Holidays in Ireland

Chauffeur?car and driver at Shannon airport for your Irish vacation.

2012-02-02T11:24:00.000-08:00

A Killarney Waterfall in a secluded forest.
This lady is breaking in a young horse and getting him used to the reins. Meeting animals on our roads is quiet common so make sure you slow down and give them the space that they need. They can be a danger if you frighten them, so do be careful.
Adare Manor in the beautiful town of Adare County Limerick. This five star hotel is very popular and has its own golf course. The town of Adare is regularly voted as one of Ireland's most attractive towns.

Today was a glorious day here in Ireland, beautiful sunshine and lovely cool fresh air. January has been the mildest January on record over the last ten years so lets hope we are heading into a year of warm and sunny weather once again.
Choosing an airport for your arrival into Ireland is very important, and i touched on that in a recent Blog. Many people are limited in choice, because they are using airmiles, and that restricts them to only certain airlines. Most, if not all airmile tickets, seem to use only Dublin airport and this affects people who want to come into Shannon. I have people coming to me who get around this by flying into London and then catching a Ryanair flight (buget airline) from London to Shannon. This can be a great way to do it especially for people who want to spend a couple of days in London also. The Ryanair flights are extremely cheap eventhough you have to be careful about luggage as they will charge by weight over a certain limit. Make sure that you travel as light as possible anyway as you really do not need any fancy clothes coming to Ireland. Smart casual is acceptable everywhere, and just make sure that you have jeans and a sweater, warm underwear, and light rainwear.
If your destination is the western region, anywhere from Cork and Kerry to Clare and Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, then Shannon is your man. If you want to visit Dublin also then maybe you can arrange your return flight out of Dublin when going home again. You can also do it the other way around by flying into Dublin and out of Shannon My chauffeurdrive service covers Dublin Shannon Cork and Knock, so anywhere you like and i will be there for you.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2012-01-31T08:59:00.001-08:00

St Brigid's well near the Cliffs of Moher.

Tomorrow, 1st February, is St Brigid's Day. It is of course also the first day of Spring. Springtime in Ireland can be beautiful and lets hope that this year it is just that. Now the flowerd will start to appear, first of all the daffodils, and then a wonderful assortment of wildflowers all over the country. Now you know why we need the rain we get, and when you see our flowers, you will not mind the rain.

St Brigid is the Patroness of Ireland, and our first female saint. She was born just after St Patrick's time into a noble family. She was very beautiful and therfore a great asset for the family as a beautiful daughter would give the family that power to join up with another powerful family through marriage. She was extremely pious and had no desire whatsoever to serve anybody but God and when she diiscovered that her beauty was going to cause her a problem she scarred her face and this put paid to her family's wishes for her, or should i say for themselves. She joined the nuns and, amazingly, when she was consecrated as a nun, her beauty was once again restored.
There are many miracles associated with this great saint, both during her life and since. Many people visit this holy well to pray and leave their requests for people, living and dead.
A place well worth visiting.....even if you do not believe in miracles. Remember .....a prayer never did anybody any harm....not even to those who said the prayer.....believers or non-believers. They also say that there are no atheists in the trenches.
In the background you can see a man entering the narrow cave where the well is. Inside you will see hundreds of tiny tokens belonging to people who are maybe sick or dying, missing or dead, and which are left behind by their families or friends. It can be a very touching experience, especially when you look at the photos of small children or teenagers, or young married mothers or fathers, or indeed grandparents who are sadly missed by their families. In places like this we all find that there is somebody that we remember. Despite the problems in our church, the Irish people still hold on to their beliefs, and long may that last.

Wild flowers at the Cliffs of Moher. It was cold, but the air was fresh and healthy and the sea calm. What a lovely place to spend some quiet time.

Irish Airports, Shannon,Dublin, Cork, Knock.

2012-01-29T01:23:00.000-08:00

I took this photo from the bridge in Sneem on the Ring of Kerry. What a lovely view this is.

Ireland is well serviced with flights from many different airports in the USA. My Chauffeurdrive service, covers all of the different airports. Depending on where exactly you wish to tour, it is best to get advice on which airport to use for your arrival and departure. If you wish to take in Dublin as part of your itinerary, then you can either arrive or depart from there and maybe fly out from a different one when returning home again. If for instance you want to concentrate on the western seaboard, including Cork. Kerry, Clare and the Cliffs of Moher, the Aran Islands, Connemara, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, then you could fly back out from Shannon.You can also do this the other way around arriving into Shannon and flying out from Dublin at the end of your vacation.My Chauffeurdrive service serves all of the airports. I collect people on their arrival and leave them back to whichever airport they choose for their departure. Having your own car an driver makes great sense and allows you to enjoy your vacation in a relaxed manner. If you are not too interested in Dublin then Shannon makes life so much easier as it is a small regional airport and really easy to get into and out of compared to the larger airports. You literally just walk out the door and into your car (or my car,better still ).
The calendar is filling up gradually for me so if you are planning on using a chauffeur, own car and driver, then do not wait around too long as there areonly so many dates to fill.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Dave

A warm Summer's day on the Dingle peninsula.

Visiting a Currach-maker in Connemara. These are the traditional fishing boats used by the men on the west coast of Ireland. They are extremely light framed and covered in canvas, which in turn is waterproofed with pitch or tar.

Below

Men from the inland fisheries re-stocking a lake with trout in the Kerry mountains.

Irish chauffeurdrive vacations 2012

2012-01-24T11:59:00.001-08:00

A photo of the narrow winding road that leads up through the Gap of Dunlo showing some of the gigantic boulders that litter this gorge in the Kerry mountains. This gorge was carved out by a huge glacier during the ice age. Do not attempt to drive this route. The best way to see this wonderful place is by taking a ride on the horse drawn side cars which are available at Kate Kearney's cottage at the entrance to the Gap.

I took this photo of one of my fellow travellers at Ladies View on the Ring of Kerry. Do you believe in Leprechauns? Well come to Ireland and see for yourself.
Another view of the narrow winding road in the Gap.
I thought this was a cute photo of a Kerry mountain lamb. No, he is not bleeding....that is just a dye used to mark him for identification purposes.

Our latest weather statistics have revealed that this has been the mildest Winter ever in Ireland since records began. Are we in for a really good Summer? That would be nice. I always say that there is no weather like Irish weather when it is good. Never too hot....never too cold.....that's us.

2012-01-18T12:35:00.000-08:00

The old Star-shaped fort guarding the entrance to Kinsale harbour. There was also another fort on the opposite side which made a forced entry quiet impossible.

Our weather has been extremely mild and the signs of Spring are already here with daffodils appearing in many areas.

I am a great defender of our Irish weather, and with very good reason. We never get the extremes that many people have to endure and, when we do get nice weather, there is nowhere i would rather be. We do get our fair share of rain but that is what keeps our countryside green and rich in its magnificent array of wild flowers and shrubbery. I think that a stroll in the light rain can be lovely we get a lot more showers than actual prolonged spells of rain.

When you are touring with your very own driver you also have that privilege of being able to stop where you like, when you like, and if it does happen to be raining you can pick and choose the times and places you stop at. This also allows you to make your stops between showers and also to make daily changes when maybe you would need a dry day to visit somewhere like the Aran islands or the Gap of Dunloe Then instead you would take a route where the rain would not be a problem.
Chauffeurdrive does give you huge advantages, and at an affordable rate. The strong dollar right now has also made our rates even more attractive so now is the time to make your enquiry.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2012-01-15T11:28:00.001-08:00

One of my favourite places.....the Dingle peninsula
The Mighty Cliffs of Moher.

If you want magnificent scenery, great sea-views, rugged coastlines and offshore islands, mountains, valleys, bogs, ancient castles, ruined abbeys and monasteries, genuine friendly Irish country people, great pubs with great traditional music, the best of fresh fish and sea food, then there is no better place in Ireland than the western seaboard and the southwest of the country. You also have Shannon airport to fly into and out of and there is no more comfortable airport than Shannon. It is never too busy and access in and out of this airport is so simple. You walk out the door and into your car. I am not trying to say that the west is all that Ireland has to offer but if you like the things and types of places that i have mentioned here then i cannot think of a better place for you to come to. You can also include Dublin if you choose to fly into or out of the capital but it depends on how much time you have available. No matter where you end up visiting in Ireland you will enjoy this great country. It is unique and its people do live up to their friendly reputation.
Value this year in Ireland is really good and as the dollar has strenghtened so much compared to last year those coming to us from the USA are really on a bonus. Visitors to Ireland increased by some 6% last year and they expect an even bigger increase this year so get to work and check it out as soon as you can, if you are interested. I do have free spaces still and if i can help i will be only be delighted to do so.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Irish chauffeurdrive vacations 2012

2012-01-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

Karen holding a baby fawn in her arms on the Ring of Kerry.

This photo was taken on a bright and sunny Summer's day and shows Karen lovingly holding a baby deer. The man in the background is there quiet often with an assortment of baby animals for people to have their photos taken with. You can see a little dog and a lamb in the background also and there are usually has a couple of kittens there also.

Well i can assure you that he is not there at the moment as it has been cold and wet and wild and you would freeze up there in the mountains right now. I rarely tour at this time of the year unless i get an "out of the blue" request, and i am in no hurry to do so either as it is not the weather for that.

I am sure that everybody has recovered from their New Year celebrations by now and it is nice to think that the days are slowly but surely getting longer, and hopefully warmer. I love the Springtime, and that is just around the corner. This is the time of the year when i spend most of my time dealing with enquiries and drawing up plans for prospective customers. It looks like being a busy year judging by the level of enquiries so i would advise anybody who may be interested in at least pursuing an enquiry to think about doing it now while there is still time and availability. I hate saying no to anybody, but sometimes that is all that i can say.
The good news for anybody travelling from the USA is that the dollar is much stronger this year than it was at this time last year. Prices in Ireland are also more attractive and there is great value to be had in Irish holidays right now. I certainly will do all that i can to work out attractive deals for anybody interested in coming to tour with me. I find that many people are actually surprised at the good value on offer from my service.
It costs nothing to check this out.....just let me know what you have in mind.

Irish chauffeurdrive vacations 2012

2012-01-03T14:02:00.001-08:00

You meet more than cars and trucks on Irish roads. Do you really want to drive yourself?

Having your own driver for your Irish vacation really does make sense and allows you to relax and enjoy your time here. Of course it is possible to do the driving yourself ,but you cannot drive and admire the views at the same time. It can also be difficult to hold a normal conversation for hours on end while concentrating on staying on the right side of the road. It really boils down to affordability. Can you afford to spend that little bit extra for the comfort that you will get from having your own driver, a driver who is accustomed to our roads and who knows his way around without a map. Remember, you also have a driver who knows the best places to visit, who can tell you all about them, who can discuss Irish history, Irish politics, Irish culture, music, religion, Irish food and drink, the Irish language, just about anything and everything Irish. You will have me, someone who knows and loves his country and its people, its music and traditions and culture and history. Someone who will delight in proudly showing you his homeland.
I was born and bred here.....let me show you my country.
Now is the time to make your enquiries...... there are only so many available dates and it will always be a case of first come first served.

I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Christmas and the New Year in Ireland with chauffeurdrive

2011-12-28T02:29:00.000-08:00

The old O'Donoghue castle in Killarney known as Ross Castle. This is situated on the the shore at Lough Leane just on the suburbs of the town itself. Do not confuse this with the Ross Lake Hotel as some people think that they will actually bestaying in this castle when they are viewing accommodation choices. This castle does not provide any such accommodation and is owned by the National Heritage Trust. You can however visit the castle and enjoy daily tours which are well worth considering.

A sad reminder of bygone days as this once proud fishing trawler lies beached in the harbour in Dingle.
Another sad sight.....the shell of a Currach (pronounced Curr-----uck), the traditional small fishing boat used by the fishermen on the West Coast of Ireland. All that remains are the frail timber laths which were the frame of the boat which was then covered with canvas and then coated in tar or pitch to waterproof it. They were an extremely light boat and would normally carry two or three men. When properly handled they were ideal for the wild conditions at sea as these boats rode the waves with ease.

A Winters sky over the hills and lakes of Killarney. Ireland is always beautiful regardless of the weather.

Christmas has passed once again, and i did enjoy my time with family and friends. It can be a difficult time for many people and a time when we cannot help but look back at times gone by and the people who are now no longer with us. This is a time when things like the pictures i have included above bring me back to the old days, to many happy times along with some sad memories. Like the old trawler in Dingle, the decaying currach in Connemara, time takes its toll on all of our lives. We cannot help but look on the year gone by without mixed feelings, but we can look forward with hope to the New Year and pray that we will do our best to make it as good as we can for ourselves and for others in the full knowledge that we have all seen tough times in the past, and yet survived.
God is good.

Happy New Year to all my family and dear friends.

2011-12-24T04:55:00.000-08:00

My dear friend Cliff standing beside the bronze figures of Annie Moore and her two little brothers on the quayside at the port of Cobh in Cork. It was from here that they left for the New World in 1892 and became the first three people to register at Ellis Island. Annie was only fifteen years of age and it is hard to imagine just how difficult it must have been for her with the responsibility of minding her two little brothers on such a journey into the unknown. Vast numbers of our Irish ancestors had embarked from Cobh in the years preceding this and many of them were never heard of again, sadly to say. Many however did stay in touch and at this time of the year sent welcome parcels of gifts home, clothing especially, along with some dollars for their parents. Needless to say this was a great help to the poverty stricken people of Ireland.
Now once again we have many people leaving our country to find employment abroad and they will be sadly missed at home this Christmas. To all of them we send our best wishes and ensure them of our prayers at this special time. Let us hope and pray that we can get this country back on track once again so that we can bring them all home in the not too distant future. To those of you in the USA who want to help bring this about, make sure that you support this cause by buying Irish where you can. We do produce the best of many different products and, contributing in this way, you will help to create new jobs here in Ireland.
Horse breeding and horse racing are major businesses in Ireland and our horses are second to none and renowned for their quality the world over. The Christmas race meeting at Leopardstown, where there will be four days of fantastic steeplechase and hurdle(over the jumps) racing over the fences,begins on St Stephens day. We do not use the term "Boxing Day" here as the day after Christmas is the feast of the martyr Saint Stephen. Thousands of people will forget all about the recession as they head for the racecourse hoping to make a fortune. One way or another they will have a great time.
A cold Kinvara (my own town) on a Winters evening.

It may be cold, but that will not affect the Christmas celebrations as we leave all our cares behind and celebrate this special time of the year by giving thanks for all that we have, for the dear friends we have in foreign lands, family members and old and new friends, for the new friends we will make in the coming year, as we look forward with renewed hope, as our ancestors did many years ago when they left our shores with nothing to lose.
I send all my love and best wishes to all my own family members in the USA and to the many wonderful friends i have had the good fortune to meet through my business. To those coming to me in the coming year i send a "Cead Mile Failte" , a hundred thousand welcomes, and just want you to know that i am looking forward to showing you this wonderful country which never needed money growing trees to make it beautiful. I am fortunate to be in the position to do what i do and i honestly believe that,if ytou are in the position where you can afford to come and see Ireland for yourselves, then "get on your bike" and make it soon.
To you i can only say, "what are you waiting for? "
If i can help in any way just contact me.

dovechauffeurdrive@gmail.com

Happy Christmas, and may the New Year be kind to you all.

