Aughanure Castle in Oughterard Connemara

Yesterday we toured Connemara and visited the old O'Flaherty Castle at Aughanure. This castle has been restored and is a great example of a Norman tower castle. Today we left Galway behind and after spending some time at the Cliffs of Moher we arrived in Killarney. This town is alive with activity at the moment as the Summer fest is underway and also the Irish Open Golf Championship, which is in full swing at the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. It would be nice if we could have an Irish winner and at the moment there is a strong Irish challenge with players like Darren Clarke and Rory Mc Ilroy, Padraic Harrington and many others well in contention. The weather is ideal for golf with a nice cool breeze and in this setting beside the lakes of Killarney you could not ask for a nicer location.

The Galway Races

Look what i found in my garage.

and then there were two.

Some weeks ago we had a stray cat coming and going around our house and, as she was obviously pregnant, we fed her. Then she disappeared for a few weeks, and then the other day i went to get something from my garage and there was this little kitten staring at me through the partially open garage door. Then the mother reappeared and, as if that was not enough, this other little guy appeared. The mother had obviously had her kittens somewhere else and when they were old enough she brought them back for us to feed. What else could we do? They are really gorgeous and are great fun as they love to play in the bushes in my back garden. They are still very wary of us but they are much improved and i suppose we are stuck with them now. With all the cats my neighbour has also we certainly will not be troubled by mice from now on.

My new party are really getting on well so far and today are spending time on the Aran islands. This is a wonderful day out and i am sure that they will have great stories for me when i collect them this evening on their arrival back in Galway.

This week is race week in Galway and this race meeting is one of the best supported and largest meetings in Europe. We have seven days of races which started yesterday and finishes next Sunday. It is a massive event with a mixture of flat races and national hunt races , which are over the fences (steeplechasing). Galway city is thronged with visitors for this and there will be fortunes won and lost over the next few days.

Tomorrow i head for Connemara once again and then to Killarney later in the week. Killarney will be thronged this week also as the Irish Open Golf Championship takes place there from Thursday until Sunday. Many of the top golfers from around the world will be there eventhough i think Tiger is missing this week. If he had been able to make it then he could have visited Blarney and kissed the Blarney stone. It might have helped him talk his way out of some of the trouble he is in.

Comments welcome.

Looking for a chauffeur in Ireland

My break is coming to an end and tomorrow morning i start with a new group. It is nice to get a break for a few days but i look forward to meeting my new group tomorrow and feel that this is a new adventure. Many of my clients come by way of referral and therefore they have a good idea of how i operate before they get here. That is always a great help as it removes any reservations as to what they are letting themselves in for. If people come to me through my web-site or Blog then i usually ask them to either e-mail or phone previous customers of mine who are always prepared to help put their minds at ease if they have any reservations about my service. At this stage i have many great friends in the USA and they have been invaluable to me over the last few years. Enquiries i receive by referral always turn out to be very positive and they are the easiest for me to deal with also. I will be reporting in this week again as i travel so if you have any questions or comments i will be glad to get them.
Talk to you soon.

Chauffeurdrive holidays Ireland

An Irish road sign in one of our Gaeltacht areas.

There are certain areas in Ireland that are designated Irish speaking areas where the Irish language is still the number one language. The majority of people living in these areas would also have fluent English but the natives would all have a first class grasp of Irish. The government encourages the promotion of the language in these areas and there are special grants for industry, housing, and in many other areas for those born and reared here to remain in these areas and to bring up their own children in turn the same way they were brought up...speaking Irish. This particular sign is in Dingle, which is one of the Gaeltacht areas.
I am enjoying a much needed break for a few days before i commence a new tour inside the next few days. The weather is a mixed bag right now but the forecast looks good towards the weekend once again. This has been our best Summer for many years, so far, and i am very optimistic about the months ahead. The signs are good and we are due a break.
Comments are welcome as are any questions anybody may have for me.

Irish Tour with Private Chauffeur.

Kinsale from the hillside

I have been resting up for a couple of days since i completed my latest tour. It all worked out very well and my party are now at home once again in the USA safe and well. Now i have a few days break before i start my next tour and this is my first break in quiet a long time.
If you are interested in an Irish tour then just contact me. Many people are already planning for next year and it is never too early to start. I will have plenty of time during the off season to help with your plans so do not be afraid to contact me if you have any questions.
I will be Blogging on an ongoing basis so stay in touch.

