Jaunting Carts, Kilarney Ireland

Kilarney, Ireland offered a wonderful way to see the town and countryside. If you get the opportunity take a Jaunting Cart Ride! It is a horse drawn cart that goes thru town into the countryside and out to see Ross Castle circa 1410. It is a marvelous way to take in some fresh air and enjoy the Ireland countryside. We were fortunate to see a herd of deer. The thatched roof is a dying art and we saw this beautiful example.

Waterford, Ireland

Waterford, Crystal

Waterford is the fifth largest city in Ireland and has been famous for Waterford Crystal for many years. I recently learned while in Ireland that Waterford Crystal is no longer made in Waterford Ireland. Waterford Crystal is now made in many countries in the world. There are also workers that worked for Waterford in Ireland that have opened their own companies using the old Waterford techniques to make quality crystal. There are those that say the “new” Waterford is not the same as the “old” Waterford Crystal, I tend to think it is personal preference in how the piece makes you feel. The town was quaint with lots to offer in the way of shopping.

Dunbroady Famine Ship, Ireland

Dunbrody Famine Ship
If you are a history buff the Dunbrody tour is a must! The reconstructed Dunbrody Famine Ship is open to tours and is quite fascinating. The ship is in the water and gives you the feel of how the passengers lived with the cramped conditions. The highlight of the tour is when Mrs. Annie White, a steerage passenger, and Mrs. Mary O’Brien, first class passenger, join your group to share their stories of passage to America. These actresses did a wonderful historical interpretation performance of life aboard the Dunbrody. Even on a rainy day, this is Ireland afterall, it was a wonderful tour!

Dunbrody Famine Ship is a three masted ship originally built in Quebec in 1845 for the Graves family by Thomas Hamilton Oliver, an Irish emigrant from the County Derry.
The Graves family, of New Ross, were merchants and they commissioned eight
such ships to carry cargo from America and Canada to Ireland. The ship was fitted out with bunks and facilities for passengers desperate to escape Ireland during the Potato Famine. Usually the Dunbrody carried 176 people but in the height of the Famine in 1847 the passengers climbed to 318 in number. The tour guide gives an explanation of the times, the ship and the Potato Famine. For more information about the Dunbrody tours
http://www.dunbrody.com/

Kilkenny, Ireland

Kilkenney, Ireland

Maeve and Joe our hosts at Jerpoint

Cap herding the Geese

Kilkenny, Ireland
is home to Kilkenny Castle home of the Butler family. This castle has been restored
and is open for tours for a nominal fee. Beware that the castle closes at
4:30PM and you will want to allow about two hours for a proper experience. You
are able to walk around at your own pace and there is staff in the various
rooms to tell you the history of that room and answer your particular
questions. You can find more information on the Kilkenny Castle
website www.kilkennycastle.ie/

Jerpoint Park was a wonderful experience! Joe and Maeve O’Connell are the proprietors
of Jerpoint Park and have a true gift of hospitality. We watched a sheep dog
demonstration that was truly amazing! Watching Cap, a highly trained Boarder Collie, is not to be missed. He moves the herd of Geese on command of his master, Joe O’Connell. The command, “come by” is spoke softly by Joe and Cap responds moving the Geese to the Left. When asked if Cap could hear him that far away Joe replied, “He always hears me but he may not always head me.” Cap can hear a mile away.

After the sheepdog demonstration it was down the hill and through the kissing gate for the Heritage Tour. We were able to visit the Lost Town of Newtown a 12th Century town reputed to have 14 taverns. You feel like you are going back in time to a medieval town which mysteriously disappeared from history. Walk to the Hunt’s cemetery and see the tomb where St Nicholas is buried.

Then it is off to the Belmore house, home of the Joe and Maeve O’Connell for some of the best homemade scones and tea, or coffee, in Ireland! The Tea Rooms are open daily and Maeve and
Joe grace the experience opening their home and their hearts to their guests. I really felt like family there! What a treat and the homemade raspberry jam were wonderful. The ambiance of the Tea Room was divine. You can gaze out the window at the beautiful vistas while relaxing with great conversation. You will come away from Jerpoint with Maeve and Joe as your friends! You can find more information at the Jerpoint park Website http://jerpointpark.com/

Ireland

Wow, talk about Green! I always heard how green Ireland is but the shades of green are spectacular and varied! A recent visit to Ireland to Ireland included Kilkenny, Killarney and Kinsale. Ireland is rather shaped like a plate in that it is flat in the center and mountains surround the edges. Farming in the number one industry and the green pastures offer constant proof. Approximately 10% of the population is employed in farming. There is a current population of 4.6 million people, 8 million sheep and 6 million cattle.

Ireland is made up of Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland in the south. My recent visit was to The Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain and in The Republic of Ireland where I was it is a sovereign nation of The Republic of Ireland. The monetary system is the Euro. One of the reasons that it was so easy to travel around Ireland is the vast majority of Ireland speaks English as their primary language.

Folks always ask about the weather - There is a saying, "Don't come to Ireland for the weather." ed rain in all four seasons! I found several t-shirts that commented on the weather - most involv I found Ireland to be very pleasant mild and as expected to be so green there is some rain. There was also some mist rain and sunshine. Historically it is 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The weather can change quickly turning from mist to rain followed by bright sunshine and back to rain all in a day. The weather is due to the effects of the gulf stream on the island and as with most islands the weather changes quickly. I was there in October and found it to be quite lovely and wore a sweater most evenings and some days.

When traveling from the US stay awake the day you arrive and try to go to bed at 9 PM or later local time to help your body adjust. Just plan some light sight-seeing that first day and enjoy some of the tea and scones during your breaks, a personal favorite of mine!

More to come on specific towns visited and general travel tips for Ireland.

As a seasoned traveler I, Jan, have experienced many types of travel. I know when I first started with various forms of travel it was often difficult to find recommendations and suggestions. So I decided to share some tips of the traveler here on my first blog! Feel free to post comments and enjoy the travel in the minds eye!