Your friend in Ireland
Dave

Christmas in Ireland with chauffeurdrive

2011-12-19T09:05:00.000-08:00

The doorway into the Portal Tomb at Newgrange. Note the box shaped opening over the door. This is the opening through which the suns rays penetrate all the way through the narrow passageway right to the heart of the tomb during this week's Winter Solstice. It is hard to imagine just how people five thousand years ago had the expertise to calculate all the nescessary angles to allow for this. The actual building of this huge mound with all of its colossal boulders which had to be transported to the top of this hill is also amazing. Some of the huge white rocks guarding the entrance had to be brought all the way from county Wicklow many miles south of here.
The picture of this woman descending from the top of the mound gives you some idea of the size of the tomb.
Now you can get an even better idea of how magnificent this structure is. In this picture you can also see the white stone that was brought from Wicklow.

Christmas week is now upon us and the excitement of it all is now begining to show, especially amongst the children. Recession or no recession, Santa has to appear. Needless to say, i am taking it easy right now and glad of the rest. My work at this point in time is mainly dealing with enquiries so if you are planning an Irish holiday and thinking about chauffeurdrive/car and driver, then just let me know.
I wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a New Year full of hope and good health

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-12-15T12:00:00.001-08:00

This photo was taken when our weather was far more clement than it is right now. There are no clouds like Irish clouds, and when you have that lovely blue background, they really are at their best.
This photo is blurred, i am afraid, but i had to post it as i took it to show you this little boat all lit up in our Kinvara harbour for the Christmas.
What's your hurry? These guys will not be rushed, and who can blame them, as they are making their way home to be milked in the evening. This is not an uncommon sight on rural Irish roads.
Always have your camera at the ready when you are in Ireland
Nice....but cold right now. December has been really wild and wet, and cold, but time is moving on and it is hard to believe that in another week our days will begin to get longer again. Roll on the Spring.
Jack frost has returned, as you can see from my pony's field. The house in the background is my neighbours. This is an farmhouse more than three hundred years old.

Christmas is almost upon us and this weekend will see the real begining of the mad rush to get all the presents and Christmas shopping done. It is really the last chance for many people who will be working during the coming week as leaving it to the last minute would not be very wise.
It will not be an easy time for those who are in dire financial straights, and there are many of those this year unfortunately. This is a time to consider making donations, even small ones, to all those organizations who do their best to help those in need at this time of the year. Every little helps.

Chauffeurdrive Vacation in the West of Ireland

2011-12-11T11:33:00.001-08:00

A West of Ireland rainbow
The lovely harbour at Roundstone in Connemara
The majestic Cliffs of Moher
Slea Head on Dingle, County Kerry
My favourite ruined house at Slea Head
Kate and Kerry, and myself ,at Ladies View on the Ring of Kerry
The Old fort guarding the entrance to Kinsale harbour
A High Cross at Clommacnoise with the old cathedral in the background
One of the old ruined churches at Clonmacnoise
The beautiful Cobh Cathedral at the entrance to Cork harbour.

I was born and reared in the West of Ireland and i suppose that you could say that i am therefore bound to say that this is the most beautiful part of the country, but i honestly feel, that even if i had been born anywhere else, i would have fallen in love with our western seaboard one way or another
If you want scenery, mountains,lakes, boglands, rivers, magnificent rough and rugged coastlines, then this is the place to come to . I was never a city person, i love the countryside, the sea, the mountains and valleys, the peace and quiet of our never over populated west, the small towns, the country pubs and restaurants, the music, and the friendly country people. This is where i am at home and at peace. This where i like to bring my clients, and where many of my clients want me to bring them. From County Cork to Kerry, from Clare to Galway, from Mayo to Sligo and Donegal, this is where the air is fresh and clear, the land of showers and rainbows, of castles and ancient churches and ring forts, of islands and cliffs. Come and see it for yourself and let me show you around the land i love.
If you are planning on coming in 2012, now is the time to make your enquiries. Write to me at

dovechauffeurdrive@gmail.com

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Touring West of Ireland with private driver

2011-12-04T11:17:00.001-08:00

They say that, when the trees are loaded with berries, we are in for a very hard and cold Winter as nature provides all this extra food for the birds to store away for the cold days ahead. This lovely holly bush is heavily laden with gorgeous berries, and it adds to the Christmas feel that is already in the air.That theory may very well be true as right now we appear to be gradually entering a long cold spell and it looks set to get worse. November was a very mild and kind month this year but December has seen a change as first of all we experienced wild and wet weather, and right now, eventhough the wind and rain are still with us, it has begun to turn bitterly cold. Today we saw the first of the sleet and the forecast for the next few days is more of the same with a continuing gradual decline in temperatures with snow on high ground. We could be looking at a white Christmas this year.

This scene is a reminder of warmer days. I took this photograph during the Summer in Dingle harbour as i enjoyed a boat chase around the bay after Fungi the dolphin. He spends all of his time here in the bay and is probably the most popular resident in Dingle, and has been for almost thirty years now. The little lady sitting on her Mom's lap was fascinated by this guy and, if she had her way, she would have brought him home with her. If you do get to Dingle i would highly recommend taking a trip on one of the boats that take you on this most entertaining chase, and Fungi always appears. He is so reliable that the operators will return your money if he does not show. I have never had to ask for it back, and i have taken this trip on more than one occassion. It is great fun.

So much to see, and all of it beautiful.....toss a coin? This sign post, one of many such signposts at a crossroads in Ireland, is located at Maam in the Maam valley in Connemara. Some of the signs are in Irish (Gaelic) and you can make out Cong, Maam Cross, Leenane, before needing a local to translate the rest for you.

These bushes are Whitethorn and are very common in the area i live in. The traditional Blackthorn walking stick was made from the branches of the Whitethorn tree. It was much more than a walking stick as it had a lot of spikey protrusions all the way along the shaft which would help the owner to deliver a very damaging blow to anybody who was looking for trouble. They did make lovely and decorative walking sticks when they were crafted and varnished to a glossy shining finish. I know....i have one myself and i enjoy my walks with my trusty Blackthorn stick.

The Christmas spirit has appeared as people begin to get out and about hunting for their Christmas shopping. The recession will not kill Christmas in Ireland as we have always let ourselves go at this special time with the attitude that tomorrow will look after itself. Christmas in Ireland is like Christmas nowhere else as it begins in early December and lasts right through to the New Year. We do know how to celebrate in this country, and long may it last. I always find it strange when i hear people talking about having Christmas day off and then going back to work the following day, or maybe two days afterwards. In Ireland most people have at the very least a few days off with many having at least a week. You would not want to be looking for a plumber or an electrician as all the trades are on holidays. It is only in recent years that shops are open shortly after Christmas and it is not that long ago when people stocked up their provisions as there was nowhere open to buy the basic everyday items for a few days. Eventhough it has changed, we still celebrate with abandon for a generous few days so, if you are free, then Ireland at Christmas is a great place to be.
January will see a surge in enquiries as usual so my advice to anyone who may be thinking about an Irish holiday is to get a move on and and try to beat the rush. After all, it is always Christmas in Ireland.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-11-29T11:38:00.001-08:00

A mountain stream in full flow as the rain comes down.
A pie-bald mare with her newly born foal.
Well, it is Winter after all.

A cold day at the Cliffs of Moher, but what a lovely place to be on a sunny Summer's day.

At last we are begining to feel the cold blast of Winter eventhough we have not quiet hit freezing point yet. Things are quiet at last for me and i can now enjoy a well-earned rest after what has been a busy year once again for me. This is the time of year when i spend most of my time dealing with enquiries for next year and it is reassuring to see that it looks good at this point in time. With the Olympic games in England next year we are expecting a huge contingent of Americans coming our way and we are confident that many of them will spend quiet a lot of their time in Ireland. Many people who would have been coming to visit England, if the games were not on, are expected now to turn their attention to Ireland as we will not have all the heavy security problems that people are going to experience in the UK. It could turn out to be a real bonus for us. We always get our fair share though and i do not think that next year will be any different.
If you are coming our way then maybe now is as good a time as any to make your enquiry.I will help in any way i can.

Dave

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-11-23T02:01:00.000-08:00

I took this photo during the Summer on a hot hazy day (yes really). I was standing on the beach at Inch on the Dingle peninsula looking across at the Iveragh peninsula and the Ring of Kerry on the other side.This is really lovely beach and a great place for a swim. There is aslo a lot of surfing done here so if you are into that you can come here and rent a surfboard.
This is the view i have from my kitchen window (that heifer is not always standing on the wall though). This guy was a bit of a thrill seeker as he was precariously perched on top of that loose stone wall eating the lush ivy which they like so much. The good news is that he managed to get down safely after he had his fill.
This sad memorial stone is dedicated to the poor little children who were buried on this beach near Carraroe in Connemara during the famine. Connemara was one of the worst hit areas during the famine and burying the dead was a huge problem for the poor starving people who had barely enough energy to carry their children as far as the beach. Digging a grave in the sand made the physical side of it easier but there was nothing to relieve the mental torment. Maybe worth just comparing our lot now to theirs? Our recession would(for them) have been a life beyond their wildest dreams.
The Puck Goat (ram) pictured here is the King of the "Puck Fair" week in Killorglin every year. It dates back to Pagan times when this was an annual festival where people came from far and wide to gather together for trade and festivities of all kinds. The goat was the King of the Fair and today we carry on that tradition every year with this great festival of song, dance and music during the Summer. A goat is captured from the mountain and he is placed on a high platform in the centre of the town. He is the King for the week. Do not worry about him at all.....he is well looked after and released back onto his mountain after the week is over.....maybe a little hung over from all the Guinness, but in good health otherwise.
I can never look at this wreck of an old fishing trawler without picturing her in her heyday. What a proud vessel she must have been, and now, just a sad reminder of bygone days. It is hard to look back at her without looking back at my own younger days.....but the memories are good.

I took this picture in St Mary's Cathedral in Killarney. It is a prayer that i find helpful when i am finding my work load heavy. Maybe you can read it if you enlarge the picture. No matter what denomination you are, i think you might find it nice.

November has been a pleasant month in general so far and the weather has been very mild for this time of the year. We have not had any temperatures down to freezing point as of yet and, compared to this time last year, we are really doing well. Every day that goes by now shortens the Winter, and that really is a bonus.

Planning a trip to Ireland is not easy for people in general, especially those who have not travelled a lot. I find that many people who write to me have been doing a certain amount of research, and that is not a bad thing, but taking advice from people who were here for a week or so, and want to plan your trip for you, is not always the best idea. I work with my clients from day one and try to find out their ideas and the places that they most want to see. Then i incorporate them into my own plan with my own ideas and put the lot together in a way that is practical. Doing it yourself is really full of hazards as you really have no idea of distances and road qualities and all the other things that crop up to upset your plans. When somebody takes me on i always tell them to try to leave the end plan to me as employing me and doing it yourself is like "Having a dog and barking yourself".
One hundred miles might seem very little when you know that in your country you can cover that in an hour and a half. It does not work like that here. It is easy for me to plan a tour because of my experience and i know what is sensible and i know what is just plain ridiculous. Most people who hire cars end up stressed out as their plans are just not practical and they just try to do too much. I can cover a lot more ground in half the time as i do not need maps, i do not get lost, and i know the places that are worth stopping off to see and the places that are not. There are many books and travel magazines that promote stuff that i would not bother with. You only have so much time here and it should be well spent. With me it will be. I do get a lot of enquiries from people who do not travel with me and i do not mind giving them advice. Many of them would love to be able to come to me but for different reasons they just cannot. Sometimes it is a financial thing, sometimes it is just because one of the party feels that hiring a driver and guide is unescessary and that they will do it themselves, but many of them regret that as they end up stressed out, not only from the driving but from all of the tension in their passengers, not to mention back-seat driving. Many of them find to their regret that financilally it was a disaster as they have accidents, and even if the accident is a minor one, their deposit is gone. So much for saving. With me everybody can relax and enjoy the scenery. I have two ladies coming to me next year who were here before and who told me that this time they want to have somebody with them who" can tell them what they are looking at " as as they go. The last time they loved everything but did not know half of the time what they were looking at. This time i am sure i can help.
If you want to know more just message me.

Dave

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-11-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Today is the feast of Christ the King, and this statue, standing in the centre of Killarney, commemorates that feast. At night it is beautifully lit and stands as a reminder that, despite our present problems, the King of Love reigns supreme while our earthly kings have feet of clay.

Enjoying a jaunting car ride.
What a lovely little thatched cottage. This one is also a little cafe in the grounds of the Killarney National Park.
I took this photo as i strolled through a forested area in the National
Park in Killarney.

The enquiries continue to come in for 2012 and it is great to see that at this early stage. I am very hopeful that things are on the up again. People seem to be regaining confidence in the powers that be that they will eventually get to grips with the hard choices they have to make and help businesses to function once again by making the necessary finance available to them to help them survive and grow. The irresponsible behaviour of our banks during the so-called good times has led now to them going completely the other way, now lending money to nobody but to those who do not really need it. O how nice it would be if we did not need them at all.
There are still many people who do have savings but who are afraid to use them as they are afraid that they might need them if things get even worse. I think that many of them are now begining to feel a little more confident and, when they do, there will be more money in circulation once again. I certainly cannot complain about my business this past year and with the positive signs i am now getting, and with the bookings i have already secured, next year looks very positive.
Ireland is still the place that burns in the heart of many Americans and a visit to the land of their ancestors is something that most Irish Americans have to experience. They have grown up listening to the songs about Dublin, Galway, Killarney, Donegal, Mayo, Tipperary, Cork, Clare, and many more famous Irish nameplaces. Who doen't know "It's a long way to Tipperary" or, "Galway Bay" or "Molly Malone"? Well if you don't then you are not Irish, but then many non-Irish know them also..
All of these placenames stick in the memory and become places that must be visited somewhere in a lifetime. When the visit becomes a reality , people are not disappointed. I always ask people, as we near the end of a tour, if Ireland was what they expected it to be, and they always tell me that it was that, and more. To describe your own personal feelings about Ireland is like trying to describe the love you feel for your own family. Your attempts at doing it just never seem to convey the depth and affect those feelings have on you and your heart. Ireland affects people in a way like nowhere else. People who have toured with me in the past still write to me expressing their longing to return again, and many of them do just that. They send their friends, their relatives, their children, instilling in them the same desire to experience this country that seems to have a spiritual affect as much as a visual affect on people.
I think that the feelings that i get as i travel with new found friends, the enjoyment i get from their obvious excitement and delight, and the sadness i feel sometimes as we say our goodbyes at the end of a tour, make this a vocation for me that i am grateful for. Unfortunately it is not always that way as there are people who seem incapable of enjoying anything other than the material things of life and my tours with them become more like work than the spiritual journey i really enjoy. It has to be about a love of the country, a love and understanding of its tragic history, a love of its traditions, its stories and its music, its people. If that is what you want then i would love to be the one to make that journey with you.It is what i enjoy most and what i do best.
If it is your dream then maybe now is the time to at least have a look at the possibility of making that dream come true. Having your own car and driver and someone who knows and loves his country and its traditions and history, and who takes great pride in sharing it with you, does make a private tour so much more intimate and meaningful.
It will not cost you anything to make an enquiry, it might mean everything in the long run.