Dave

The Gap of Dunlo from Moll's Gap in county Kerry

The journey through this famous gap in the Kerry mountains is a favourite of mine. You are taken by mini-bus to Kate Kearney's Cottage at the entrance to the Gap and from there you board a horse drawn buggy which takes you up through the narrow winding roads and through the Gap itself, and then down the other side to the lakes from where you board a boat which takes you all the way back to Killarney. The whole journey takes about 5-6 hours but it is a memorable one and well worth the fare of Euro 50-00.
Today my own tour left Kinsale for Bunratty via Cork city and Limerick. Tonight my party will be enjoying the medieval banquet in Bunratty castle before flying home to Boston tomorrow morning from Shannon. During the past week we have covered a lot of wonderful country and i think that my friends have had a lot of fun and enjoyed their visit to Ireland. I do not think that you can come here on tour and leave without a lot of special memories. I do hope that they have had a great time.

Blarney and Kinsale with Chauffeurdrive West of Ireland

A closer view of the fort on the hillside guarding the entrance to Kinsale harbour.

The harbour in Kinsale from the hillside above the town.

Today we left Killarney and paid a visit to the Blarney castle before making our way to the historic town of Kinsale. Kinsale is known as the gourmet capital of Ireland and right now it is buzzing as they have an art festival on here.The sun is shining here this evening after a mixed day with some heavy showers.

Molls Gap on the Ring of Kerry with chauffeurdrive Ireland West

Restocking Glacial Lake with Rainbow Trout near Moll's Gap.

Today we were on the Ring of Kerry and came across these men restocking this glacial lake near Moll's Gap high in the Kerry mountains. They told us that they were after freeing some 300 rainbow trout into the lake and that they do this every week. They are all approx. eleven inches long and if caught do not have to be thrown back in. The licence to fish these lakes costs fifteen euro per day and that is very reasonable. There are nine lakes in this region which they stock every week and i think that i will take up fishing again.
The Ring was nice today and not too busy as the day was not great. My companions really enjoyed it though and are at this moment enjoying the Liam O'Connor show in the Avenue hotel in the heart of Killarney. Liam features in the Guiness book of records as the fastest fingers in the world and his traditional accordion playing is second to none.This show is a must if you want to enjoy great traditional music and dancing to a great artist, great band and wonderful champion traditional dancers. The show is on every Tuesday,Wednesday, and Thursday during the season so when you hit Killarney make a point of getting to see it.

Comments welcome.

Touring the Dingle Peninsula with Chauffeur Drive Ireland West

An all-Irish road sign on the Dingle peninsula

Dingle is one of the Gaeltacht regions of southern Ireland. These designated areas are areas where the locals speak our native language which we call Irish. In an effort to protect and grow our native tongue the government create incentives for people who wish to remain in these areas or people who are prepared to set up businesses or industries here. They also will give grants to local people who want to build a home there and remain in the locality and therefore ensure that if these people have families their children will in turn be native speakers.This is having a very limited success and the future of this great language is far from ensured.In order to retain their Gaeltacht status there are conditions such as displaying the Irish language on all the road signs.I myself am a native speaker and hope that somehow or other our language will survive.Let us hope that it does.
Today i was once again on this wonderful peninsula tracing the locations of the Fitzgerald family who were known as the Knights of Kerry. They had a strong presence in this area and there are many ruined Fitzgerald castles here.If you want to learn more about this famous family just Google the "Fitzgeralds of Munster" and you will get plenty of their history.
Today i spent time in the Blasket Centre in Dunquin and this is a great place to visit if you want to learn more about the wonderful historic Blasket islands. There is a great little restaurant there also and today i enjoyed a bowl of their wonderful sea-food chowder. If you do get to Dingle make sure you visit this centre. The museum there is a treasure trove and the film on the Blaskets is well worth seeing.
Comments or questions welcome.

Touring Ireland with Private Driver

A Flower for You

After a long drive today all the way from Ballinahinch in Connemara via the Cliffs of Moher we arrived in Killarney later this afternoon.The weather held up well for us with just a couple of showers. Tomorrow we head for Dingle the ancestral home of my fellow travelers and eventhough there is no realistic hope of finding any relations we do know the local area they departed from many many years ago. The Dingle peninsula is one of those places that takes you back in time and i know that tomorrow my friends are going to feel the call of their ancestors when they arrive home after all of these years. I am looking forward to that moment.

Chauffeur Drive Ireland in Connemara

The fjord at Leenane

Gathering of the boats at Roundstone Connemara.


