Garden of the Senses

As you can see, i managed to download another photo again after having a problem last night. I think the problem was with Blogger as i followed my usual procedure tonight and it just worked.I took this photo in the garden of the Senses in Tralee. This garden is located inside the park in the centre of Tralee town in county Kerry and is well worth a visit. The main park has a wonderful display of roses and rose beds with many colours and in bloom they are a lovely sight to behold. The town of Tralee is famous for its Rose of Tralee contest when ladies from all over the world with Irish blood in their veins gather here. One will be chosen as the Rose of Tralee to represent the town world wide for the coming year and to encourage visitors to visit this historic town. Tralee is a wonderful centre for touring and adjacent to Dingle and the Ring of Kerry and other major historic places like Ardfert, which was associated with that great Irish saint, St Brendan the navigator. Here they wil claim that St Brendan discovered America long before Columbus nearly got there. There is also a wonderful Golf course in Tralee and for anybody who fancies themselves as a golfer this is a course that will test their claim. The Rose of Tralee festival happens later in the Summer and lasts for a week and there are all kinds of entertaining events to keep you more than occupied during that week.
It looks like our cold spell is here until at least the weekend but hopefully this will be the last of that kind of weather. Will April bring its showers? Well we will have to wait and see ....but as long as they are only showers we can put up with that.
I commented yesterday on the shortage of hire out cars on the market this year and forgot to mention that the available ones are much more expensive than last year. This seems to be a general thing throughout the European Union so if you are coming it just might be worth your while to consider chauffeurdrive vacations and hiring your own personal driver and guide. This car and driver in the west of Ireland would love to help.

Irish chauffeur vacations.

The demand for chauffeurdrive and car and driver vacations in Ireland this year is very much on the increase as the car hire companies have drastically reduced the amount of cars in their fleets. This has happened mainly as a result of a decreased expectation of the amount of people looking for cars from these companies. There has been an an air of gloom of our tourism business with less flights coming in to the country due to cut-backs in the airline industry. This world wide depression has not helped as people from many countries have decided to stay at home and keep their money for more important things than holidays. The surprising thing is that things are looking up and it looks like we are going to have a better year than expected and i certainly am more than pleased with the level of bookings i have and the amount of ongoing enquiries i am dealing with. The reduced number of cars available for hire has undoubtedly helped the chauffeurdrive business. My problem now is going to be trying to find available spaces for people who are trying to come this year. it is not too bad if people can be flexible with their dates but if they have to stick toe a particular time then there is nothing i can do. It is a complaint i did not think i would have to deal with. Those who booked early are the lucky ones.
Our weather has taken a very nasty turn today with torrential rain and sleet and snow. The next few days are forecast very cold and wet but hopefully it will be short lived.
I seem to be having a problem posting pictures at the moment but i will sort that out as soon as i can. Talk to you again soon.
Comments and questions welcomed.

Dave

Dollar continues to improve against Euro

The Harbour in Kinvara

This is the harbour in Kinvara, that lovely town on the southern shores of Galway bay. Kinvara has its own castle, Dun Guaire, where they host medieval banquets during the tourist season. Bunratty castle would host the most famous banquet but Dun Guaire, which is a part of the same group, host a more intimate banquet which in its own way can be more fun. These banquets are very popular. Many of my clients choose to attend one of these and i can include them as part of an itinerary if requested. The yellow building in the middle of the picture is the Pier Head pub and restaurant and the food here is excellent with a great selection of the best of Irish meat and fresh sea-food. The mussels and oysters are from the local area and all of the meat is free range. There is no doubt that free range meat has a much better flavour than the mass produced indoor fed animals meat which is what you are getting in many of the larger economies now. Try it for yourself and see.
The great news for anybody coming our way from the USA in the near future is that the dollar continues to improve against the Euro. It is not long now since it had an exchange rate of almost $1.50 to the Euro and now it is at $1.30. That is quiet a sizable saving on the price of a tour. Take that improvement together with the improved and reduced cost of things in general here and we are now offering great value. Maybe now is the time to think about that trip to Ireland.
If you are looking for a chauffeurdrive vacation in Ireland then give me a call.

Dave

http://www.chauffeurdriveholidays.com

Chauffeurdriven Vacations Ireland

Do chauffeurs not wear uniforms and caps?