Slawncha Wah (Spelt phonetically)

Good Health

Dave

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-11-16T06:51:00.001-08:00

No.....this is not my limo.....but what i nice way to travel if you do get the chance. This fellow is standing in the centre of Killarney waiting for his next passengers to arrive. He will take you on a jaunt around Killarney and show you the sights. Ross Castle is special, as is Muckross Park and Muckross House. I seem to spend a lot of time promoting Killarney but i suppose that is because it is a very special place and surrounded by many wonderful places for you to visit. It is a great base if you intend to tour the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle peninsula, the Gap of Dunloe and many other lovely destinations. The town is alive at night with a great variety of entertainment in the many "musical pubs". This town won the "Tidy Towns" competition this year.

Our soccer team has qualified for the final of the European Championships next year after a great play-off triumph over a gallant Estonia last night. Well done lads, and hard luck Estonia....we know what it is like to be runners up.

I know that Thanksgiving is at hand in the USA and i do find that many people over there send me greetings, eventhough we do not celebrate that here. It is still very nice to be remembered and thank you for that. To all my friends over there, an early "Happy Thanksgiving".

I am surprisingly, and happily, "very busy" dealing with enquiries for next year. It is early, but you know what they say about the "early bird". I hate disappointing people, but it happens all the time. There are only so many weeks in the season and lots of people share the same holiday dates. It is never easy saying no, especially when people really want to come to me. I do get a lot of referrals from people who have travelled with me in the past and who recommend me to their relatives and friends. As the years go by this happens more and more often and that is only to be expected as my customer base expands. I operate on my own and find this best as i can deliver personally on my committments. If you are interested just drop me an e-mail and i will take it from there.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Dave

2011-11-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

Carolyn and Bill at Muckross House in Killarney.

This is a most stately home in Killarney, and well worth a visit. There are guided tours throughout the season and the house and its history are special. This is where Queen Victoria was supposed to have spent a couple of weeks during her visit to Kilarney but, due to her husband's sudden illnes, had to leave only a short few hours after arriving. Its location on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney is magniificent. Make sure that you take in the farmyard tour when you visit here.
The tour of the farms is one of my own special retreats. It is refreshing to spend time walking around enjoying these old homes and the farm animals. There are a number of old cottages of varying sizes, the one above being the large farmers cottage.

These pigs are just some of the animals you can see here. There are also the magnificent cart and plough horses, geese, and chickens and ducks, donkeys and Irish Wolfhounds.

This is the inside of the medium farmers cottage. Here you see the fresh bread being baked on the griddle over a peat and log fire by real Irish country women. Better still....you can sample it....and i always do have my fill ....with real homemade Irish country butter, made here on the farm also. There is nothing to compare with hot break and the butter melting into it. Now i'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
This picture shows the labourer's humble cottage. This one now has slates but it would have been thatched in its day. The interior was very modest with a small kitchen come living room, a central fireplace with one chimney, and a couple of tiny bedrooms.

This picture shows the outside view of the medium farmers cottage. This was a fine home really and would have been considered to be such. Here you had a large open kitchen when you walked in the front door, and bedrooms at either end. There was also a loft area, which was known as the shelf, where members of the family could sleep. This would have been a warm area as the rising heat would heat the place. It was normally the younger family members who slept on the shelf and if a girl failed to find a husband she was said the have been "left on the shelf". Now there is one for you.

Where would they have been without their turf (peat). This is what we all burned here in Ireland years ago, and what a nice fire it made. The blacker the turf, the better it was, as the back turf was older and more condensed, and far better quality than the lighter brown turf. There are still many homes here in Ireland where turf is regualarly burned. When you grow accustomed to the smell of a turf fire it is very pleasant, and for me that smell stirs up many happy memories.

2011-11-05T07:25:00.000-07:00

Last evening i had the privilege of entertaining our Taoiseach (Premier), Enda Kenny, at a function in a retirement home not far from where i live. As you may have guessed, he is the one with the tie. I used to be involved in the entertainment business but in recent years i just do some voluntary work such as this particular event last night. You could never find a more appreciative audience than the seniors citizens and i always enjoy these functions.

To mark the occasion of his visit there were small Irish flags, one of which he is signing for me in this photo. This was my first opportunity to meet with the man who has not been in the job that long but who has so far been a part of a refreshing change since the old regime were ousted at the polls. This has been a far from easy time to take on the job of premier due to the economic situation but this man has stood firm and hopefully is leading us out of our present difficulties. He does deserve all the support he can get and i personally would wish him well.

2011-11-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

This photo i took recently at the Cliffs of Moher which are very much in the news lately. These Cliffs have been short listed as one of the final 28 selected modern wonders of the World in the competition for the Modern Seven Wonders of the World which will be finally selected inside the next few days. If you want to vote for the Cliffs just log in to the voting site at www.modern7wonders of the world. They are truly worthy of your vote.

The western seaboard of Ireland is my own favourite part of this wonderful country and make sure that you include this area in your plans.

I often have guests staying at Ashford Castle and Falconry is one of the attractions that you can enjoy if you choose to stay here.

This bronze atatue of a goat is in honour of King Puck, that famous goat who is King of the annual Puck Fair in Killorglin County Kerry every Summer. This festival dates back to Pagan times when a goat was selected annually as the King of the fair and people came from far and wide to trade and to party for the duration of the festival. Nowadays it is a fun affair with the finest of Irish music and revelry. People come from all over ther world to share in the celebrations. They still capture a goat from the mountains and he is placed on a raised platform in the centre of Killorglin where he is King of the fair for the few days. He is well looked after and released back onto the mountain after the festival is over. It could only happen in Ireland.

2011-10-28T09:04:00.000-07:00

An Irish sky over the lakes and mountains of Killarney.

Cattle enjoying the sun, amongst other things, on the Dingle peninsula.

Two men from the inland fisheries restocking a glacial lake with brown trout in the mountains of Kerry. You can fish these lakes by getting a temporary licence, even for one day. Many people come to Ireland to fish our lakes and rivers. There is also a lot of deep sea fishing done on the west coast.

I have not blogged for a few days but i have been tied up with many things and did not have the time. I am already dealing with enquiries and bookings for next year and feel encouraged by the level of interest being shown in Ireland. The media would have us believe that nobody wants to spend money anymore. There are many people who have a dream to come to Ireland someday and this dream and desire have to be satisfied. We all know that we only live once and, when there is something that you have to do, then it just has to be done. Many of my customers have come to me to fulfill that lifelong dream and i have never yet met anybody who regretted doing just that. If that is your dream then why not at least make an enquiry and see just what is involved. I find that many are surprised by the cost and find that they actually are in a position to follow it through. At this present time prices have come down and there is great value in Ireland so if you are interested just drop me a line and i will see what i can do for you.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-10-22T01:55:00.001-07:00

Purple Heather on an Irish hillside. Now you know why we need the rain.

The town of Clifden in county Galway is one of Ireland's most Westerly towns and has always been extremely popular with visitors. It is surrounded by very beautiful countryside and the town itself has a great variety of good pubs and restaurants and hotels. The golf course at Ballyconneely, (the Connemara Golf Club), is a fine links course right on the edge of the Atlantic and is a tough challenge for any golfer.

Well yesterday i finished up my latest tour as i said my goodbyes to Mary and Matthew Mann after what i hope was an enjoyable tour for them. I now have a few days off before i get down to work on the many other jobs i have had to put on the long finger. I will be Blogging as often as possible and if anybody has any queries about anything relating to Ireland, or coming to Ireland, please feel free to write to me. I would also like to let those people who have sent in enquiries to me recently know that i will now be getting around to working on them.
Once again i just want to send my sincere thanks to all the wonderful people who have come my way this year, and indeed down through all the years i have been in business, for their friendship and support.
Thank you once again, and remember, you will always be welcome.

Chauffeurdrive Vacation in the West of Ireland

2011-10-20T11:47:00.000-07:00

Today we made our way into Connemara for our final days touring in the West of Ireland. The day was cold but at least dry early on but that was to change in the afternoon as the rain began to fall. The above photo was taken on the Sky Road near Clifden and shows an old abandoned famine cottage. This area was heavily populated as living near the coast at least gave the people the opportunity to catch fish. They had very little else in these regions and when the potato failed during the famine years many people feld these regions for the USA.

This picture shows the fjord at Leenane in Connemara and is Europe's most westerly fjord.

Tomorrow we make our way back to Dublin where Matthew and Mary will spend their final couple of days enjoying this historic city. I will be saying by goodbyes after what has been a very nice tour with these special people. My touring season is slowly but surely drawing to a close and i would sincerely like to thank all of those new friends who came my way for making my year the success it was. I hope that many of them can come back again sometime and i wish them all the best for now.

Irish vacation with own driver

2011-10-19T14:43:00.001-07:00

It is hard to beat an open fire on a cold day, and that was what we had here in Ireland today. Here you see Mary "getting a warm" before we left the hotel this morning. The sun did manage to shine for us however and the day went well once again. Our first stop off was at Ross Castle in Killarney where Mary and Matthew enjoyed a guided tour of this fine old
O' Donoghue Castle.

Matthew and Mary were well wrapped up against the cold today, but like the good soldiers they are, they never complained about the weather. here we see them as they exited the castle after their tour.

A view of Ross Castle which is located on the shores of Lough Leane in Killarney.
Our final destination today was Galway City where they will spend tonight before we tour Connemara tomorrow. Hopefully our weather will be as good as today.

Chauffeurdrive holiday in Ireland

2011-10-18T11:06:00.000-07:00

Today may have been cold but the sun shone as we made our way into the Gap of Dunloe. Our journey took us all the way through the Black Valley and up to Mol's Gap at the top of the mountain pass. Then we made our way back down on the Ring of Kerry into the Killarney National Forest Park. The above photo of Mary and Matthew was taken at Ladies View.

The mountain top was not high enough for Matthew as he found this rock to climb to improve his view.

These huge boulders are just a few of the thousands of loose rocks that have sat here since the glacier, which carved this mountain gorge through this mountain side, finally melted. The best way to enjoy this journey is to travel with the horse drawn buggies which travel through here daily. It is not advisable to drive through as the roads are narrow and very dangerous.

Looking back down the road and enjoying the magnificent views of one of the many lakes in the gorge.

Matthew and Mary obviously enjoying this special place as we near the top of the pass.

This photo was taken at Mol's Gap. In the background you can see the Gap of Dunloe between the mountains with a Rainbow magically appearing to add the icing to our fantastic journey.

Who said that we there are no leprechauns in Ireland? Mary is now a staunch believer.

Torc waterfall is always a special treat when you visit the Killarney National Forest Park. Just ask Mary and Matthew.

Our weather this week has taken a downward turn and we are experiencing much colder temperatures than you would normally expect at this time of the year. It has also been showery but we have been properly equipped and it has not spoiled our tour in any way. It has been nice for me to see Mary and Matthew really enthusiastic about their holiday and they have been great company. Today they also visited Muckross House where Queen Victoria stayed during her visit to Killarney. After her visit Mary told me that she going to buy Muckross House so i think she must have been impressed.

Irish vacation with chauffeur/private driver in Ireland

2011-10-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Mary enjoying the fresh air on a stormy Irish beach.
At home in a Beehive hut
Gazing wistfully at the stormy seas with the Blasket Islands offshore in the Atlantic.
Where could the air be more fresh than here today? Here we see Mary with that ruined house i mentioned in an earlier post. The day may have been wild and windy today but we did have a wonderful time enjoying this magical peninsula at Dingle.

Caught in the act, diving into an apple and sponge dessert with fresh whipped cream and vanilla ice-cream. How could you beat that, especially when you had been out in the wonderful fresh air developing an appetite. We were not about to make any apologies.
Today was another great day for Mary and myself. Matthew rested up and stayed put in Killarney, but Dingle was our destination and, despite the gales and stormy seas, this was a really great day to see Dingle at her wild and rugged best.

Chauffeur in Ireland for Irish Vacation

2011-10-16T10:03:00.001-07:00

A view of the rugged coastline of County Clare today, an area becoming increasingly popular for surfing. No shortage of great waves when the wind blows here.

A dream come true at long last. Mary and Matthew Mann at the Cliffs of Moher today. The air was cool and fresh but the sun still shone for us and all was well.

Mary at the Cliffs today as she addressed her Irish fans and spoke these unique an memorable words" A small step for mankind....a giant step for womanhood."
Tonight we are in Killarney and looking forward to exciting days ahead. Mary and Matthew have recovered really well from their journey over to Ireland and are great company. They send on regards to of their friends and family at home. I will try to Blog regularly as we go so make sure to drop in and check our progress.

2011-10-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

This shell of an old house is a sad reminder of bygone days and stands on the edge of the Atlantic at Slea Head in Dingle. It always stirs my imagination. This area was populated by farmers and fishermen, and they were a hardy lot. You would have to be tough living in a remote and exposed area such as this and working both on the mountains with your sheep or on the sea in those open curachs. It was an extremely dangerous lifestyle and many paid the price with their lives. Looking at this house and the window facing the ocean, my mind always pictures a mother gazing out at the stormy seas, hoping to catch sight of her husband, or sons, fighting to make it to land and safety. I am sure that this was the case and that many hearts were broken when the sea won the battle.

Today i started may latest tour with a mother and son, Mary and Matthew, who had earlier arrived in Dublin from Philadelphia, and had made their way to Galway on the bus, where i collected them on arrival.
The day was mild and pleasant so hopefully we will be lucky over the next few days. Tomorrow we make our way into the Burren of county Clare and on to the Cliffs of Moher. Later in the day we will be in Killarney and ready to tour that area over the coming days.
Maybe you can travel along with us.

Dave

Chauffeurdrive Vacations in Ireland for 2012

2011-10-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

Muckross House in Killarney.

This view, from the rear of the house, shows the fire escape that had to be installed especially for Queen Victoria as she had a dread of fire. There were also large alterations to the house and a special bedroom had to be designed for her on the ground floor as she would not sleep upstairs. The gaeden here at the back is also very beautiful.

If you visit Muckross House, make sure that you also spend time taking in the farm tour. This is a tour of four recreated old farmhouses of various sizes and demonstrates clearly the conditions people had to endure back in the nineteen hundreds....not that long ago. You can see the "woman of the house" baking fresh homemade bread, and also fresh butter. You can sit beside a lovely turf(peat) fire and enjoy a little break while you sample that bread. There are also farm animals to see, cattle, pigs, donkeys etc. Personally, i love this tour and always enjoy it as it brings back many happy memories of my own time on my uncles farms. Those were the days when we did not know what recession was, eventhough we were living through it. We had very little, but we always had enough.

This is one of the cottages you can see on the tour. This particular type was most common and could be a replica of cottages i spent my Summer holidays in. When i look back on those days i seem to imagine that the sun was always shining.

The traditional fishing boats of the west of Ireland, the curachs, on the beach at Spiddal.

Bill and Carolyn enjoying a peaceful moment in Cong county Mayo. The lake in the background is the Corrib, the Republic of Ireland's largest lake, which is said to have 365 islands.

