, Goatsbridge Farm Trout Crush, Beetroot hummus, Toonsbridge Irish Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese, Final Ferguson's West Cork Choizo, and Grilled inch Black Pudding.  For the Main Course we had a choice of Braised Shank of Irish Lamb and a wee Shepherd's Pie; Charcoal Oven Roasted Breast of Irish Chicken; Gratin of Co Cork landed Wild Atlantic Hake; Charcoal Oven Baked Wild Mushrooms; or Roast Striploin of Irish Hereford Beef. For Dessert, a choice of warm Cullohill rhubarb tart; Traditional sherry trifle; or Irish coffee meringue roulade. It was an enjoyable evening with a lot of food!!

After dinner, it was back to the room for the night.