Yes...that is me with Sarah, one of my lovely clients. This photo was taken at the Torc waterfall in Killarney. It was taken on a chilly day in March. I think i look better on a warm day in the Summertime.This may not be very large waterfall but it certainly is a lovely one. It flows down from Torc lake high in the mountains above Killarney and is set in a beautiful forested area in the Killarney National Forest Park. It is well worth a visit and is only a few minutes from Muckross House. I was in touch with Sarah last week as she was visiting Ireland for St Patrick's day. Both she and her Mom toured with me back in 2008 and i would love to think that they will come back again, as many people do.
I was having a look myself today at what is on offer on the internet with regard to Chauffeur Drive/ Car and Driver/ Private Personalised Tours of Ireland. I certainly did not feel threatened by what i saw. I looked at some itineraries and i certainly would not rate them very highly. I do not like to be too judgmental when it comes to what other people are offering but i would have to say that i do feel for people who get suckered into a tour with a company who obviously do not know much about touring. One of the companies was based in the USA and their itineraries were just plain stupid, but that was only one company. There were some who are based here that did not come up to what i feel we can offer. I would honestly feel for anybody having to put up with the daily grind that some of them packed into their plans. They covered many miles hopping from one place to another while missing wonderful places in between. If they knew what they were doing they could have had much nicer tours with a lot less hassle. Who wants to be stuck in a car all day? If you want to spend your time sitting down being whistled around all over the place from one end of the day to the next then you can go on one of these or maybe a bus tour which will do the same thing. They cram in huge itineraries to make the program look great but you end up like a hamster on a wheel. If you want that type of tour then i am not your man. A tour with me means putting together a plan, after consultation with my clients, a plan that is sensible and takes into consideration they have in mind and put together in a practical way so that when the tour comes to an end they can feel totally satisfied after a holiday that leaves them feeling fulfilled and yet relaxed and refreshed. When people are subjected to the rigours of one of these overdone programs they end up stressed out and disappointed with what has cost them a lot of money. Not only are they not going to come back again but they will not recommend the tour operator to their friends. My best source of clients come through satisfied customers and i can provide e-mail addresses, and indeed phone numbers, of these satisfied clients to those who make enquiries about my service. I love my clients to check me out and to get an honest opinion from someone who has traveled with me and who has been fully satisfied with their vacation.I was also surprised at how competitive i was price wise compared to some of these companies. I am pleased to see that what i offer is still in my mind the best way to go. I was born and reared here, i live here, i know my country, i speak the native language, i know our history and our music, and our politics, and most of all....i love my country. If you want a private tour of Ireland / a chauffeur drive vacation of Ireland....a guided tour of the west of Ireland, second to none...then give me a call.
All questions and comments are welcome.

Dave

http://www.chauffeurdriveholidays.com

Private Driver Ireland Tour/ Chauffeur Ireland tour

Well-fed seagulls at Slea Head on the Dingle peninsula

This is another photo that i love and which i took at Slea Head on the Dingle peninsula. You can clearly see the Blasket islands in the background. This was one of the areas used on location in the filming of Ryan's Daughter. If you have not seen that movie then i would recommend that you get it and enjoy it like i did. It featured Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles and many of the scenes were filmed on this wonderful peninsula. It is an area that i always recommend to my clients and one that i visit many times every year and of which i never tire. There is actually quiet a drop on the other side of the wall which makes this view even more magical than the photo reveals.
Easter is fast approaching and my season is about to begin shortly. Irish vacations will be in many minds, and especially West of Ireland Vacations. I was born and reared in the West and i suppose i am naturally more at home here than anywhere else in Ireland but i do cover the whole country and in my mind there is nowhere like the Western seaboard from the top in Donegal to the bottom in Cork and Kerry. It never bores me and the great feeling i get from the obvious enjoyment of my clients makes my job all the more enjoyable.
I have had a couple of suggestions coming in with regard to my query on what people might Google if looking for somebody to show them around here in Ireland. I have headed this article with a couple from Kristy who was wonderful company when she and her friends toured with me some time back. Kristy has a wonderful sense of humour and is also a wonderful writer. Go check on my Blog and have a look at Kristy's Blog. If any of you have any more suggestions for me then please feel free to write.
Ireland of the Welcomes awaits you. Vacations in the Emerald Isle are like no other. Chauffeur Drive West of Ireland is the way to go.
Come let me show you around.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations Ireland