A Warning:

They say that the early bird catches the worm, and i know, that in my business, that happens quiet a lot. I receive enquiries all throughout the year and very often people leave it too late to get the particular window of holiday time that they want. I hate to disappoint anybody but it is not my fault when this happens. Once i get an enquiry, which i believe to be sincere, i hold that time for the enquirer until we have managed to agree on a program and quotation. If this does not work out then nothing is lost. I do not have prepared programs with prepared quotations as my way of operating allows people to decide on their own specific program with the help of my own expertise. You may have ancestral history in Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Galway, Sligo, or God knows where, and of course you will want to include these specific areas in your plan. You may have a budget and need help deciding just how much you can do for that. You may want to stay in hotels, B&B's, Castles, or a mix of all of these, and here again i help you to decide. I always make sure that my clients understand that what we agree on is practical as my type of touring is not done at a hectic pace. With me, a "Holiday is a Holiday". Spending all day in a car, and supposedly having a wonderful time "Looking out the windows", is not my idea of enjoying a holiday in Ireland. With me you can lie in in the morning a little longer if you wish, you will have time to stroll around and enjoy the fresh air, you will have time to shop, to eat when you want to, and what you want to eat, and moving on to a new destination every day is not always a great idea. Knowing where to base yourself to cover a number of areas without having to re-pack every day is especially important.
I also have many friends in the USA who have travelled with me who will speak to you directly if you would like to enquire about me and my service and i think that there is no better way to find out what lies in store for you on a Dave Hogan Tour. You will have plenty of time to yourself and i do not impose myself on my friends any more than they want me to.
When i part company with my touring companions at the end of a tour, i want to feel that i have more new friends and that i have done my job to the best of my ability.
From now forward i will be receiving enquiries for next years holidays so if you are interested just send me an e-mail and we will see what we can do.
I look forward to hearing from you.

An Irish vacation with your own private driver

2011-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Bill and Carolyn at Kylemore Abbey yesterday.
Bill getting his own photos of the fjord at Leenane.
The cloisters in the ancient abbey at Cong.
Carolyn getting her photos inside the old Abbey
Admiring the view at Ashford Castle.
My wife Sue with Bill and Carolyn having just finished a wonderful fish dinner at Moran's of the Weir last night.
Relaxing outside Moran's last evening.
The majestic Bunratty Castle, the final destination before heading off to Shannon airport for their trip to Scotland today.
Well what can i say about my time with Carolyn and Bill other than that i had a great time and really enjoyed their company for the full duration of their tour with me. I only hope that they enjoyed it as much as i did. I wish them well on their trip to Scotland and look forward to hearing from them when they return home.
Thank you for availing of my services and it is nice to have such nice people to add to my list of wonderful friends.

Touring West of Ireland with private driver

2011-10-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

Upturned Curachs on the shore in Spiddal.

These black boats are the boats most commonly used by the fishermen on the West coast of Ireland. They were extremely light framed and covered with canvas and then tarred (pitch) to waterproof them. They were easily carried by two men and were so light that, with their upturner prows, they rode the waves. Of course you did have to know how to handle them as they could be tossed around and turned over if you did not know your job.
This is a freshly cut load of peat stacked by the roadside ready to be brought in to storage for the winter months fires. This particular peat is really good quality as it is solid and dark in colour and would not burn away to readily. The lighter more loosely packed peat is not nearly as good and literally goes up in smoke.
You cannot see them.....but they are there. This photo was taken in Doolin and the Aran Islands are somewhere there in the mist. That was where Carolyn and Bill were for the last two days and they really did enjoy the experience.
Having returned from the Islands last evening Carolyn and Bill stayed overnight in Galway city and thoroughly enjoyed a night of traditional Irish music in this bar, The Pucan in Forster Street, and also a lovely meal in the same place. This pub has traditional music every evening, and also Irish dancing.
Today we spent having a look at the city and surrounding areas. The weather is wild and showery at the moment but they are still enjoying themselves very much.
Tomorrow we are off to Connemara, that famous region where the great old movie"The Quiet Man", was filmed. Hopefully i will have some more nice photos for you then.

An Irish vacation with your own private driver

2011-10-04T12:51:00.001-07:00

Amazing what a holiday in Ireland can do for you. Bill and Carolyn just could not resist this romantic moment in Lisdoonvara. In case you do not know, Lisdoonvarna is that famous town in West Clare where the farmers would go after the harvest to find a wife. The ladies would of course be there also looking for a suitable husband and that was where the Matchmakers came in. These were professional people who would take your details and try to find you a suitable partner. Many men came from the USA and found wonderful Irish girls to take back to the USA with them. Believe it or not, that tradition still carries on and in the month of September many people still flock to Lisdoonvarna to celebrate, in music and dance and song, this great festival. People still come here to find a wife or husband and the Matchmakers are still there to do the job that they always did. No wonder Bill and Carolyn got swept along in the spirit of this wonderful tradition. I think it was cute.
Bill and Carolyn in the grounds of the ancient Corcomroe Abbey in the Burren. This abbey was built in the early twelve hundreds and the cemetery is still in use here. It is in a beautiful location at the foot of the mountains and a must to visit if you are in this area.

Bill and Carolyn inside the Abbey. Note the graves marked by old headstones. When these abbeys were abandoned people started to bury their dead inside as this was sacred ground.

An unusual Norman tower castle in the Burren. Most Norman towers are square in design but there are some round towers such as this one. I have heard it said that they were designed so that cannon balls would deflect off their rounded surface.

It was windy and drizzly at the cliffs of Moher yesterday but Bill and Carolyn really enjoyed their visit here.

A well earned rest and a hearty lunch in Doolin at Mc Cann's pub restaurant. Carolyn had a great Irish beef stew while Bill and i had fish and chips. It was all really delicious. I can recommend.

Dining in Killarney with chauffeurdrive/own car and driver

2011-10-03T00:33:00.000-07:00

I had never before tasted Mexican food and, on Saturday night in Killarney, i finally took the plunge. This particular Mexican restaurant has not been open that long but i had noticed it and had intended to try it out. I do get people with many varied tastes travelling with me....including Mexicans. Well i did venture in to Casita Mexicana and, with a lot of help from Eve, the proprietress, i tucked in to what was a really lovely meal. I had a Tiger prawn Tapas starter with a really nice sweet chilli sauce and followed this up with a spicey chicken dish with Tortillas, sour cream, quacemole and Mexican rice(I am begining to sound like an expert). I had eaten earlier, delicious fish and chips in Harringtons in Dingle, and did not think that i would have been able to eat as much again as i did, but then that is a compliment to the food, and the chef, as i polished off the lot. I will definitely be returning there again. The restaurant is located in the Inishfallen shopping arcade right in the heart of Killarney. They will be relocating next year to another premises but it is also right in the heart of the town and i am sure that it will not be hard to find....especially when you are hungry.
After finishing my meal, Eve's husband John emerged from the kitchen and we had a really nice nice chat about business and his ideas about food in general. John provides a wide range of Gluten free choices also and makes all of his own sauces so, if you have a gluten allergy, this place is ideal for you.
Make sure that you give it a try.....you will not be disappointed.

Car and driver West of Ireland

2011-10-02T11:05:00.001-07:00

I am now at last posting some of the photos i took on my present tour with Bill and Carolyn Bingham. I will post more as soon as i get a chance. The above photo is the restored Ross castle in Killarney which is open to the public and well worth a visit.
Adare Manor in the town of Adare was the home of the Earl of Dunraven. This was our first stop on our first day.
A jaunting car in the heart of Killarney town. These are the type of horse drawn vehicles used in the tour of the Gap of Dunloe and which Bill and Carolyn travelled in on their memorable journey on Thursday last.

On thursday night they attended the Liam O'Connor show in Killarney. Liam is known as the fastest fingers in the world and is a renowned accordion player and his show is superb and features music song and wonderful traditional dancing. The above photo was taken after the show and shows Carolyn and Bill with Liam.
Sitting on a low wall high above the Atlantic on our trip around the Iveragh peninsula, a journey known as "The Ring of Kerry." This photo was taken just outside Waterville at the head of the peninsula.
Another photo on the Ring with the Dingle peninsula in the background.
Torc Waterfall in the Killarney National Forest Park is really nice and the setting in the woods makes it special.
The wonderful beach at Inch on the Dingle peninsula. This photo was taken yesterday on our tour of the Dingle peninsula and you can see the Iveragh peninsula and Ring of Kerry in the background where we were yesterday.
The ancient beehive huts near Slea Head are a must to visit. Make sure that you look for Maura Houlihan's house which is just on your right hand side before you reach Slea Head. You will see Maura's old two storey house set above the road on your right.
Bill and Carolyn outside Maura's house at Slea Head. This house is five hundred years old. It has been added to as it was originally a single storey cottage. Maura is a wonderful lady, and just tell her Dave sent you. She charges a minimal two Euro for visit to her ancient huts. As they say..."Worth every penny"
Yesterday was a food festival day in Dingle and these lovely ladies had a stall and were barbecuing a variety of fish, which i sampled. Their efforts were for a noble cause, Breast Cancer Ireland. I has a mix of Mackerel, Tuna and Shark. This was my first time ever to eat shark and i must say that it was really nice. Well done ladies. I must add that there were some men there also working on the grills...well done lads.
Carolyn and Bill sitting on the bronze memorial to the great Dolphin Fungi who inhabits Dingle harbour and attracts thousands of visitors to Dingle every year. He is there now for well over twenty years and you can spend a most enjoyable hour speeding up and down the harbour in the boats after this wonderful entertainer.
Bill and Carolyn at the rear of Muckross house today. Note the lovely garden with its many lovely flowers.
The tour of Muckross house also includes a tour of the Muckross farms. These piglets were in their pen at one of the old farm cottages.
Inside one of the farm cottages where the woman of the house was baking her griddle bread on the open turf (peat) fire. You can sample this wonderful bread with a good coat of home made butter.
A view of the outside of the farmhouse.
Bill and Carolyn outside the largest of the cottages on the farm tour. This photo does not show just how large this house is. Also the old fashioned vice attached to the wooden counter.
Bill examining some of the implements on display in the old forge on the farm. Note the large bellows leaning against the wall behing Bill.

More photos to come.

Chauffeurdrive Vacations Ireland West

2011-10-02T03:23:00.000-07:00

Well today could not have gotten off to a better start as Ireland defeated Italy to advance to the quarter finals of the Rugby World Cup. Not only did they advance from their group, but they topped the group, which included rugby giants Australia. Now we play Wales in the next game with a place in the semi-finals at stake. We have the team to do it and all we need now is to get the breaks that you always need in games that are bound to be close run contests. These games are being played in New Zealand where there is massive support for the Irish due to the huge number of Irish emigrants that have settled in both New Zealand and Australia. Every game there seems like a home game with the Irish green on view all over the stadiums. What a wonderful dream it would be if they could only go all the way....and they could.
Yesterday we visited the wonderful Dingle peninsula and i will have some great photos to post as soon as i get a chance...hopefully later today (Sunday). This morning Carolyn and Bill are visiting Muckross House, that stately home in Killarney which is famous for the visit of Queen Victoria in the eighteen hundreds. I will also be posting pictures from there, so make sure you come back later.

Chauffeurdrive vacations in Ireland/private car and driver

2011-09-30T12:20:00.000-07:00

Apologies once again for not posting since Wednesday but i am having problems and cannot post any pictures until, hopefully, Sunday evening. I do have some nice ones for you to look forward to then so make sure you keep coming back. My latest tour is going really well and the couple travelling with me, Bill and Carolyn from Texas, are wonderful company and enjoying just about everything. Even the unreliable weather we have been having in the west of Ireland over the last few days has not been a problem for them and they actually are enjoying the warm fresh air.
Yesterday they went on that wonderful journey through the Lakes of Killarney and the Gap of Dunloe and loved every minute of it. Then last evening they went to the Liam O'Connor show in Killarney, and that was another special treat for them. Today we toured the Ring of Kerry and the weather actually worked out quiet well for us as the skies cleared when we needed it most and it all worked out well. I will have photos of this for you when i post soon. Tomorrow we are off on our journey to one of my own personal favourite places, the Dingle peninsula. The forecast for the morning is good but rain is expected in the afternoon, so hopefully we will have covered the most important places by then. I will keep you posted.

Chauffeurdrive holidays in the west of Ireland

2011-09-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

Today i started my latest tour when i collected my party at Shannon airport this morning. The day was overcast but we did not have any rain as we made our way south on our way to Killarney. We stopped off in Adare where we visited Adare Manor. This fine old castle, which was the home of the Earl of Dunraven, is a magnificent castle and five star hotel. The town of Adare is one of Ireland's most beautiful small towns and is high on the list of many visitors. We enjoyed a break for a coffee and scone before continuing on our way to Killarney. My couple, Carolyn and Bill, were immiediately taken by the beauty of our countryside and Carolyn actually remarked at how surprised she was that it more than lived up to her expectations. She said that so often you see pictures of places and when you get around to actually seeing them that they do not live up to those pictures. It was nice to hear that Ireland was an exception.
On reaching Killarney they were both ready for a rest as they had been travelling a long way and were at the end of a third flight when they reached Shannon. I must say that they were remarkably healthy after such a long journey which included, a flight from Austin Texas to Atlanta, Atlanta to JFK, and JFK to Shannon. Even after all of that they were great company. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time with them over the coming days.
I will be posting photos later in the week.

Car and driver West of Ireland

2011-09-26T12:53:00.001-07:00

A view of Beaufort Golf course and Castle near Killarney with the MaCGillicuddy Reeks in the background.

At the moment i am preparing for my next tour which begins on Wednesday when i start out with a couple from Texas. The weather is improving by the day so hopefully we will have it nice. Make sure you come along with me.
The big news here yesterday was the great finale to the Ladies Golf, the Solheim Cup. I cannot remember a more dramatic ending as with just four holes to play it looked like the USA team had it in the bag only for the Europeans to stage an unbelievable comeback over the final three holes. It was the stuff that dreams are made of and it is not very often that the USA let a match slip from their grasp like they did here. All credit to the European ladies, especially the rookies, as they played a major part in this vistory. They support was huge for both teams with large numbers of people travelling over from the USA to back up their heroines. It was a most sporting contest and when the dust settles i would imagine that every lover of golf would have to say that they were most fortunate to have witnessed a contest like this. The skill of all of the golfers was extraordinary and nobody could be faulted for lack of effort. I am sure that the ladies from the USA are already looking forward to the next Solheim Cup tournament when it returns to the US.
The dollar is improving quiet a bit recently against the Euro and this of course is great news for anybody coming our way right now. This time of the year can be very nice in Ireland and for many people it is the preffered time as it begins to quieten down. There is still a good stretch in the day and the temperatures can be just a good as in the Summer. Nevertheless, always bring warm undergarments, a couple of sweaters, and light rainwear when travelling to Ireland. I still have a little free time in October if you are thinking about coming but let me know as soon as possible please.

Solheim Cup in Ireland with Chauffeurdrive

2011-09-20T23:51:00.001-07:00

Ross Castle in Killarney, which was an O'Donoghue castle/stronghold which finally was captured by Cromwell's forces. It is on the lakeshore just on the outskirts of Killarney town and a must to visit. There are guided tours here daily and the castle is a wonderful insight into just how these people lived in bygone days.
Carolyn and Joe at the harbour in Dingle. This is one of the most important fishing ports on the west coast of Ireland. If you want to have a first class fish meal then there is no better place than Dingle. Harrington's on the seafront opposite the tourist office would be my recommendation.

