Chauffeurdriven vacations in Ireland with Dave Hogan

The famous Dun Guaire castle, which overlooks the town and harbour in Kinvara County Galway. You will pass this castle as you make your way from Galway city to the Cliffs of Moher. I took this picture in the fading light this evening, as i had to meet my young relative Ryan, all the way from Texas, as he was passing through my area om a bus tour with fellow students.

Ryan and his pals, with the castle in the background.What a pity i did not have more time to get to know them, but at least we did get to meet, and now they know where i am.

I had told Ryan earlier in the day where we might be able to meet, and he told me, that if i did get to meet their bus, it would be easy to recognise him, as he is very tall. I told him i was also tall, and six feet four inches.Well, as you can see, if i am six foot four, he must be nine feet four. If i was any bigger, nobody could live with me.

I start another tour tomorrow, so i will be Blogging again. Thank God the weather looks really nice for the coming week, and that, for Ireland in November, is fantastic.I am really looking forward to it.

Chauffeurdriven vacations in Ireland/own car and driver in Ireland

The old Dun Guaire castle, guarding the harbour in Kinvara      County Galway

Kinvara is my own little town and is situated on the southern shores of the famous Galway Bay. It is noted for its great old fashioned pubs with traditional music, and wonderful steak and seafood restaurants. If you like your oysters, or mussels and crab meat, or fresh fish, then you will not go wrong here. During the holiday season you can also enjoy a medieval banquet in the old castle.

I have been missing...i know....and have not blogged for a little while, but i have been busy otherwise. Your new President is now installed and we all wish you well on your journey onwards. No matter where you are in this world of ours right now, the road ahead looks grim for the next few years, and it is a time for all of us to pull together and to try to help one another all we can. In the Ireland of old, that was how we survived. People who had virtually nothing, shared what they did have with others, and helped in any way they could. If we think that we have it bad then we just have to look back at those times and thank the Lord that we have all that we have today. In those days neighbors were what neighbors should be, they shared their food, they shared the work load, and if they had nothing, they at least had people to comfort and console them. Today, do we even know who our neighbors are? Maybe it is something we can think about and maybe improve on in the New Year, which is not far off now. If you wish to comment on my Blog please feel free to do so. Feel free to comment anonymously if you prefer.

If you are planning on visiting Ireland in 2013 please contact me also. My prices are every bit as good as they were back in 2005, and that cannot be bad. It costs nothing to enquire.

                                  An Irish rainbow.

Looking for car and driver/guide in Southern Ireland/ireland West

Karen Arrives in Ireland

Time does pass slowly when you are all excited about coming to Ireland, and eventhough Karen has been here, and touring with me, last year and the year before, the excitement was still almost more than she could handle. Karen has a passion for this country and a spiritual connection with all that is Irish. She loves everything about it. She has a great interest in its history, its culture, its music, the poetry and literature and, of course, the beauty of our Emerald Isle. 
The first couple of days, Karen spent in Dublin exploring this historic city, and then, made her way to Galway in the West where we began our tour of rural Ireland. The Western seaboard is my favourite part of this country, as i have a great love for the wild and rugged landscapes, the mountains and glacial lakes, the bogs and the offshore islands, the birds and the free roaming animals. Then the many small towns, the great food in the many different types of restaurants, great seafood, wonderful steaks and delicious lamb, chicken and pork and bacon and the home grown vegetables. Where would we be without the pubs with the traditional Irish music, and most of all, the friendly people. Rural Ireland still has managed to hold onto that. In so many places today people think that you are up to something if you make an unsolicited approach. Is there something wrong with saying "Hello"? Not here in the West of Ireland, thank God.

Karen outside her homely B&B in Salthill Galway.

Salthill is the seaside resort area of Galway city and is situated on the shores of Galway Bay. Here you see Karen on the promenade with the Clare hills in the background.

The main street in Salthill where i spent many happy days in my youth myself.

Follow along as we head for Mayo tomorrow.