I would like to thank everybody for their kind messages over the St Patrick's Day holiday period. I have had some wonderful letters telling me of all the different ways that people celebrated the holiday in the USA and i must say that i would love to have been present and a part of many of these. The corned beef and cabbage was really getting a going over and was being enjoyed by many people with no Irish connection other than having Irish friends. It does make me feel extra proud to be Irish. There is no doubt that it raises our profile quiet a bit and the demand for chauffeurdrive tours and car and driver/guide vacations rises dramatically due to this. There was a lot of concern as to what kind of season we could expect this year in the tourist industry but i am delighted to be able to say that it seems to be looking good.
The above photo was taken in county Cork. I took this one during the really wet period we had before Christmas. This river is normally just a gentle flow but as you can see it had become quiet a torrent. The rugged terrain in this region between the Cork and Kerry mountains is very beautiful.
If you are coming to the Republic of Ireland for your vacation then the main airports to consider are Shannon and Dublin and Cork. The flights arrive early in the morning and your first day is usually spent just relaxing and recovering for your journey depending on where you started out from. My chauffeurdrive service covers all of the airports and the collection point we decide will depend on what you, my clients, have in mind. Some people want to spend a couple of days in Dublin maybe before they set out on tour. I can then get them to fly into Dublin and colllect them there when they have that bit of their holiday done with. They can fly out of Shannon then on their return leg if they so choose and that saves having to return to Dublin. Shannon is such a small compact airport and it is a pleasure to use compared to the larger ones. If you are not interested in visiting Dublin at all then Shannon is the place to fly into and out of.
Many people planning a special Irish holiday have a great desire to spend a night in an Irish castle. My own favourite is the one situated right in the heart of the "Quiet Man " country, Ashford Castle. This is a wonderful castle and you should Google it and have a look for yourself. It is expensive but you have to expect that if you want to stay in one of the worlds top hotels. Dromoland Castle is a sister castle of Ashford and this is also very special and is adjacent to Shannon airport and a good place to finish a tour as it makes for a short airport ride on the day of your departure. I also love Ballinahinch castle in the Western regions of Connemara. This is a wonderful choice for anybody interested if fishing as they have their own private salmon and trout river. It has a magnificent location and the walks in the woods are most relaxing. If you catch a salmon here you can have it for your evening meal.
Finally, what key words would you use if were Googling for my type of service for your holiday?

Chauffeurdrive vacations Ireland
Chauffeurdrive holidays Ireland
Car and Driver Ireland
Car and driver/Guide Ireland
Chauffeurdrive tours Ireland

It is always helpful for me to know so suggestions welcome.

Talk to you again soon.

Dave
Private tours Ireland

St Patrick's Day in Ireland

Slea Head on the Dingle Peninsula

This is one of my favourite pictures which i took at Slea head on the Dingle peninsula. You can see the Blasket Islands to the right. This old house must date back hundreds of years and is in such an exposed location that it must have been literally battered by the prevailing winds in stormy weather. That main window upstairs would have given a clear view of the fishermens boats both leaving and returning from the sea. I am sure that there were many times when families waited in dread for possible bad news on stormy nights. Many prayers would have been prayed and i am sure that St Patrick was begged to intercede on many occasions.
Tomorrow is his big day and what a universal celebration this has turned out to be. Is there any saint who is celebrated like St Patrick is? It is not just the Irish who celebrate this day but all those who become adoptees for the day. Nobody parties like the Irish and i suppose that down through the years the party atmosphere created on St Patrick's day by the Irish was just so infectious that everybody joined in. We wore our green with pride and there was something magical about it all. We dressed as Leprechauns and painted everything green for the day and then the Americans got into the act and dyed rivers and beer and God knows what else. They do things in style and we appreciated that. They even changed our "Paddy's Day" to "Patty's Day"but we did not mind that either. They were partying with us and we love big crowds at our gigs. They even got their President in on the act, and that was easy because they are all Irish anyway. Here in Ireland tomorrow we will have bands from all over the USA in our parades. They will be accompanied by many family members and organisers and it is always a great boost to our tourist industry. The Chauffeurdrive business reaps the benefit of this and it signals the arrival of the first batch of people from all over the world to our country for the coming year.
It really is a great day to be Irish. When i look at that picture i posted today i think of the people who looked out to sea as their family members sailed away to the New World many years ago. They carried with them great stories of this proud land including the story of that great man who brought Christianity to our country. I think that at this time he must be pretty annoyed with those people who have brought our church into disrepute by their actions. St Patrick had to overcome great challenges to convert the Irish.....maybe with his help we can once again overcome the new challenges that we face here now. He made changes and now we have to do the same.