There will be great excitement for all golf fans here in Ireland over the coming days as the Solheim Cup Tournament gets under way. The Junior ladies have already started with the Europeans making a great start winning five of the first six doubles. This tournament for ladies is the equivalent of the Ryder Cup for men and generates a huge amount of interest in Ireland as Golf is a very important sport here. There is no better place for a golfing holiday than Ireland and it is no wonder that we produce so many fine golfers for such a small nation. Just look at our recent record in majors.Unfortunately the weather is not great right now and as i write this morning it is quiet miserable outside with rain and wind. It is also quiet cold so if you are coming our way make sure that you bring pleanty of warm undergarments and sweaters and light rainwear. Good shoes are also important, and not trainers, as you will end up with wet feet.

Car and driver West of Ireland

2011-09-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

An overcast Irish sky in September.

Sorry, sorry, sorry....i have been out of action for a few days as my web-site was undergoing a change. Have a look and see for yourself. I think it is nice, and i hope you like the pictures. I have also been busy catching up on many things that had been left on the long-finger and hope to get most of these cleared up over the next few days.
The weather has been disappointing and surprisingly cool for September. This can be a very nice month in Ireland, and so can October, so maybe there is hope yet. It does shorten the Winter a lot when these two months are kind to us. The days have begun to shorten already and darkness is upon us now by about 8:00pm. By some peoples standards that is still a long day and there is plenty of time to get many things done in daylight.
For anybody interested in Gaelic football the All-Ireland Final was on today and Dublin shocked many people, especially those in Kerry, by taking the title after an epic struggle with Kerry. It has been a good many years since Dublin won the All-Ireland and the celebrations in the Capital tonight will be unbelievable. It was a great game and eventhough Kerry had them on the rack with just a few minutes to go, Dublin staged a late comeback to scrape home by a single point.
Well done Dublin, and also well done Kerry for providing us with such a wonderful final.

Killarney with own car and driver.

2011-09-13T23:32:00.000-07:00

Joe and Carolyn Ricapito at Ladies View in Killarney.
Coming to the end of our tour in the lovely town of Adare.

Well, yesterday i had to finally bid farewell to Joe and Carolyn Ricapito as i dropped them off at their hotel in Killarney where they stayed last evening. They had an early departure from Shannon this morning after what i hope was a lovely tour for them. They were the best of company and we shared many wonderful experiences in a short space of time. It is amazing just how much you can cover in just a few days and i know that having an experienced guide like me does help. Planning is very difficult when you have no idea of how long it takes to get around, and indeed how to get around.When you look at a map of Ireland and everything looks so small, and distances look so short, you think that you can cover the whole country in a few days. It does not work out like that. If you do not know the country then you will be lucky if you can cover twenty miles an hour allowing for stops. If you get lost, then you can add a lot more time, and that does happen quiet a lot. I know my country, and i know exactly how long it takes to get from A to B. I know what is worth seeing and what is best left out. I do not go by guide books and i do not agree with much of the stuff that they include as worth seeing. Many of these books and articles are written by people who have only spent a very limited amount of time here and i think that having been born and reared here i should give me a better idea of what is what. I know the best places to eat and shop, and of course the best places to stay. Carolyn and Joe loved all that we did and really enjoyed our stay in the Plaza Hotel in Killareny. At the end of a long day it is important to have a nice place to look forward to where you know you will get a good nights sleep to prepare you for the next days touring.
One of the highlights of our tour was a get-together with my own writers group in Kinvara. Joe and Carolyn are both writers and their participation in our meeting was a real treat for all of us. I know that they loved meeting all of my own fellow writers and we all shared some of our work. They will be returing now to their own writers group in Baton Rouge where they in turn can relate their experience of sharing with an Irish group. I send our regards to all of our new friends in Baton Rouge and extend a special welcome to them and to any other writers who may come to Kinvara.
Our day in Connemara with Ignatio, their friend, was special, as was our journey down the coast via the Cliffs of Moher on our way to Killarney.
I know that their day in the Gap of Dunloe was another highlight. Our day on the Dingle peninsula and our visit to Maire Houlihan's home near Slea Head was another highlight. The meal of Fish and Chips in Harrington's in Dingle was another first as Joe had never had fish and chips before. He will have them again i am sure now that he has become hooked. Our night in the Genting Thai restaurant in Killarney was another treat as was our lovely Italian meal in Robertino's in Killarney. I could go on.
Saying goodbye is never easy, and yesterday was no exception. I have new friends, and my first from Baton Rouge Louisianna. I wish them Bon Voyage and i hope that their memories of their time in Ireland last a long time.
Thank you for choosing me.

Dave

On tour with own car and driver/chauffeur /West of Ireland

2011-09-12T13:05:00.003-07:00

Today on the Dingle Peninsula as the tail-end of hurricane Katia hit the west coast of Ireland. We had gale force winds and wonderful stormy seas and, believe it or not.....no rain. What a great place to be.
Joe and Carolyn Ricapito sitting on a low wall above the strand at Inch.This is a favourite place for surfers, but even they did not dare to enter the seas today.
The Atlantic rollers in full flow as we made our way towards Dingle town.
Pictured here with Maura Houlihan at her 500 year old house near Slea Head. If you want to enjoy a visit to the ancient beehive huts, Maura's is the place to go. You will see her house on the right hand side just before Slea Head. Her charge of Euro 2-00 is more than reasonable for what you will see here.

Joe and Carolyn enjoying a great feed of "Fish and Chips" in Harringtons in Dingle. We had the cod and it was really the finest. You will find this restaurant just opposite the tourist office in Dingle.If you have room when you are finished your fish and chips, try a whipped ice cream cone..... Yummy. Take it from one who loves his food.....Harringtons is the place if you love your sea-food. Ask for Eileen....and tell her Dave said to look after you. She will anyway.
Harringtons .....and below
When you find Fungi the Dolphin..... you will find Harringtons.Fungi is that wonderful Dolphin who entertains thousands of tourists every year in Dingle harbour....and has done for over twenty years now. Since he arrived here in Dingle he has been a Godsend to this town and has attracted tourists from all over the world who come to witness this magnificent entertainer.
Finally....Joe and Carolyn high in the mountains at the Conor Pass this afternoon. I was worried that we might be blown away up here today but it was unbelievably calm as the mountains were sheltering us from the storm. This was a day to remember, and even better as a result of the storm. It was wild, but not wet or cold. A day for rosy cheeks.

Killarney and the Gap of Dunloe with Private Driver/Chauffeur

2011-09-11T09:39:00.000-07:00

One of the buses on their way to the Gap of Dunloe.
A typical horse-drawn carriage waiting to carry its passengers up through the Gap.
Carolyn and Joe arriving back to Ross Castle at the end of their trip down through the Lakes of Killarney and completing the final leg of their brave journey through the Gap of Dunloe today.
All wrapped up in their warm clothing and life jackets.
Carolyn and Joe, glad to be back, but it was well worth the effort.

The Gap of Dunloe tour is a spectacular journey which starts in Killarney and ends back in Killarney after a journey which involves the horse drawn carriages on the narrow roads up through the Gap in the Kerry mountains and ends with an open boat ride down through three of Killarney's lakes ending at Ross castle on Lough Leane.The hardest bit of making this journey today was making the decision as to whether or not to undertake the trip, as there was a forecast for gale force winds and rain for sometime today. Joe and Carolyn were determined to have a go and i was not going to stand in their way and off they went. As it turned out it was wild and sometimes wet also but they completed the journey and i know that this particular day will live long in their memories of Ireland and their time with me. I can only say that they were great adventurers and deserve a medal each.
Tonight we went for an Italian meal in Robertino's in Killarney and it was really good. Joe, being an expert on Italian food, was high in his praise for this place and i can recommend it to anybody coming to Killarney who likes Italian food. Tonight we are expecting the worst of this hurricane, which is the tail-end of hurricane Katia which hit the East coast of America recently. Tomorrow is forecast bad also so we will have to see what it is like before we decide on our destination. I will let you know when the time comes so come back soon.

Dave

Irish Vacation with car and driver/chauffeurdrive

2011-09-10T14:11:00.000-07:00

Joe and Carolyn Ricapito at O'Brien's Tower on the Cliffs of Moher today.
A relaxed Joe and Carolyn with a great view of the Cliffs.
On the Corkscrew Hill with Galway Bay and the Burren in the background.
Ignatio with Joe and Carolyn on a heather covered mountainside in Connemara yesterday.
Ignatio, Carolyn, Joe and myself at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara yesterday.
A sheep on a mountain road in Connemara. In the background you can see the freshly cut turf (peat) from one of the many bogs in this area.
Relaxing by an open fire in Ashford Castle in Cong. The crest on the shield above the fireplace is the crest of the Guinness family who owned this castle at one time.
Ignatio, Carolyn and Joe In the grounds at the rear of the castle.

Yesterday i started my latest tour with Joe and Carolyn Ricapito from Baton Rouge. The weather was not too bad at all and we did have a lovely day visiting Cong and Ashford Castle, Leenane and Kylemore, Clifden and Roundstone and many places in between. A close friend of the Ricapito's Ignatio, who is a Professor at Berkley University, joined us for the day and we all had a really nice time.
This morning we made our way south via the Cliffs of Moher,and again we were blessed with quiet a nice day.The weather is a major factor when it comes to visiting the Cliffs as visibility can be zero if you have rain or mist. We had slightly overcast skies but the visibility was fine. We crossed the Shannon later on our way to Killarney where we had a really lovely meal in the Genting Thai Restaurant in the Inishfallen shopping centre in the heart of this great town.
Killarney have just won first prize in the National Tidy Towns competition which is held annually. This is a massive honour and a much sought after prize.They are truly deserving winners and i personally am delighted for them as i always love coming to Killarney. My favourite hotel, the Killarney Plaza, is located right in the heart of the town and i would recommend it highly to anybody visiting this historic town. Not only is the town beautiful and superbly maintained, it is surrounded by some of Ireland's most spectacular beauty spots.It also has a great variety of shops and pubs and restaurants and the night life for young and old offers a wonderful selection of entertainment. It is the perfect location if you wish to visit the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle peninsula and the Gap of Dunloe.It is also a great location for golfers with some of Ireland's best course within a reachable distance. We are waiting tonight to check on tomorrows weather before deciding our destination tomorrow. Hopefully it will be kind to us and if so then it will be off to the magical Gap of Dunloe.
See you soon.

Dave

An Irish vacation with your own private driver

2011-09-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

An Irish sky can be like this .....
or like this.....all in the one day.
An Irish landscape.....with the bonny purple heather.

What a busy week we have had here in Ireland, especially on the sporting front. Last weekend the big event was the All-Ireland Hurling final in Croke Park in Dublin. Just in case you do not know, hurling is the all-Irish game played with the Ash sticks and the leather ball, and for me it is the greatest game in the world. It is an all action game and a real man's game. The football players you see rolling around in mock agony on the soccer pitches would not last a minute in this wonderful game. The players themselves would not tolerate for one minute anybody playing the baby, and they would be laughed off the pitch. Hurling looks like a vicious sport, but it is anything but that, and the skill involved in playing this game properly takes many years of practice to develop. It is the fastest game on earth played on solid ground, ice-hockey is the fastest but that is played on ice of course. It is a game where scoring is frequent and even when your team are a few scores behind they can come back into the game with a number of scores in a very short space of time as the game is so fast flowing. This makes it most exciting and last Sundays final was one of those really great games.
Tipperary, the reigning champions, were playing Kilkenny, last years champions. Tipperary had defeated Kilkenny in the final last year when Kilkenny had been going for an unprecenented "five in a row" championships. Kilkenny were out for revenge, and how they got it. It was a magnificent match and all credit to Tipperary who made them work every inch of the way. I could not speak highly enough of the men from both teams and their wonderful sportsmanship. They were a credit to their counties. Long live the game of hurling.
We also had the world championships of "Ironman" in Galway throughout the weekend and thousands from all over the world came to enjoy that event.

Just in case you think i have retired, i have been quiet busy on the work front and will be starting another tour tomorrow. My next party are coming from Louisianna from the town of Baton Rouge. How did they find me? My name seems to be bouncing around on the far side of the Atlantic thanks to the many great friends i have made over there.
The interest being shown at this early stage with regard to visiting Ireland in 2012 is surprising so if you are thinking about coming contact me as soon as possible. No harm checking it out.

Catch you again very soon.

2011-09-02T03:53:00.000-07:00

One of the less common Norman Tower type castles near Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare. The most common ones were the square block type, and i have heard it said that the circular type was regarded to be safer as gunshot and cannon balls would ricochet off them. True or false? Well it does make sense, but i would magine that, if your enemy persisted, he would manage to get some good hits eventually....that of course is if he did not run out of cannonballs.

I am busy as usual and trying to catch up with many things. My friend, Bob from New York, has arrived and i meet up with him this weekend. Bod and his lovely wife Roxan, toured with me before and we really did get along very well. I have had the pleasure of meeting up with them since in New York and i am looking forward to meeting him again now.
I am also very busy dealing with ongoing enquiries, even for next year. You may think that it is very early to be enquiring about next years holiday, but believe you me, many people do plan well ahead and i think that that is very wise. If your next years holiday period is already known to you, then getting your enquiry in early is really important as i always work on a "first come first served" basis. Once i know that you are interested in a particular date, i can put a temporary hold on it for you and get back to you if i am under pressure to keep it and give you first shot at it. A deposit will secure it then, and i am reasonable about deposits. I really do not like disappointing anybody but it does happen unfortunately.
The weather is cool but with plenty of sunny periods and occassional showers. I have a couple coming to me soon from Texas and they cannot wait to savour fresh air as they have been literally cooked in recent times. Give me Irish weather anytime.
Talk to you again soon.

2011-08-27T02:02:00.000-07:00

Sunset in Ireland
A different Irish Sky from a mountain road. Do you really want to drive?
A beautiful sunny day with an Irish Eagle in full flight. Yes.....the sun does shine here in Ireland.

The above pictures give you an idea of the weather changes you can experience in Ireland....and maybe all in the course of one day. They say that in Ireland you can experience all the four seasons in one day and i would have to say that i have experienced that. Right at the point in time it is quiet cool here, and even cold in the evenings. You can expect a high of about 16 degrees which works out at somewhere in the low sixties. I have friends in the USA right now who would give anything to be here in Ireland to enjoy those temperatures as they are being fried back home in temperatures in the high nineties. Then on the East coast they are fleeing their homes to get away from the approaching hurricane. We complain sometimes here about our weather but if we had to experience either of those type of conditions we would never complain again. People traveling to tour with me always ask me what type of clothing they should bring with them and my answer is always the same. Bring warm undergarments, a warm sweater or two, and light rainwear. That will do the job fine. There is no need for fancy formal clothing as smart casual is fine for dining in the most exclusive places. Today i am wearing my slip on shoes, my jeans, and a tee-shirt. The sky is cloudy, it is cool, and it could rain in showers. A typical Irish day, and i love it.

