Éireann go Brách!!

One year, to celebrate mine and my daughter's birthday, we, all 6 of us, decided to explore a bit of Ireland! We found a place, Tigh Mimi      -- http://www.vacationvillas.net/Ireland/holiday-apartment-Kerry/p20476.htm, in Ballincolla/Ballyferriter on the Dingle Peninsula. A wonderful little house with loads of Irish music, helpful brochures and absolutely centrally located to all the things we did! The first day of adventuring found us all piled into a zephira and plugging down a bumpy little road, on the 'wrong' side! lol We loved it!

Our first stop had us all falling out of the car at the Gallarus Oratory -- http://www.dodingle.com/pages/gallarus_centre.html!
The Oratory dates back to 800 AD, is an example of an early christian church...as early as the 6th century monastic settlements. It was built without mortar using a 'corbel vaulting' (a neolithic tomb-maker) technique. It has one tiny windown built opposite the door. The Oratory overlooks the Smerwick Harbour. We loved seeing this place...how awesome!

Next, we went to Dunbeg Fort or An Dun Beag. Started in the late Bronze Age, 800 BC, it was used up through the Celtic period to the 10th century. It's on a sheer cliff over Dingle Bay at the base of Mt. Eagle. The view here is spectacular!! We went all thru the tunnels and imagined what could have went on in each area of the fort. Looking out over the cliff, it was hard to imagine anything but beauty. As you can see from our pics, we decided to 'vogue' on the mounds within the fort boundaries. The kids also played 'King/Queen of the Hill'! lol  Here is some useful info on Dunbeg, but always double-check the web site for updates!
Directions: Dunbeg Fort is located in the village of Fahan, 7 kms after Ventry Village, on the Slea Head Drive (R559). 14 kms west from Dingle.
Admission Prices: Adults 3.00euro; Students 2.00euro, Children over 5yrs 1.50euro, Children under 5yrs: Free. Admission Prices includes tickets to both the Dunbeg Fort and the Audiovisual Presentation
Opening Hours - Dunbeg Fort Visitor Centre: Open Daily, March - November 9.00 a.m. 6.00 p.m 7.00 pm during the summer months. Group Bookings Telephone: 066 9159755 info@dunbegfort.com

We also went out to Louis Mulcahy's Pottery--it's a store where you can buy some exquisite pieces...and I do mean exquisite or you can go to the Visitor center and make pottery for FREE! Joan was there to help the kids and boy did they have a time working the clay! If you do this, make sure you go with a at least 3-4 days left before traveling home as the clay needs to sit and dry!! 8-)) We got ours home and still have it!

After that, we skooted on down the road there to Clogher's Strand and played on the beach and in the surf for quite a while. The sprays were fantastic and it was a really good time!

For most of our meals, we ate mostly at John Benny Moriarty --  http://www.johnbennyspub.com/ !    The pub is located on Strand St. in Dingle (what we thought of as 'main' street). This place really brought Ireland alive to us! The music, the food, the people...it was Ireland, all rolled up and waiting behind a tiny door! Pushing that door open allowed a breeze of laughter and music to escort you right in among 'friends'. Smiling faces and greetings galore met you as walked through to settle on a table. Delicious aromas, cozy warmth from the March gales, friendly hospitality and laughter...it was everything I'd always read about and wanted to experience. I know that sounds a bit corny, but it's true....and there I sat. I couldn't have been happier! Our waiter, an older gentleman named Pat, was the absolute best! He was just the spice the 'ideal moment' needed. We had actually met him earlier out on the street when we had hailed to him about where a good place to eat would be. He was friendly and funny, but even more, he was a jokester! He fit right in with us! He and my husband did a few 'blarney' rounds and he eventually steered us in the direction of John Benny's to eat. Once we got there and went to order, we found out that he worked there! lolol  The kids went rounds with him as well on the milk as it was listed as 1/2 pint in the menu.  The kids asked him 'how much is a 1/2 pint?' and his answer was 'uh, it's about that much!' He was a real character and a pleasure to know! The pub owner's wife, Elis, is an Irish Musician/Artist and regularly plays there in the pub and has her own cd's out...we were priviledged enough to see her perform and get one of her cd's!The food was gorgeous too...especially the Irish Stew and the Bacon and Cabbage!

Our 2nd day landed us in downtown Dingle poking around the Oceanworld Aquarium. While small, it is one of the best we've ever been in.  http://dingle-oceanworld.ie/index.html   The ladies that greet you in the shop area were very friendly and helpful to us in general and about information concerning other things around town. We went through the doors into the aquarium area and were frankly surprised at how wonderfully decorated it was. The atmosphere was perfect and changed throughout...there was a surge tank with a waterfall, an Amazonian Display (the walls, the ceiling and the marine life!), Tropical Marine tanks, Shark tanks, Jelly Fish, Seah Horses, a Deep Water Native Tank, an Ocean Tunnel and our very favorite, the Touch Pool! The Touch Pool has starfish, rays, urchins, crabs, sharks, flounder and other stuff in it. One flounder was as big as my youngest son...it was unreal! It would come up to the surface and you could rub your hand along its side. If you leaned over the water, the rays would come up and give you a 'salty kiss'! **PUCKER UP!!** It was totally gross and we, of course, did it over and over screaming every time about how it was yucky! lolol We stayed there for hours and when we finally came out, we were soaking wet, but thoroughly happy with time--and money, well spent!

