Chauffeurdriven vacation in West and south west of Ireland with Dovechauffeurdrive

Bob Donnelly and family, on Family ancestral tour in the West of Ireland.

Bob, with his family, on arrival at a damp Shannon airport on Wednesday morning, to begin their Irish adventure.

No better way to start the day than to have a hearty Irish breakfast. Here they all are, enjoying a visit to one of my favourite pub breakfast places, O'Grady's bar in Gort,  as we made our way to Galway City.

From the left we have, Rob, Bob's son, Colleen, Rob's wife, poor little Megan, having a snooze, her sister, Casey, Dorothy, Bob's sister, Bob himself, and his wife, Roxan.

On Thursday morning we began our journey to the family's homeland in Castlebar, where Bob's Grandmother came from. We passed through the famous Joyce country, and the town of Cong, the center of that famous movie, "The Quiet Man" which featured John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.
In the picture above, we have my pals, standing around the memorial bronze of John and Maureen, erected to commemorate the great movie. 
From the left we have, Bob, Rob, Megan, wide awake, Casey, Colleen, Roxan, and Dorothy, all looking bright and happy in the morning sunshine.

 Cong is also the center of an old monastic settlement, and famous for all of the missioners who departed from here to carry the message of Christianity to foreign lands.

Here we all are once again, seated on the wall beside what featured as the Protestant ministers house in the movie.

 The famous Pat Cohan's pub, which also features in the movie.

 A picture of the rugged landscape in south Mayo, as we journeyed on towards Castlebar.

 Another beautiful view of the south Mayo landscape.

 St Patrick's holy mountain, pictured here in the distance, is a very special place of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of pilgrims every year.

 Thursday night was the big night of celebration, as members of the family joined together in Breaffy House in Castlebar, for a reunion meal. It was a really lovely night, and one that all of this fine family will remember for many years to come.

 On Friday we journeyed back to Galway, and on to Kinvara, where we paid a visit to my own home, where everybody enjoyed some of my wife Sue's homemade apple pie. The kids had a great time with the neighbour's cats and chickens, and of course my pony Taffy. I think Megan would gladly live here. She will be welcome back anytime, as will her big sister, Casey.

 The girls, Casey, on the left, and Megan, on the right, (pictured above), had to have their photo taken with my reindeer. He is begining to look a little shook.

 Tonight they dined in the very special Pier Head restaurant, on the harbour front, in Kinvara. This is a great place to eat, if you like fresh fish and seafood, and wonderful fresh Irish meat from their own farm. If you mention my name there, it will do no harm, i am sure.

 Seated in the restaurant, and patiently awaiting their food. They do look all set to tuck in.

 Pictured together, with the harbour, and the famous Dun Guaire castle, pictured in tne background.
From the left, Megan, looking lovely in her nice dress, Colleen, Casey, in front of her Dad Rob, Bob, Roxan, and Dorothy.