HOLIDAYS in IRELAND

 

Back at Shannon airport once again for the start of a new adventure, with three men from the USA. 

Shannon airport, the best and most convenient airport to use if traveling to the West and south West of Ireland. Indeed you can use it regardless of where you wish to visit here. It saves you so much time and hassle, and is a really lovely facility.

Here they are at last, my happy crew from the USA, pictured in the arrivals hall at Shannon. From the left we have Ron Salisbury, David Ball, and Peter Valenti.The magnificent bronze statues in the background are that of three famous Munster rugby forwards from this area of the country. 

As their flight was a little late in the day, we just made our way to Killarney where they checked into their hotel, before heading out for their first meal in the Porterhouse Pub in Killarney. They kindly invited me along and it was a really pleasant evening with a really nice meal.

Our first days touring began with a trip on the Ring of Kerry. Here my men are pictured high in the Kerry mountains, overlooking the beautiful lakes of Killarney, where Queen Victoria stood with her handmaidens, and proclaimed it to be the most beautiful view in the Kingdom.Who could argue with that.

Here we have Ron, poet and great pal, pictured with a different view of this rugged area. I look forward very much to receiving some of his works as he has promised to send me a compilation of some of this. When i get some of mine properly compiled i will return this compliment

  

Tonight it was all about Irish dancing, music and song at the wonderful Celtic Steps show at the Killarney racecourse. what a great night that was and i know that we all enjoyed it.

Aftr the show, my pals got to meet some of the entertainers. Here you can see Dave and Ron enjoying the company of some lovely Irish colleens.

Some of the performers on Stage during the show.

Another picture after the show with Ron and cast members and Peter second from the right with the producer of the show, Sean Murphy.

Today we visited the magnificent Gap of Dunlo. an ancient road carved through the Kerry mountains by a giant glacier during the ice age.In the picture we have Peter, Ron and Dave, virtually in the heart of the Gap, and enjoying this wonderful place in glorious sunshine. 

Another picture, showing the narrow roadway which leads to the gap.

The water from the mountains in this area forms a chain of lakes down through the valley and just adds to the beauty of this magical place.

Master of all he surveys, Dave Ball looking fit and happy as we make our way down  through this unique landscape.

In the lower valley regions there are some lovely green areas dotted with shrubs and small trees. In the background you see a couple of the small bridges which span the Black River, called after the Black Valley which leads to the Gap.

All of the residents of this Black Valley are farming people and sheep would be their main income providers.

Another lovely view of this colorful area. This had been another special day before we moved on northwards on our way to the lovely town of Kinvara, a small rural harbour town on the southern shores of Galway Bay.

During their time in this area, they stayed in the lovely Kinvara B&B and had a very special banquet night in this ancient castle,  Dun Guaire.  Dun is the Irish name for Fort or castle, and Guaire ws the name of the ancient chieftain who lived in this castle.This was another highlight of their tour, and unfortunately i did not have any pictures from this night as i did not attend this myself.

As we neared the end of our stay in Kinvara, there was to be one more highlight and that was their helicopter flight over the awesome cliffs of Moher, and down along the west coast to the famous Skellig islands,made famous by the Stars War movies. I had to arrange this special trip for them and also a place for them to land safely, and take off safely. My friend Ronald Burke, allowed me to use his large lawn at the rear of his house in Kinvara, and in the picture above, you see the helicopter hovering over Ronald's house. What a wonderful day they had and the weather did not let them down.

Boarding their helicopter before take-off. Ron and Peter are already in, and Dave is just about to join them.

All is well that ends well, their tour finally ended in Dublin where the finally flew out from Dublin airport and are home safe and well now. For me, this was a really nice tour with nice people, and a tour with new challenges, especially the helicopter addition, but an addition i will offer to all my clients from now on.

I sincerely hope that my new friends have many happy memories of their Irish adventure.