These fishing boats with their red/brown sails are, believe it or not, known as "Hookers" and are the traditional fishing boats used on Galway Bay and all along the western seaboard of Ireland. We were in Roundstone in Connemara today where there was a gathering of these boats celebrating this great tradition. These boats were also used to transport goods of all sorts along the coast and especially turf, or peat as it is also known, from the boglands of Connemara to Galway city, to county Clare, and also to the offshore islands such as Aran. They were a hardy reliable boat and suitable for the rough conditions on this west coast. We also spent time visiting many other areas in western Connemara including the fjord at Leenane and Kylemore Abbey and the lovely town of Clifden. I think my visitors were astounded by the beauty of the mountains and lakes and the rock strew coastline as we made our way from Clifden to Roundstone. The weather this evening has turned wet but we had a rain-free day and enjoyed it all very much.

Irish chauffeurdrive vacations

Lough Corrib with the Connemara mountains in the background

Lough Corrib is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland and is famous for its 365 islands. This picture was taken at the northern end of the lake just outside Cong in county Mayo where the Quiet Man was filmed. The drive from Ashford Castle in Cong through Cornamona and on through the Maam valley to the fjord at Leenane is a really beautiful drive. From there you can travel on to Kylemore Abbey and Clifden.
My latest group arrived in Dublin yesterday and tomorrow we continue on our way into Connemara to Ballinahinch castle. They will be staying in Ballinahinch castle for two nights. This is a beautiful place for a special break and a great place for anybody interested in fishing as the river through its grounds is renowned for its salmon fishing. There are also lovely walks through the woods here and the setting is right in the heart of this wonderful region known as God's country. I am sure that their stay here will be one that they will remember.
I will be reporting as we go so journey along with us if you have the time.
If you have any questions or comments please feel free to write.

Dave

8th July 2010

Swans on Kinvara Bay late in the evening

I very often base my clients in Kinvara as it is a great base for touring both the Burren and Connemara. The castle here also hosts Medieval Banquets which are really great fun. It is also not far from Shannon and is an ideal last night stopover for flying out from on your return to the USA. I always advise people to try to fly into Shannon if the west of Ireland is their main attraction. It is such a nice small and compact airport and checking in and out there is such a pleasure compared to the larger airports. Use Shannon and support the West and South-West.

Touring Ireland with Private Driver

Yesterday i finished another successful tour when my latest clients from Mexico left for Spain. They were a lovely family and i know that they really enjoyed Ireland. Now i have a couple of days break before i start my next tour this coming Wednesday with two couples from the USA. I will keep you up to date as this tour unfolds.

Kittens and lambs in Waterville county Kerry. Can you spot the black lamb?
On the Ring of Kerry with the Dingle peninsula in the background.

This morning we are on our way to Dublin airport as my Mexican family continue on their way. This once again has been a lovely tour for me, and i hope for them also. Our weather has turned wet this morning but we really do need the rain here after such a long dry spell. The ground has dried out completely and the farmers are complaining as they need the rain badly for the crops.
I would just like to thank Jose,Beatrice, and family for allowing me to be a part of their Irish adventure and i hope to see them all again in the not too distant future.
Slan Abhaile (Safe home)
agus Beannacht De Libh (and the blessings of God be with you)

My fellow travelers at the Blarney castle.
My happy crew at Ladies View in Killarney.

Just another couple of special photos as another tour draws to a close. Tomorrow we leave Kinsale for Dublin as my special Mexican family leave Ireland behind.It was a pleasure to have shared this time with them and i hope that they enjoyed it as much as i did.

3rd July 2010

Chauffeurdrive vacations Ireland

My Mexican family at the Cliffs of Moher today. (July 1st 2010)

My latest tour started yesterday with my Mexican family and this morning we were on our way from Kinvara in county Galway to county Kerry via the Cliffs of Moher.We had plenty of sunshine but there was a little breeze which made it a little chilly. (well if you are Mexican it was a little more than a little chilly, as you can see).They are a lovely family and it is my pleasure to have this special time with them for the few days that they are here in Ireland. Tonight we went to See the Liam O Connor show in Killarney and i would recommend this great variety show to anybody who likes Irish music and dancing at its best. It takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday night in the Avenue Hotel in the heart of Killarney and do get to see it if you are there. Tomorrow we are off on the Ring of Kerry and i hope the weather is better than the last day i was there as we had a heavy mist for most of the way and it spoiled it a little. Our weather has been fantastic so far this Summer and June must have been one of the driest on record. July has started off well so maybe we are in for a lot more. If you need my help with anything or just wish to comment please feel free to do so.

Dave