2011-08-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

My pony Taffy today enjoying the Banana which i promised my little mermaid Kelly that i would give him for her. You can see that he is enjoying it very much Kelly.

One of the many bridges in the Gap of Dunloe with its mountain stream flowing into another of its many lakes. If you decide to visit the Gap please do not drive through yourself as the road is extremely narrow and dangerous. In this picture you can see one of the horse drawn buggies that will bring you on a lovely ride all the way up through the Gap in safety. The Gap is very often on my itineraries but i never drive it myself as i respect the safety of the people who like to walk this route or travel in the buggies or on horseback. If you do take a chance and decide to drive and cause an accident then i think you will have a real job explaining to your insurance company why you were in there in the first place. Dero's Tours in Killarney will organise the whole trip for you including the boat ride down through the lakes of Killarney after you reach Lord Barndon's Cottage on the far side of the Gap. This is a trip i would recommend highly.

The sad ruin of an old famine cottage on the coast near Fanore in county Clare. The West coast is littered with cottage ruins like this one as there were large numbers of people living on this coast. Fish would have been a vital part of their food, along with the potato. When the famine blight struck the potato crop that spelled disaster for these people. This was actually the second blow to their food supply as in 1839 one of the worst storms that ever hit Western Europe hit the West coast of Ireland destroying 90% of the boats leaving the people unable to fish. When the famine struck in 1845 this was really the killer blow. Many homes were abandoned as the families fled the country, many of them to the USA. Today their descendants are the mainstay of my own business as these people just have to come back to visit the land of their forefathers. It is my privilege to take them on a journey that is often so emotional that i can feel the vibes myself. Ireland does that to you. Come and see for yourself.

2011-08-21T02:36:00.000-07:00

What a difference a day makes.....and after the rain and wind yesterday, we were blessed today with a beautiful day to tour the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. My photos, once again, are in reverse order starting out with our final getogether in Morans seafood pub and restaurant in Kilcolgan. This is known as Moran's of the Weir and is a wonderful place to go if you like fresh seafood. Here you get the finest of Galway Bay Oysters, wild Salmon, and fresh cod, and whatever other fresh fish is available at the time. The prawns and crab are also all local and equally fresh and delicious and i could not recommend this place highly enough. Last evening we had a lovely farewell party with the Lambert family and i can only say that i wish that we could have had more time together. It was far too short, two days, but i feel that there will be another get together in the future. Brian was absolutely taken by the magnificent golf course at Lahinch and i could tell that he would have given anything to just grab a set of clubs and head off down the first fairway. He would have had me alongside, as given the day and the wonderful course, any lover of golf would have felt the same.

Below we have Patty and Karina on the hillside with a Norman Tower Castle in the background. This photo was taken at Doolin near the Cliffs of Moher.Seated on the verandah overlooking the golf course at Lahinch.
Kelly, in her snazzy hat, Mom Patty and big sis Karina. In the back ground....all on his own.....big brother Keith. Why the face Keith?
Take it from me....he was just caught at a bad time there. He really did have a great time and was the best of company.

A group of golfers getting set to drive off at the first. All of this group were from the USA, as are quiet a large number of players at any given time on these western links courses of ours. If you want to enjoy really magnificent links courses, come to Ireland....and especially the West.

A view of the eighteenth green from the balcony.
Another view of the course.
Brian at the entrance to the course and clubhouse.Note the date? 1892
Some of my happy pals in our VW Caravelle.
Keith and Kelly at the Cliffs. It looks a liitle overcast here but it was a really lovely day all in all. Lets just call this a cloudy moment.
Brian and Karina on the climb to O' Briens Tower at the Cliffs.

Below again......Kelly in Lisdoonvara. This town is famous for its Matchmaking festival which is held every year in September. If you want a wife or a husband then come to Lisdoonvara and let the Matchmakers pair you off with an ideal partner. It works a lot better than going out to a pub, like most people do, having ten pints, and then choosing your partner for life. Does that make sense to you?

The family together on the mountain side on the Corkscrew Hill with Galway Bay and the Burren in the background.
Sampling the fare at the Farmers Market in Ballyvaughan.
You can tell that he has a mouthfull.....Keith enjoying his Bratwurst in Ballyvaughan.
Patty was really caught here....having a Bartwurst also. They were delicious.
Inside the ancient 11th century Abbey at Corcomroe.

The happy family all together on an old famine road at Corcomroe Hill in the Burren.

Well what can i say.....lost for words would be maybe the most appropriate comment as i could not say enough about my latest family group. Is there a nicer experience than sharing time with a family who are a real family.It was so easy to see just how much they enjoyed being together, and for me, to be a part of that, was a privilege for which i would like to thank them sincerely. This year i have been particularly lucky with all the nice people i have toured with and they all have been special in their own way. I have enjoyed so many different people and so many different moments, but being with happy, well behaved children is, for me, as a family man myself, extra special.
Thank you Brian, Patty, Karine, Keith and my little mermaid, Kelly. I hope that you enjoyed the bunny Kelly.

Touring the "Quiet Man Country" with private driver.

2011-08-19T11:58:00.000-07:00

The County Mayo flag flying proudly near Cong today as excited fans await their teams big game against Kerry this weekend in the All-Ireland semi final of the Gaelic football championships.

Today i collected my new friends, Patty and Brian Lambert and family, for a brief two day tour of Connemara and the Burren of County Clare. They were referred to me by members of my own family in the USA and it was great that i was free and able to look after them as their stay, unfortunately, is not to be a long one. Our destination on this first day was Connemara as the weather had taken a turn for the worse and the Cliffs would have been a "no go" as visibility would have been zero. What a nice family they are and we did have a great day despite the rain.
Keith and Dad Brian in the grounds of Ashford castle with Lough Corrib in the background.
The family in front of Ashford castle.
Freshly cut peat in the bog near Kylemore Abbey. Not the ideal kind of weather for saving the peat as it needs to be dry when stored for the Winter.
Here we are a again huddled together at Kylemore Abbey as the rain was at its worst. You can barely make out the Abbey in the background.
A little Irish Mermaid sitting on a rock on the coral beach at Ballyconneely. Kelly was the ideal model.
All the family at the coral beach. It is easy to see that they were enjoying the fresh air on this not so good day that was, thankfully, at this point in time improving.

Irish Vacation with private driver.

2011-08-18T11:32:00.000-07:00

What better way to finish off your holiday than by visiting your ancestral home, and this is Dave's ancestral home in Adare County Limerick, which we visited today. Dave's Irish connection was through the Quin family, and this stately home was the home of the Early of Dunraven who was also a Quin, and a direct ancestor of Dave's. This is Adare Manor, now a fabulous five star hotel, so if you want to get a good rate for your stay here just give Dave a call. (of course you will have to work through me, and then there is commission etc)
Sadly, my tour with Dave and Deb ended in Dublin today and i would just like to thank them for being such great company for the last few days. I would also like to send a message of special thanks to Dave's Mom Noreen who was the inspiration behind this trip. "They are on their way home now Noreen and they have much to tell you".
It is a hard part of my job saying goodbye to new friends but i would still not forsake the joy of making so many new friends every year. I just hope that we get the chance to meet again. Tomorrow i have a couple of days touring with friends of my own family who are here from New York for a brief visit. They are a family of five, parents and three children, and i am looking forward to meeting them and taking them around for a couple of days. Then i should have a few days break to catch up on many other things that need to be done.
If you need me, then just message me.

Irish Tour with Chauffeurdrive

2011-08-17T12:27:00.001-07:00

Today was another fabulous day as Dave and Deb made their way to the Gap of Dunloe in Killarney. My photos here are going to appear in reverse order, starting with those taken at the end of today. The one above shows Dave and Deb at Ladies View on the Ring of Kerry tonight.
This one was taken at Torc Waterfall this evening
Here we see Deb at Ross Castle after disembarking from their boat ride down through the lakes of Killarney at the end of their Gap trip. The first leg of the Gap is a journey through the narrow winding road which is eleven kilometers long and which they actually walked today.
This was taken as their boat arrived at Ross castle at the end of the tour.

Approaching the castle.
A wonderful shot of an eagle above the lakes as they journeyed along.

A narrow channel that has to be navigated between the lakes on their way down to Killarney.
Fellow tavellers in another boat on the way through the lakes.
A view from the boat as they begin their journey.
Getting into their life jackets for the trip.
This photo of Deb was taken as they walked the Gap road.She was still looking strong at this stage....but weakening.
A view of the Gap with Dave in the foreground.
Dave resting at this old ruined house which was actually a station used where travellers could rest up and change their horses when this Gap road was the main road through these mountains. This all changed when the new road on the other side of the lakes was built.
Is that bird i see in the Hydrangeas? Noooooo....that is Deb having a rest.
What a wonderful shot of the lovely blue sky with its typical Irish cloud.
Deb pictured with one of the Gap lakes and the Gap itself in the background.
Deb and Dave having a break at one of the small bridges on the road through the Gap.
Pictured outside their hotel, the Killarney Plaza, before setting out this morning.This is a lovely place to stay if you are in Killarney.
Pictured last night at the Liam O'Connor show in Killarney. These are Liam's wonderful dancers along with a guest tenor. Nooooooo.....the tenor is on the left.
Deb and Dave with Liam after the show, which they really enjoyed.

Sorry about the order of the pictures but it was the best i could do with limited time today.Tomorrow we head for Dublin at the end of what was a really nice tour with two lovely people from Chicago.Deb and Dave send their love to all at home and want them to know that they will be with them very soon. They will have many stories to tell.

Touring the Dingle Peninsula with private car and driver

2011-08-16T10:09:00.001-07:00

In this day and age, with all the pressures of life that people have to deal with, i find that this prayer makes a lot of sense.I took this picture of it today in Killarney Cathedral while we were visiting there. This is a beautiful church and its construction started before the famine. The work ceased when the famine struck in 1845 .By then the foundations had been laid. Many starving people came here and camped on the site, as it was sacred ground, and died here and were buried in mass graves.There is a memorial to them on the grounds.

A view inside the Cathedral of the main aisle.
Deb and Dave standing by the memorial to the famine dead buried here in the Cathedral grounds.
This needs a little explaining. I had a pair of slip-on shoes on today, and also put on a new pair of socks this morning. Unfortunately, the socks were made from a very slippery material and my shoes kept slipping off. Here i was shaking the sand off my socks as i had to take the shoes off entirely to get up a small incline to this spot as they kept slipping off on the hill. Tomorrow i go barefoot.
Deb and Dave on the magnificent beach at Inch on the Dingle peninsula today. Please note once again the glorious sunshine. If this keeps up we will have to import water.More problems for the EU.
My favourite Beehive huts at Maura Houlihans near Slea Head. Meeting Maura was one of the highlights of the tour so far for Deb.
Inside Maura's 500yr old house today. The house is now a two storey house but was originally a cottage.Maura is a great friend of Tom Cruise as she starred in the movie "Far and Away" with him. She actually played the part of Tom's mother.
Dave and Deb pictured outside the house.
Seated on a low wall near Slea Head with the Blasket Islands in the background.
Dave and Deb making a new friend with this Irish speaking dog near Slea Head.
Yes that is me again showing off our magnificent Pre-Historic Irish rhubarb. If you are a Texan rhubarb grower, eat your heart out.
What a lovely picture. Taken at the summit of the Conor Pass on the Dingle peninsula.
If you are planning on driving this route to the Conor, this is a picture of what lies ahead for you. No large vehicles are allowed on this road but there are places where two cars cannot pass.
A wild sheep on duty on the mountainside today.
A beautiful waterfall near the top of the mountains at the Conor pass.

What a lovely day we had today as we toured this magical peninsula in glorious sunshine. Tomorrow it is to be the Gap of Dunloe, and once again the forecast is for more wonderful sunshine.Believe you me......the proof of the pudding is in the eating......and my photos tomorrow will prove that.

See you soon.

Irish Vacations with Chauffeurdrive

2011-08-15T10:59:00.001-07:00

On the Corkscrew Hill in the Burren in County Clare today, with Galway Bay in the background.

This is where it all happens. If you want a wife, or a husband, come to Lisdoonvarna in September of the year.The matchmakers will do the rest.

This happy couple make a really good match.

At long last......rain in Ireland today at the Cliffs of Moher.Never thought i would see the day. This is Dave and Deb today, cooling off at the Cliffs of Moher.

Well today it did rain, but it did not spoil the party. We spent the early part of the day in the Burren, and at the Cliffs, before making our way across the Shannon on the ferry on our way to Killarney.The rest of the afternoon was spent at Muckross House in the National Forest Park.
Tomorrow, weather permitting, the Gap of Dunloe will be the main event. If not, then we will be touring the Dingle peninsula. What a lovely choice to have.

West and South-West of Ireland with car and driver

2011-08-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

A Galway Bay Hooker at the pier in Kinvara today. This would have been one of the boats taking part in the Cruinniu na mBad (the gathering of the boats) this weekend.
Two of the smaller boats at the harbour wall. These smaller boats were known as Pucans and Gleoteoigs, and were also fishing boats.
These larger Hookers were the ones used for carrying supplies along the coast, and also for fishing. The three bigger boats in the background arrived in Kinvara last evening from Connemara loaded with turf which was then auctioned off on the quayside. You can actually see a truck in the background loaded with some of the peat that had been sold.

Dave and Deb at Ashford Castle today.

Today was our day in Connemara, and what a lovely day we had. Dave and Deb are wonderful company, and i felt like a tourist myself as we travelled through this land immortalised in that great old John Wayne movie "The Quiet Man".. It is always special for me when my travelling companions are enjoying themselves and loving all that they are seeing as i never get bored with the beauty of this country myself.

A freshly cut load of turf (peat) ready to be brought in for storage to keep the Winter fires burning. Peat makes a lovely fire and is used in many homes throughout Ireland to this day for both heating the home and for cooking. This is the time of the year for saving the turf, and we saw a lot of that type of activity today.

Deb and Dave sitting on the wall in glorious sunshine on the Sky Road near Clifden. Those of you who have heard that it always rains in Ireland, please note the blue skies.

The coral strand near Ballyconneely in Connemara. The blues and greens of the Atlantic waters in this area are just beautiful. Irish skies are also special with wonderful cloud formations, as you can see in this photo. My dear friend, the late Jane Conneen, who was a wonderful artist and who toured with me many times, used to say that there were no skies like Irish skies. It was really only then that i started to take notice of them. Typical .....we rarely pay adequate attention to the beauty that surrounds us, but thanks to Jane, i now do appreciate them a lot more.
Dave and Deb in Roundstone with its quaint harbour in the background. Note the lovely skies and the rugged mountains in the background.This little Connemara town is extremely popular and well worth a visit.

Cruinniu na mBad with private driver/chauffeur

2011-08-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

St Brigids Well near the Cliffs of Moher
Lemenagh Castle in the Burren
The rugged Atlantic Coast.

