South Ireland Bus Tour

I have just come back from a 6 day south ireland tour. All I can manage to say is that Ireland is absolutley beautiful. Words really cannot describe the beauty. The people are so friendly and wise. They ALWAYS have a funny story to tell and of course are always drinking. The photos of my tour, show just how majestic this country is.

::The tour started at Pheonix Park which is the biggest park in Europe. John Paul II conducted a mass there back in 1979 and brought a crowd of 1.5 million people from all over Europe. They then erected a very high cross called the Pable Cross. This park is also home to the President of Ireland.

::Clonmacnoise which is a Monasterboice – Celtic Crosses. The ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise is situated at the crossroads of Ireland in County Offaly and dates back almost 1,500 years. St. Ciaran, the son of an Ulsterman who had settled in Connaught, chose the site in 545 AD because of its ideal location at the junction of river and road travel in Celtic Ireland. He tried to convert non christian travellers to follow his religion. The Celtic crosses are still standing and the burial heads of people who have left us where hard not to walk over. Each time excusing myself.
:: Ballinashoe was another town we didnt stop out however drove past. This is where the gypsys live and they fight to become the Gypsy Kings. Just like in the movie Snatch.
::Galway City is a town of students. It reminded me of Geelong. http://www.galway.net/
There is a huge community of Swans near the beach. One area of Galway is called Claddagh. This town holds the story 400 years old of a man who was a Goldsmith. The ring worn on the right hand, crown turned inward tells your heart is yet unoccupied, worn with the crown turned outwards reveals love is being considered. Worn on the left hand the crown turned outward shows all, your heart is truly spoken for. I brought this ring for myself in Claddagh. I thought that was special.

::The Burren is an area of Ireland that is full of Limestone rock formations. This area is very sacred and the rocks where used by the Irish to make all the stone walls that scatter across this area of Ireland back in the Famine years. The Burren lies south of Galway in County Clare, Ireland. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice-age and is composed of karstic limestone, the largest area of such in western Europe.
::The Cliffs of Moher were the best. These majestic cliffs rise from the Atlantic Ocean to a height of nearly 200m and extend for a distance of 8km from Hag's Head due west of Liscannor to a point beyond O'Brien's Tower. The O'Brien tower was used by a man to lure women in to see the view and of course be that captivated- fall in love with him. What a casanova!

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Dunkerry Castle was the first castle I had seen. We didnt go in but just walked around it anti clockwise which promotes fertility. Like i needed it! The grounds are all swamp land.

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We crossed the Shannon River which is the largest river in Ireland on a ferry.
Once on the other side we made our way to Torc waterfall. Oh my goodness the moss on the trees was so green it was like it was painted on from far. The waterfall was so sweet. There was burnt out car in the carpark which was really good to photograph.

::Ladies View was spectacular. This spot was named because Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting came here during the Queen's visit to Ireland in 1861. They loved the view that much they named it Ladies view. Good on ya Ladies!

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Killarney is a hip town and we had stayed a couple of nights there. Its very cool. Live music etc. http://www.killarneyonline.ie/ We spent the day at the catheral and the shopping districts. I also got to have a horse cart ride through the national Park. Killarney National Park is the largest national park in Ireland. It has 20 lakes and a castle called Ross Castle which is the last of the castles destroyed by Oliver Cromwell. The history of Ireland is so intense. Im sorry I cant go into detail. We also saw Muckross House. A 15th century monastery in Muckross that is a large Victorian Mansion with exquisite gardens.

Sneem is a town in the Black Valley. It is immaculately kept with its traditional buildings, pubs, restaurants and craft shops, painted in an array of beautiful colours. On the village green there is a sculpture of former President of Ireland, Cearbhall Ó Dalaigh who had lived in Sneem. Steve Casey know as "Crusher" World Champion wrestler 1938 to 1945 hails from Sneem and a statue has been erected in his honour. Each building has amazing colour and this town was voted the tidiest town in Ireland in 2004. http://www.sneem.net/

::Cork...gee what can I say about this place. Its the third biggest city beside Dublin and Belfast in Ireland. Its so pretty yet very fast. http://www.cork-guide.ie/corkcity.htm Its a town you can go see comedians and theatre in.It has an airport. Hope you get my drift now. I had a ball in Cork. We made a huge pot of pasta and the sauce was made by me and everyone loved it. Seeing i was the only Italian on the bus. Cooking for 14 people was a headache. We spent the night playing guitar and then partied in the pubs.

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Kissing the Blarney stone at Blarney castle was fantastic. http://www.blarneycastle.ie/
I had to turn upside down and I was a little worry I would fall through the cracks as we were at the top of the castle. Blarney Castle is famous for its stone - The Stone of Eloquence - which is traditionally believed to have the power to bestow the gift of eloquence on all those who kiss it. Well im yet to see this in action. Inside the castle were descriptions of rooms that had been occupied by the people who live there. It was eerie to walk around and see where the kitchen had been. The castle was covered in mist. The photos dont do it justice.

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Dingle is southest point of Ireland and it is a huge fishermans town. http://www.dingle-peninsula.ie/ The whole coast line has a mythical story attached to it. Each island is a symbol of a Giants love for a normal woman. the story of Oish and Neve. His dead body is visible from shore. Check out the photo. It looks just like a giant sleeping in the sea.

Another Dingle attraction is Fungi,the Bottlenosed Dolphin resident of Dingle harbour. Over the past 15 years of his residency warmed the hearts of the thousands of people that have travelled from near and far to see and swim with him.The fact that he is absolutely wild and free , yet remains here in Dingle (now with celebrity status) being visted by thousands, is something which has baffled scientists. I rode him in my photos. hehe. Some of the movie Ryans Daughter was also filmed here.

Inch beach was so beatiful. Its like a Summer bay beach.::Cahir Castle was so interesting. I have to say it was good to have this castle explained to us with a tour guide. The castle is one of the last fully remaining castle in Ireland. Some of the Braveheart scenes where shot here because it still has one of the last death gates still standing. The castle is surrounded by a huge permitered wall. The towers and walls all have these slits in them that allowed the knights to use arrows to kill emeny trying to get through the gates. Also there is still overhead holes on the top of the doorways where they poured hot oil and animal fat over the enemy. Totally awesome to walk amongst.

So that concludes the attractions. However the tour was also full of booze and wild partys, Karoke and food. Irish food is so hearty. Please check out my photos and keep smiling.