Walking down the street, we ventured out onto the pier at the Dingle Harbor. The kids posed with 'Fungi' the Dolphin...we looked at the various boats that were docked... Moving on down the street, we found the Visitor Center--great place for souvenirs, friendly staff. Across the street is a little cafe that fries Snickers, Mars Bars and a few other candy bars---'dee-lish'!!! A must try! A little further down is John Benny's and if you keep walking you run into the various shops. We did some shopping at the local grocer and found, up around the corner, a sweater store. The Irish Woolen Shop is a wonderful store. Rory, the owner and very nice man, gifted us with the history of the Aran Sweaters and about the area itself. It really was a rare treat to find out so much information from a local person...things you don't get from a brochure. We stayed there for at least an hour or two and by the time we did leave, we all had a sweater or two, a cap or jewelry and were some 800 euro lighter in the wallet!! 8-)

On Wednesday of our vacation, we went out to the Ventry area and did some horseback riding!! Yippee! We did this at Long's Horseriding and Trekking Centre -- http://www.longsriding.com/ and we had a total blast!! I, of course, was scared to death, but the rest of my family took to riding like they'd been doing it all their life! I was on an Irish Cob named 'Bob the Builder'...a lovely guy, mild-mannered, but huge! I've really never been around horses so I wasn't exactly, shall we say, you know, well...the most, comfortable! lololol The funny thing was, neither had the rest of my family, except for my husband and oldest son, but they all still took right to riding like ducks to water! I was so proud of them as they all went riding off down the trail.
I was yelling and bolstering them on...shouts of encouragement...as the guide held onto the bridle of my horse and led us down the path!!! lolololol  That was one of the wonderful things about Longs....they cater to people of all abilities. Since I was the weak link in the group, the rest decided to keep it to a slow walk through the trails. **Awwwww...that was sweet of them!*** Being on horseback and taking a slow walk through the Irish countryside was a breathtaking experience. The beauty was truly beyond words and it felt somewhat surreal. At one point, we were up on a slight peak and in one direction, we could look and see a beach area with the sun cascading over the strand. In the other direction, we saw hills of green with interwoven stone fences. It was just a magnificent view wherever we looked! Once we got back to the stables, we had pics made on the horses---my horse, Bob the Builder and Olyvia's horse, Chloe, didn't like each other and we happen to be next to each other so they started to fight! What are the odds!? The guide had to come and help us because we're both just 'greenhorns'! lol   So, if you go, don't let Chloe and Bob the Builder get next to each other!! As an added bonus,one of the owner's cows had also just given birth to twin calves the night before, one was black and one was red and he let us see them--that was great too!

Later that day, we drove around the Ring of Kerry. It was beautiful but I must admit that it didn't hold up against the raw beauty of the Dingle Peninsula. The Ring is 'smooth' and 'polished' whereas the Peninsula is rugged and even savage in some areas. I guess it's what appeals to you most. I always heard of the Ring of Kerry so of course I wanted to drive it-see it-experience it, but the Peninsula was the true jewel in my opinon--as far as the views of the ocean. We did enjoy all the towns along the Ring---Killorglin, Caherciveen, Glenbeigh, Waterville, Sneem and Killarney...we got out and explored around them and the Killarney Lakes! A wonderful way to wrap up the day.

On Thursday, the 9th, we drove out to Blarney Castle --http://www.blarneycastle.ie/  YES, we had to kiss the blarney stone! It didn't matter how many mouths had gone before us, we still wanted to do it! lol   The kids were beside themselves with excitement and, to be truthful, so were Wes and I. The place was amazing! Blarney Castle was a treasure itself, but then it also offered the Gardens, Blarney House, the Stone and Rock Close to explore as well. So, we thoroughly explored Rock Close and wandered the grounds...gorgeous! We climbed up the castle to the top and made our way to the Blarney Stone--traditionally believed to have the power to bestow eloquence on all who kiss it! The stone is set in the wall below the battlements and to kiss it, you have to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk. A guide is there to help you as you can see below. Afterwards, we drove down to Cork and explored there for awhile and then went back to Dingle to wrap up the day.

On Friday, we spent the day in Tralee...poking around town. Tralee has loads of things to see and the restaurant that we ate in (can't remember the name...want to say it was "Harry's") had

scrumptious food and a very pleasing atmosphere. In the evening, we went to the greyhound races at the
Kingdom Stadium -- http://www.greyhound-data.com/stadia.htm?land=ie&st=12022  ! Another 'first' in our new and exciting repetoir of adventure! Being the amateurs that we were, we lost all the money that we bet, but it sure was fun! 8-o  As the last of the greyhounds were coming off the track and people were shaking hands and tossing their booklets into the trash, we turned to walk toward the exit gate.

Everyone had had a rousing good time....betting money, losing money, paying money, loaning money, winning money. Now, it was time to go home...unfortunately, in more ways than one. 

That night we drove back to Dingle, and the next morning would find us saying our 'goodbyes' to Ireland. We had a fabulous time!
Éireann go Brách!!