An Irish vacation with your own private driver

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.