Comments please

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Irish Vacations with a car and driver.

Common road-users on the Conor Pass

I took this photo on my way up that narrow winding road to the Conor pass from Dingle town. What you do not see here is the drop on the right hand side down into the valley below, and just a flimsy wall between you and fresh air. Finding sheep on the road is common and it is just another reason why driving in Ireland is something you need to be used to. There are sections beyond the Conor Pass at the top as you descend to the Tralee side that are even far more dangerous than this section and yet it is one of the most scenic drives on the peninsula. The views from the Conor Pass itself at the top are really special as you can take in both sides of the peninsula from there. To the south you have the Iveragh peninsula and the Skellig islands and to the north you can see the coastline of county Clare with the Cliffs of Moher in the far distance. On a clear day the views are magnificent as you have Dingle harbour and bay closer to you on the southern side and Tralee bay to the north. Directly below you to the north you have a deep valley dotted with lakes and bogs. This is always a journey where my passengers express their relief that they are not driving themselves. It is a scary drive and certainly not one i would recommend to the nervous driver.
Our weather continues to be exceptional for this time of the year and our winter has certainly been shortened by this wonderful spell. I always say that there is no weather like Irish weather when it is good.....the air is so clean and fresh...never too hot and never too cold....and the scenery to go with it. If you have not been here yet then now is as good a time as any. Come see for yourself.
Comments welcome.

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Ladies View in Killarney

Sarah at Ladies View

I took this picture of Sarah on our chauffeurdrive tour with her Mom some time ago. The lakes of Killarney are world famous and Ladies view is perhaps the best vantage point to view them from. It was here that Queen Victoria stood and expressed her opinion that this was indeed the most beautiful view in all of her kingdom. If you travel on the famous Ring of Kerry you will pass get to this point as you descend from Molls Gap high in the mountains on your way back down into the Killarney National Forest Park. The journey around the Ring should always be taken in an anti-clockwise direction as the roads are very narrow at some points and if you meet a bus or some other large vehicle you will have a problem getting by. The buses are all instructed to travel the same anti-clockwise direction but i have heard it said that since the sat-nav was introduced some of these systems have been sending foreign tour buses the wrong way around. It has not happened to me yet and i hope that this is only a rumour. On leaving Ladies view make sure that you take in Torc waterfall. This is only a few short miles nearer to Killarney and eventhough it is not a very large waterfall it is in a lovely setting in the forest and under Torc mountain. On leaving Torc you can move on nearer to Killarney to Muckross House where Queen Victoria stayed during her visit to Killarney. Make sure you take in the tour of the farm and farm houses. These are recreated examples of what the old Irish homes were like and are well worth a visit. I love the huge plough horses and the Irish Wolfhounds. There are chickens and donkeys and pigs, including a monster sow. I always enjoy sampling the freshly cooked brown bread which is made in the farm houses by genuine Irish housewives. They might even give you the treasured recipe.
Enjoy.
If you have any queries with regard to chauffeurdrive vacations or car and driver enquiries just send me a message. I will do what i can to assist.