Busy, busy, busy....that has been the way for me for the last few days. Yesterday i started with a new party....a husband and wife from the USA ...and today they are enjoying the Cruinniu na mBad Festival (gathering of the boats), in Kinvara on the southern shores of Galway Bay. This is an annual event and attracts many tourists not to mention quiet a number of the old fishing boats common to the west coast of Ireland. The bigger ones are the Hookers and they could carry quiet a large cargo. There will be boat races and many other events going on down around the harbour area and in all the pubs around this lovely town. Traditional music is the order of the day in Kinvara this weekend and there will be plenty of traditional singing also. Kinvara was a very busy harbour in the olden days and a lot of trade happened through this port. Much of the general supplies for this area would have come through this port and also all of the peat from Connemara for the fires. The boats would then stock up with grain and many other products which in turn would be brought back to Connemara or into Galway city.
Our weather at the moment is a mixed bag with spells of sunshine and rain. The week ahead is not looking great but you can never tell in Ireland. I have great faith in the forecasters getting it wrong once they go beyond two or three days. Lets hope it is like that this time.
I will be blogging as often as i can so please be patient with me. If you need me just message me.

Dave

2011-08-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

Dun Guaire Castle in Kinvara in the fading evening light.

The lovely town of Kinvara is situated on the southern shores of Galway Bay. It is a town steeped in the history of sea. Its harbour was once upon a time a very busy port. In bygone days traders from both sides of Galway Bay sailed back and forth across the bay with their goods. The fishermen likewise. Much of the trade was with Connemara which lies on the northern side of the bay. One of Connemara's main assets in bygone days was their turf (peat) which was used by everybody to heat their homes and to do their cooking. Connemara is renowned for its peat bogs and as there were none on the southern side all the turf had to be imported by people on the southern side. The people on the Kinvara would either have to pay for their peat or trade something for it so it was a busy port indeed. The boats that were used were known as Hookers (yes.....not a misprint) and they were an ideal boat for the conditions encountered on this coast as they were a sturdy boat and could carry a good load. They were easily identified as they always had a reddish sail and the hull was always black. They did not need a large crew and a couple of men could handle a Hooker, eventhough they would have more than two on many occassions. These boats are still in use today but not to the same degree as in olden days. They have get-togethers at different times of the year along the west coast to celebrate the Hookers and their tradition and Kinvara hosts one of the best known gatherings annually in August. This is known as Cruinniu na mBad, the "Gathering of the boats" and next weekend once again this takes place in Kinvara. Many of these boats will sail into Kinvara harbour at the weekend and they will take part in races on Kinvara bay over the period. Let us hope that they get the right weather conditions for this occassion as many people come here to celebrate this event. The pubs will be alive with great traditional music and song and they celebrations will continue all through the weekend. Not a place to be at all if you are around.

Touring Ireland with car and driver

2011-08-04T01:42:00.001-07:00

Surfers in the Bay at Lahinch in County Clare.

The west coast of Ireland has become extremely popular for surfing and when the wind blows in from the Atlantic we get the right kind of waves for this. This photo was taken just a few days ago and you can see quiet a number of surfers enjoying themselves. This particular day was overcast, as you can see, and our weather at the moment is a bit of a mixed bag. Lahinch is a great place for this as the bay is horseshoe shaped and very safe for both swimming and surfing. I must emphasise that the outer bay area at the mouth of the this bay is extremely dangerous as the currents there are treacherous. Only the otherday a poor unfortunate woman was swept out to sea while swimming in the outer bay area. Never swim unless you know for sure whether or not it is a safe area. Our western coast has many safe swimming areas but there are also many headlands and islands which create dangerous currents in many areas. Just beware and get local advice.
I am enjoying a couple of days just relaxing and catching up with enquiries so if you need me for anything just message me.

Irish Tour with Chauffeur/Car and Driver

2011-08-02T10:54:00.001-07:00

Wild flowers at the Cliffs of Moher
A simple sign....keep away from the edge.
A freshly cut bog with the peat left to dry before being saved for the Winter's fuel.

Well, today i finally left my latest party, Sheila and Jess, back to Dublin after, what i hope, was a special and memorable visit to Ireland. I know that i certainly enjoyed my time with them, and we did visit many beautiful places in a relatively short time. There is so much to see here and it can never be accomplished in a single visit, and indeed i have many places left to see myself, and i have been on the go for some time now. The true beauty of Ireland can be found when you wander off the beaten track and i have found many magical places by taking a wrong turn. I always say that i am never lost here, it is just that sometimes i do not know where i am. When i am asked that question, "Which is your favourite part of Ireland?" I am never really able to answer that. Sometimes i ask my clients that same question at the end of a tour and i find that they find it impossible to answer also. When you come here yourself you will know what i mean.
Give me a call if you need me.

Dave

P.S. Thanks for everything Sheila and Jess.

Irish tour with Private Driver

2011-08-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

I have been just too busy to Blog since Saturday but i am now posting some more photos of our tour since then. Above we have the ladies at the Cliffs of Moher, and below,crossing the Shannon on the Shannon Breeze ferry from Killimer to Tarbert.

This photo was taken last evening as the light faded in the Killarney National Park in Kerry. This is Torc Waterfall.
Once again a late evening shot of the Ladies at the famous Ladies View in the mountains above the lakes of Killarney.
Jess seated on the hillside at Inch strand on the Dingle peninsula today. Jess absolutely loved Dingle and is a keen student of the Irish Language. We visited the home of a native Irish speaker, Maire Houlihan, near Slea Head, who is a friend of mine. Here Jess met with Maire's daughter who is holidaying from New York and who has now set up contact with Jess to help her with her dream of becoming a fluent Irish speaker. I have no doubt that Jess will achieve her dream.
Sheila visited Ross castle today also and, as i write, they are both spending time at the famous Muckross House in Killarney.

Private tours in Ireland with chauffeur

2011-07-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Sheila and Jess relaxing in my sitting room in Kinvara. (not really.....actually Ashford Castle)
Sheltering from a shower in the grounds of Ashford.
Sheila and Jess at the fjord in Leenane.
Jess with her Connemara ponies near Clifden.

Today was our day in Connemara, and what a lovely day we had once again. We visited Ashford Castle, Leenane, Kylemore Abbey, and took the Sky road into Clifden. There we had a lovely lunch in Walshe's restaurant in the town before heading for Roundstone. Then it was back through the heart of Connemara to Galway and finally on to Kinvara once again. What a wonderful place Connemara is and no wonder they call it God's Country.The weather was kind to us for most of the day except for some showers while we were at Ashford. Tomorrow we head for the majestic Cliffs fo Moher and on to another stage in this great adventure. I will tell you more later.

The Galway Races with Private Chauffeur

2011-07-29T12:57:00.000-07:00

Sheila and Jessie at the Galway Races.

Watching their horse stride past the winning post in front.

A shot from the parade ring before the race.

Celebrating their big win. I refused to appear in this photo as they had beaten my horse by a short head. The thanks i get...and after all i did for them.

I think today was a day that Sheila and Jessie will never forget. Actually, Sheila remarked afterwards on our way home from the races that she had thought that yesterday was wonderful, but today was even better. Well it was better for them .....but then they beat my poor horse by the narrowest of margins in a fighting finish to the line. I am not a poor loser but a guy can only take so much. Now i have to spend the next few days with them listening to them talking about their brilliant winner at Galway. Well, i suppose it is all in a days work for a chauffeur. I know that i can take some credit for getting them to the races in the first place or they would never have been there to pick that winner.
Behind all of that, we did have a great day, and there is no better place to enjoy racing at its best than at Galway. The crowds were fantastic and the weather was perfect...not too hot, and with plenty of sunshine. The racing was brilliant and i suppose it was only fair that the girls got their winner as i had the winner of the first race when their poor old horse was brought down by another horse who fell in front of theirs. It is not easy to pick a winner in Galway as the numbers of horses in each race are always large with over twenty runners in some of the races. I think that the ladies thought it was a piece of cake and will more than likely go professional now expecting to make huge amounts of money from their future gambling. They were most impressed by the wonderful fashion on display with all of the ladies out in their colorful dresses and hats, and the men dressed in lovely suits and ties. I myself was surprised at the number of young men and teenagers in suits. They did look well. Yes....behind it all i had a great day.
Tomorrow we head for Connemara. This is the region made famous in the movie "The Quiet Man" which starred John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. If you have not seen this movie go and get it from your video store. It is truly a magical land and i know that tomorrow the ladies are in for another treat.
For those of you following their adventure back home in the USA, they send their love with that famous message we all send when we are having a great time...."Wish you were here"

Catch you again very soon.

2011-07-28T05:39:00.000-07:00

Sheila and Jessie outside their B&B in Kinvara this morning.

Waiting to board their bus for the Aran Islands today.

I am pleased to say that the ladies had recovered from the ordeal of the last couple of days and were all set to go this morning for their trip to the Aran Islands. They had a great nights sleep and a good breakfast and were obviously excited about this adventure. Aran is a special place and still has that old world feeling about it. There are many interesting sights to see on the main island and the old fort at Dun Aengus has to be the most memorable. This fort dates back thousands of years. It is still unclear as to who built it and inhabited it. It stands at the top of the cliffs overlooking the mighty Atlantic below. There are also many old churches here dating back to early Christianity and Irish is still the islanders main language.
Tomorrow we go racing in Galway. This has to be a very special day for the ladies. Irish hoses and Irish horse racing are a passion here and there will be thousands of people flocking there tomorrow evening to enjoy both flat racing and steeplechasing (over the fences). Lets hope we get a few winners.
As it turned out today the ladies hired bikes on the island and enjoyed a cycle around. They really had a great time eventhough they were tired once again by the time they got back to Kinvara, where they are staying. Kinvara is alive at the moment and all the pubs have great music sessions going on. This region is well know for its traditional music, song, and dance. The pubs are quaint and old-fashioned and there is a great selection of places to eat offering everything from the finest of sea-food to steaks and Irish Lamb, and also a variety of continental foods including Italian. Kinvara is a harbour town situated on the southern shores of Galway Bay about twenty miles from Galway City and has its own ancient castle. It is a well known centre for writers and artists and poets and well known for its crafts. It has its own farmers market every Friday so tomorrow morning we will be having a look at the great and varied selection of home produce including a fine selection of organic products. There will be fresh free range eggs, fresh meat, free range chickens, home baked products such as scones and brown bread, apple pies, rhubarb pies, chocolate cakes, a wide range of vegetables, cheeses of all kinds, and much more. I love to browse as i listen to the live traditional music provided by a variety of artists, fiddlers, pipe players, guitarists and banjo and mandolin players, with some vocals thrown in. What a nice way to spend a few hours while you spend a little money to support small home industries.
This was another fine day in more ways than one, as the weather was also nice.
Lets hope that tomorrow is just as good as it will make the races all the more enjoyable. The forecast is good, now all we need are a few winners.

2011-07-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

A Celtic Cross at Clonmacnoise.

I have not had time to Blog over the last few days as i prepared for my latest tour, which started today. My party arrived in Dublin yesterday and spent last evening in Derry before arriving in Galway today. Tomorrow they travel to the Aran Islands for the day so this will be another exciting day for them. I think that they will need to slow down a little after that as they are already feeling the pace a little. They had to travel a long way from Oregon so it is not surprising that they are tired. Friday we are bound for the Galway Races and this i am sure will be anothe exciting adventure for them. I hope to have some photos of the races for you then.
The Galway races are now in full swing and the race goers are turning out in their thousands. No sign of a recession in Galway right now and this is a great boost for the city at this point in time. The weather has held up well also with only slight drizzle at times and in many ways that is ideal for a day at the races as it makes it a lot more comfortable.
Thats it for now but i will be back with more news tomorrow.

Irish Tour with Chauffeur/Car and Driver

2011-07-23T09:42:00.001-07:00

A typical roadsign in the heart of rural Ireland.

If you are driving yourself in Ireland This is a typical type of roadsign that you will encounter. It has multiple directions on it, and, if you are in a Gaeltacht area, (Irish speaking area), then the signs will be in Irish also. This sign is in the heart of Connemara and, as you can see, it has an number of different locations marked on it.
I am preparing for my next tour right now, which starts next Wednesday, and i am looking forward to it very much. My party are from Oregon and i can tell that they are all excited about their pending tour. The weather is forecast good, so that is an added bonus.
This coming week we have the Irish Open Golf Championship in Killarney and that will be a huge draw as both Rory McIlroy and Darren Clarke, two recent major winners, are in the field. We also have our other Irish stars, Graham Mc Dowell and Padraic Harrington, in the field so i am hoping we can keep the title at home this year. Killarney is a fabulous golf course and the setting is just beautiful. Make sure you tune in if it is only for the wonderful views of the lakes and mountains of Killarney. You might even see me. I am the tall dark and handsome man in the background.

Touring Ireland in the sun with private Chauffeur

2011-07-21T11:29:00.000-07:00

The sun really does shine here, despite what you hear.

Anybody touring Ireland in the month of July has so far seen a mix of sunshine and showers and it has not been a month we can boast about. This however is set to change for the better at last and my next guests, arriving early next week, will be the benefactors of our long awaited Summer. Lets hope that the forecasters have it right. Today was an improvement and tomorrow is set for an even better day so maybe we are on the way. The photograph above was taken during my previous tour and you can clearly see that the day was beautiful. When we do get it good in Ireland then there is nowhere i would rather be. It never gets too hot and, eventhough it does get cold, we do not get the extremes you get in other parts of the world. We need our rain just to keep the place green anyway......and our flowers are a joy to behold. Come see them for yourself.
I still have vacancies for the later part of this month, and openings for September also. September can be a really lovely month in Ireland. October can also be really nice so if you have time free there it might be worth looking into.
You know where i am if you need me.

dovechauffeurdrive@gmail.com

Irish Tour with Chauffeur/Car and Driver

2011-07-20T12:17:00.001-07:00

A beautiful scene from Dingle....a secluded beach all to yourself.

I find that many Americans are surprised to find that swimming is a most pleasant experience in Ireland, especially on the West Coast. Well, we do have the Gulf Stream here, and this keeps our waters nice and warm, so swimming is far nicer that on your West Coast. Also our waters are crystal clear, with no pollution, as we do not have any great Industrial waste or sewage from large cities entering our ocean on this side of the country. I do like to boast a little as this was where i was born and reared.
Driving in Ireland is something i am continually asked about, and i can only repeat, that if you can afford a professional like me, then it is the best thing to do. You can relax and enjoy the scenery..... and your partner will be happier also. Holiday expenses are high enough without having to face divorce proceedings when you get home.
If you do insist on driving remember that, if you have even a small accident, this is going to cost you....and maybe cost you a lot more than a private driver would have charged you in the first place. Even a small amount of damage can cost you dearly. Also be very sure that the price you see online for your car includes proper insurance....not just very basic cover which can leave you with a huge deficit to make up if you do have an accident. Some people arrive here and think that the car is great value...until they go through the details of what kind of insurance they want. Then they have to fork out a lot more money before they take the car. Make sure you know what you are getting....and that can be hard to calculate online. Also make sure that you are getting a decent car and not one that looks like it was driven by monkey. I have experience of this as my sons, who are in the USA and come home regularly, have arrived in cars that i would not have accepted without a battle. I am not saying that all cars are bad, but take it from me, thay are not all good. I would be more than interested in hearing from people who have had bad experiences in this regard. Write to me and tell me what you got.
Also remember the price of fuel here is now in the region of over nine dollars a gallon. Add that on to your price. There will be toll charges, ferry charges, parking fees, and maybe parking fines or other fines to pay and before you are finished it might have been cheaper to bring your own Caddillac with you. Do you think i am joking? Well i am not....i am just putting a slight humorous touch to a very serious issue. Take it from me....driving in Ireland ....even for me....is a very expensive hobby. Our cars are nearly twice the price of yours....our insurance is higher....our fuel is so high that half of the citizens in the USA would need to get part time jobs to run their cars if they paid the same for their fuel. We pay road tax annually on our cars, and that can cost anywhere from
$ 600-00 to over $2,000-00 a year. All of our maintainance charges are higher than yours, our Tyres are more expensive, our oil, our service charges, and if we want our wives to drive us, then sometimes we have to pay them as well.
Such is life......take my advice ....think about getting a driver.