Chauffeurdrive vacations in Ireland

A Double Irish Rainbow

Just in case anybody thought that my first photo of a rainbow was just a lucky shot, this is another photo i took of a double rainbow. I had to stop to take this shot and, by the time i did, it was fading a little. We do get spectacular rainbows here but then you had better come and see for yourself.
Our wonderful spell of sunshine and blue skies continues and what a lovely introduction to Spring we are getting. I had a couple of days touring this week and it was most enjoyable. The skies during the day are cloudless and the visibility is crystal clear as there is little moisture in the air. The clear skies at night are truly heavenly as a million stars shine brightly in the cold clear air. Long may it last.
In my last post i said that i would tell you a little more about the lovely meals i had on the road last week. The first night we went to Jim Edwards pub in Kinsale and this is one of my favourite restaurants in this town. There are many fine restaurants here and it is no wonder it is known as the gourmet capitol of Ireland. Being a harbour town it is well known for its fresh fish and seafood. We had fish and it was excellent. I had deep fried breaded mushrooms with a garlic dip for my starter and they were really delicious. The fish was baked haddock with herb flavoring served with garlic potatoes, broccolli and cauliflower, baby boiled new potatoes, sugar peas and baby carrots and of course a helping of French fries. To finish off i had vanilla icecream with hot raspberries and this was mouth-watering. The restaurant itself is right in the heart of Kinsale and is well worth a visit. Our hotel was the Kinsale Carlton which is a lovely hotel on the outskirts of the town in a really nice location. I would recommend this hotel highly and the food there is also top quality. On arrival at the hotel in the afternoon we had sea-food chowder which was just full of seafood and as good a chowder as you can find. I did not need a second bowl but i could have managed it.
In Killarney we stayed at the Killarney Plaza which is one of my own favourites. This hotel is located right in the heart of the town and is central to everything and has underground parking. We were tired this evening and decided to have our dinner at the hotel and this was an excellent decision. My starter here was goats cheese on a bed of spinach on top of a Portobello mushroom.There were actually two Portobello mushrooms, and they were large, so there was more than enough in this starter. For my main course i had rack of lamb. This was cooked just to my taste, medium rare, and it was exquisite. We had a wonderful selection of vegetables including carrots and cauliflower and broccolli and green beans along with garlic potatoes and French fries and it took me all my time to plough through the lot. I did have help and i would have to say that it was not penance. For dessert we had the most wonderful Creme Brulee. If you do get to the Plaza make sure you have this dessert. I have never had a better one than here and it is always my choice as they always have it on their menu. I am not surprised as it must be in great demand.
I have travelled abroad quiet a bit myself but i can honestly say that the best meals i have ever had were here in Ireland. Our steaks and lamb are all free-range and have a flavour you can only get from animals reared in the open air. Do not be afraid to drink the water here and they will always provide you with a large jug of water with ice at your table if you ask. There is no need to buy the bottled water but do not drink the water from the taps in your bedrooms as this comes from the storage tanks in the roof space and can be contaminated there. It is no harm to buy a large bottle of water in a supermarket for use in your bedroom at night. Forget about your dieting while you are here on holiday....you can take it up again when you go home.
Now that you are salivating i will make my exit. If you are looking for a car and driver in the west of Ireland, at Shannon airport, Galway airport, Cork airport, or anywhere in Ireland, and one who knows where to eat, just give me a call. Yes, i do like my food.
Comments welcome.

http://www.chauffeurdriveholidays.com

Irish vacations.

An Irish Rainbow

I think we Irish take rainbows for granted . My American friends always get excited when they see a rainbow and this picture is one i took myself not long ago as i traveled with friends.
I have been missing in action since Wednesday morning as i had to travel south to Kinsale and then on to Killarney yesterday and today. Wednesday was wet all day but Thursday and once again today we had glorious sunshine all day. Our forecast for the coming week is also for more of the same so hopefully it will stay this way right through St Patrick's day. What a difference that will make for the parades and the street parties. I always feel for the children especially when the rain spoils their entertainment as they really do love to see the parades.
My few days away were really nice and i stayed in a couple of lovely hotels and had some really nice meals. I will write more about these places again when i have more time. The overall mood in the business at the moment is good and hotels are happy with the amount of bookings and enquiries they are getting. People are definitely adjusting to the recession and are beginning to realise that the world is not going to end just yet. There is money out there and people are now feeling more prepared to start spending a little once again. My own bookings are very good but if you are planning an Irish vacation do not hang around too much longer. I have availability at the moment but i am not sure for how much longer. If i can help in any way just write to me please.
Comments welcome.

Dave

http://www.chauffeurdriveholidays.com

Chauffeurdrive vacations in Ireland

These are the awesome Cliffs of Moher, one of Ireland's most visited attractions. They guard the western borders of the Burren of county Clare and are most definitely worth a visit. You need to make sure that the weather is right when visiting the Cliffs as mist or fog play havoc with the visibility. When you are a a height of some eight hundred feet then low cloud comes into play.
Our recent lovely spell of bright sunny weather seems to be coming to an end at least temporarily. February has been very kind to us and lets hope that March brings at least some of the same. The good news here at the moment is that Ireland is becoming one of the more reasonable countries in Europe to vacation in. With the ever improving dollar that certainly makes it more attractive to anybody planning to come here from the USA. Accommodation prices and food prices are major factors. We have been getting some bad publicity with regard to crime figures. My advice has always been....in major cities do not ramble around the streets late in the evening. Dublin and Limerick are getting the worst reviews but i personally would not take risks at night anywhere. These days, with the amount of drug related problems, and now with the recession making it more difficult for these addicts to get the money for their drugs, the opportunities to rob someone foolish enough to be out late at night are a welcome bonus to these criminals. Just be sensible and get a cab back to your hotel. I think that this common sense policy should apply anywhere.
Comments welcome.