That's it for now

Dave

Irish Tour with Chauffeur/Car and Driver

2011-07-19T10:43:00.001-07:00

Sheep on an Irish hillside.

Well....at the moment i am enjoying a break between tours....but not for long, as i start again next week with my new party from Oregon. Maybe i should say i am having a break of sorts as i have so much to catch up on when i do get a break from touring. My garden right now is like a jungle, and the weeds are having a party, but i hope to get around to that this week so that my neighbours will talk to me again.
Our weather has been poor and in a way i am glad that i am not on tour because of that. Hopefully we will see a change over the next few days. The Galway Races are on next week and that signals the begining of a crazy week of horse racing, partying, and free for all celebrating for the full period. There are seven days of horse racing on the famous Ballybrit Race Course and the racing features both flat races and the steeple chasing, which is over the fences. There will be millions gambled on the horses and the amount spent in Galway City and surrounding areas would be hard to calculate, but again it would run into the millions. If you happen to be in the Galway area you would be mad to miss out on a day at the races. The race course itself is first class with world class facilities and accommodation for thousands of people. The services to and from the course are also first class, with buses running from the city to the course, which is just a couple of miles outside the city. The restaurant there provides first class meals and the bars have all the drinks you could possibly desire. If you like a gamble then the bookmakers are there at the course, and you also have the Tote. No excuses.....the Galway Races are the place to be next week ....and i will be there with my next adventurers.
The weekend after the races at the end of this month is the Bank Holiday weekend and there will not be a bed available in Galway. It is the busiest bank holiday weekend of the year and the town will be buzzing. Galway city is Ireland's livliest and best city to party in and anybody who has been there will always tell you that. It is also a wonderful young persons town with many thousands of students here from all over. The streets will be alive with musicians and performers and the night life in the pubs will be awesome. Come and see for yourself and fall in love with Galway....like many before you did. Maybe i will see you there. I might even give you a winner.

Touring Ireland with car and driver

2011-07-17T01:10:00.000-07:00

The Mighty Cliffs of Moher.

Yesterday i finished my latest tour and said my goodbyes to Karen and Ralph in Dublin where they spent their final night. Today they are on their way home to Chicago and i wish them a safe and peaceful journey home.I have put together just some of the photos i took on this wonderful tour and i think that it is plain to see what a great time we all had. These photos were all taken during the second half of our tour, after we had finished touring Galway and Connemara and the Aran islands, but you can see the earlier part of the tour if you go back through the older posts.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to this wonderful couple for allowing me the pleasure of their company for this latest adventure and for being such great company. I know that they had a memorable holiday and that always makes me feel good. I am already looking forward to continuing their Irish adventure with them next year as they have already decided to come back then.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
On top of O'Brien's Tower at the Cliffs of Moher.
St Bridget's Well at Liscannor.
Crossing the mighty Shannon River on the ferry.
On Inch Strand on the Dingle peninsula.
Karen and Ralph at the beehive huts on Dingle.
At Slea Head on Dingle.
A view from the Conor Pass on Dingle.
Maybe it might be easier to let me drive?
Nooooooooo...that's not me......that is a horse at Killarney races.
Sitting in the sunshine at Killareny Golf Club.
On the Ring of Kerry.
Karen and Ralph with Charlie Chaplin at Waterville on the Ring.
Karen cradling a baby fawn near Waterville.
Sitting in the sunshine at Ladies View Killarney.
Torc Waterville in Killarney.
The majestic Gap of Dunloe.
Another view of the Gap.
One of the lakes in the Gap of Dunloe.
Another lake in the Gap.
Karen and Ralph having lunch in Bulman's Pub near the Fort in Kinsale.
Karen inside the Fort in Kinsale.
Part of Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin.
A passing view fo the main building at Christchurch.

Now i have a small break, i hope, and this gives me a little time to catch up on so many other things. I do have some available dates if you are looking for a car and driver/chauffeurdrive so just drop me a line as soon as possible and i will get back to you.

Regards for now

Dave

dovechauffeurdrive@gmail.com

Touring Ireland with Private Chauffeur

2011-07-15T13:43:00.001-07:00

Ralph and Karen in happy mood in sunny Ireland.
Ross Castle on Lough Leane Killarney

Today we left Killarney behind as we made our way to Kinsale on this, the second last day, of a really lovely tour. Tomorrow we head for Dublin where we will be parting company. Ralph and Karen have been such great company and i know that they have had a really great time.

Killarney and the Gap of Dunloe

2011-07-14T13:55:00.001-07:00

Today was a day when we all went our seperate ways. Karen went shopping in Killarney, i went racing in Killarney, and Ralph went to the Gap of Dunloe. The photos on this Blog are courtesy of Ralph and feature the Gap of Dunloe, and i could not have done a better job myself.
The Gap.

The final leg of the journey today was the boat ride down through the lakes of Killarney and here you see Ralph (nearest right) wearing his life jacket. He did have a great time, as did Karen shopping. My day was lacking in winners at the races but nevertheless i did have a good time.
Tonight they are attending the Liam O'Connor Show in Killarney and i know that they will love that. Google it and have a look for yourself.

Irish Open at Killarney with Private Chauffeur

2011-07-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

A view of Lough Leane from in front of the club house at Killarney today. Yes, the sun really does shine in Ireland, and what a glorious day this was once again. It is not east to play golf when you are surrounded by the distraction of such beauty.
Ralph and Karen relaxing by the lake at the course. I think we may get to play here the next time Ralph comes over.

Here we have Karen, a flower beside the Hydrangeas. There is a marina here at the course and you can have your boat here and fish if you get fed up with your golf. It can happen you know.
The Club House at Killarney.
Preparations are underway at the course for the Irish Open at the end of the month. This is a part of the tented village.
More boats at the lakeside. The first fairway runs down the lakeshore in the background.

I posted earlier and had a problem with the alignment on my Blog. Fortunately i found out what was wrong and fixed it. The problem, of course, was me.

2011-07-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Karen at Scart House on the Ring of Kerry. All she needs is the Lotto....and who knows?
Sitting high above the sea outside Waterville.

Killarney Golf Club and the Ring of Kerry with private Chauffeurdrive

2011-07-13T07:55:00.001-07:00

Karen and Ralph at Torc Waterfall on the Ring of Kerry today and sitting in the glorious sunshine high in the mountains above the lakes of Killarney.

The Dingle peninsula with Car and Driver

2011-07-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

At the races in Killarney this evening.
That's my boy heading for the finishing post.
Karen and Ralph reaching for the clouds at the mountain top above the Conor Pass on the Dingle peninsula today.
Looking down on the valley below from the Conor Pass
Ralph and Karen on the wall at Dunquin near Slea Head.
Karen and Ralph at Slea Head today.
Karen and Ralph at one of the ancient Beehive Huts near Slea Head today.
Sheep grazing on the hillside above the cliffs on the Dingle peninsula.
The wonderful beach at Inch on the Dingle peninsula.
Earl's Court Hotel in Killarney where we are presently staying. This is a really special place to stay and i cannot recommend it highly enough. If you are coming to Killarney check this one out.
How about this for comfort. This is Karen and Ralph's suite in the Earl's Court.If you find nicer than this let me know.

Cliffs of Moher with Dave Hogan Chauffeurdrive

2011-07-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

A lovely view of the Cliffs of Moher (maybe i am in the wrong job)
St Bridget's Holy Well near the Cliffs of Moher O'Brien's Tower at the top of the Cliffs
Ralph and Karen on the Shannon Ferry on our way to Killarney today. The happy couple at the Cliffs of Moher.

Today we left Kinvara on our way to the Cliffs of Moher. The weather could not have been nicer and we enjoyed our time climbing to the top at O'Brien's Tower. After the Cliffs we visited St Bridget's Well. St Bridget is the Patroness of Ireland and this well is a place of special pilgrimage for many who leave little tokes and trinkets behind in remembrance of their dearly beloved departed.Our final destination today was Killarney and we crossed the Shannon River on the ferry from Killimer to Tarbert. This is a most pleasant crossing and only takes twenty minutes. Killarney was buzzing today as the tourist season is now nearing its peak. The Killarney Races also started today. That means four consecutive days of great horse racing on a really beautiful race course in a setting second to none. The backdrop of the Kerry mountains and the lakes of Killarney make this a dream location. I went to the races myself this evening and actually backed a couple of nice winners.It was great fun and i just might find myself back there again before the week is out.Once again this was a most enjoyable day and Ireland continues to show off her charms.

Aran Islands with Chauffeurdrive

2011-07-10T13:28:00.000-07:00

Today was Karen and Ralph's day on the Aran Islands and they really did enjoy themselves. The weather once again was lovely....not too hot, but bright and sunny. They toured the Island with a local man Karen met last year and he was great fun. They visited the magnificent Dun Aengus Fort at the top of the Cliffs and by the time they got back to me this evening they were ready to call it a day. Tomorrow we make our way to the Cliffs of Moher and then on to Killarney later. The forecast for the week ahead looks promising so there is much to look forward to. I will keep you posted.

Irish Tour with Chauffeur/Car and Driver

2011-07-09T13:52:00.001-07:00

What a gorgeous day it was here in Ireland today with the sun shining in all its glory. These are some of the photos i took as we toured Connemara. The above one was taken by the river in Oughterard, a very lovely little town just North of Galway on the shores of Lough Corrib, and here you see Karen and Ralph enjoying their visit to God's Country.

I thought that these lillies on the pond at Kylemore Abbey were cute.

This is a photo of the restored Henry family private church at Kylemore.

Karen and Ralph on the roadside in the Maam Valley with the rugged Connemara mountains in the background.

A view of the Corrib lake from the gardens behind Ashford Castle. Yes, that guy with the camera is Ralph. You can also see a man enjoying a spot of fishing in the background.

Here we have Karen and Ralph on a staircase inside Ashford Castle. This five star hotel is one of the world's top hotels and well worth a visit....if you can afford it. Seriously though....they do offer very attractive deals.

Private tours in Ireland with chauffeur

2011-07-08T12:00:00.001-07:00

Ralph, Karen, Sue and Sean outside the Galway Golf Club today.

Looking out from the restaurant onto the course and Galway Bay and the hills of County Clare.

In front of the putting green at the course.

What a great day we had today. The forecast was not good, with heavy showers predicted, but we made for Galway Golf Club anyway determined that the weather would not stop us. We had to sit through a really bad downpour when we did finally get there but it began to clear and we hit off. Let me say firstly that Galway Golf Club dates back into the late 1800's and is a superb members owned course. I myself am a member there and we had no difficulty getting out on the course. The bad forecast also kept people away but the weather cleared beautifully as we began our round and we only had one bad shower after that which lasted only a few minutes. It was a real treat. I myself had not played for some time and surprised myself at how well i played. Ralph was also great and loved every minute on this wonderful course. Everything about this course is first class and its location on the shores of Galway Bay is magnificent. The fairways were like plush carpet and the greens like manicured lawns. There are many high profile golf courses in Ireland that can be quiet expensive to play on but, if you get a chance to play this course in Salthill, not only will you find the green fees great value but you will face a true golf challenge on a wonderful course.
The ladies were also having a wonderful time in the city centre doing their shopping and were all excited when they met us afterwards in the club house as they described their day and the list of lovely things that were purchased. We also enjoyed a nice meal in the club house before heading back to Kinvara for another night.
Tomorrow we head for Connemara where we will visit Roundstone and Clifden, Kylemore Abbey and Leenane, and of course Ashford Castle.
I am really enjoying this tour and the enthusiasm shown by my fellow travellers is contagious. Karen's love for Ireland is so evident and i know that Ralph is going to feel the same about it before we finish this tour. I know that we get a lot of visitors from the USA in Ireland but in my opinion we do not get a fraction of what we should be getting. This country is a must visit for anybody with Irish blood in their veins. I see that magical effect it has on people again and again. It is something that can only be described as a spiritual transformation that sometimes even brings tears to the eyes, especially when people find themselves in the areas where their ancestors were born and reared before having to flee the country to escape either persecution or famine. It is like somebody is welcoming them home and unseen arms are giving them a gentle hug. I find myself moved at times by these emotional moments and i have no doubt that strange and wonderful things do happen that we do not understand. If you are one of those Irish who has a dream of returning at least once before you die, then my advice to you is to do it, and do it soon. You can come to me if you like, but even if you do not, then come anyway. Ireland is like no place on earth and the Irish people are the most welcoming people on this planet. I myself like to travel but i would never want to live anywhere but here. Ignore the negative talk you hear about our weather and our economy and our prices and God knows what other rubbish you may hear. Yes we do get rain, but you can walk and run and laugh in the rain, and it does not rain as often as people like to say. Check the statistics and you will find that there are many countries where it rains a lot more than Ireland.
Prices in Ireland have reduced and you can get great value for your money by shopping around. You can get the finest of meals in many different places and the pub lunches offer superb value with a wonderful range of main course with loads of veg and potato for less than $10-00. If you want fancy meals in high class restaurants you can have those also, and here again the food is second to none, and the prices are no more than you would expect when you choose fine dining. There is great value in knitwear and many other Irish made products, and they do not have a little stamp hidden on them somewhere, which says, "Made in ......" , (somewhere else).
We will survive the recession because we are Irish, and survival is what we are good at. We have that inbuilt ability to get back up again when we are knocked down. We laugh at strange things and we joke about things that others would be afraid to laugh at. We do not sue people who tell jokes about Paddy the Irishman and we have retained the ability to laugh at ourselves. Do not try to put us down though because we will stand up for ourselves, and when the odds are against us, the best comes out in us. If you have Irish blood in you then you will know what i am talking about already. Get yourself back here, and the sooner the better. Ireland is as much yours as it is mine. We will welcome you with open arms and show you your homeland with a proud smile on our faces. We do not have to sell this place to you, Ireland sells itself. There are people employed in the tourist industry to promote Ireland and i am not convinced that they sell it like i would sell it. I get excited just talking about my country and i know that i have a product here that is without equal. I want to jump on a plane and tell all of my fellow Irish Americans to meet me in some great open space where i can stand up on a soap box and tell them all just how much they are missing by not coming home to see the land of their ancestors. Answer me this.......why would you want to go anywhere else?
Drop me a line if you want help, even if you are not coming to me.

dovechauffeurdrive@gmail.com

I am looking at putting together groups from the USA to visit Ireland next year. If you are interested please write to me. I have no set dates as of yet but i want to get a better idea of numbers and also the general feeling as to suitable dates and holiday durations. Then we will take it from there. I already have a man in Chicago and hope to have news on that before too long.