Our Sunday Evening in Ireland

After our visit to the Cliffs of Moher on June 20th 2010, we drove back to Dromoland Castle Hotel for the evening. Along the way we came upon an old cemetery that I had to stop and look at. I took quite a few pictures of the place.

I just noticed that I have a lot of photos of Gregg with coffee in his hand on this trip.

We found the burial tradition in Ireland to be quite different from our own. This is a family plot, they bury many family members in the same place. I don't mean they bury them side by side, but more like one on top of another. I wish I knew more about this because I find it fascinating.

They place each name on the headstone as they die. It's very different from our own traditions here in America. I'm not sure that many people here would go this route if it were available.

But the cemetery itself was just beautiful. Absolutely one of the most beautiful I've visited.

We realized about half way back to our hotel that we took the long way (back roads), so it took us quite a bit longer, but had we not missed that turn we wouldn't have come upon this magical place. What a happy mistake.

We stopped in Ennis at a couple grocery stores to pick up some odds and ends for our picnic the following day and ended up back at the hotel in fine time. One of the strange things about Ireland is that it gets light there around 4AM and doesn't get dark until 10 or 11PM. I loved it, but I can see how it would get annoying. I really missed the night city lights.

I took a few more photos of the Dromoland Castle Hotel entry. I thought I was going to post the really pretty pictures of the place on this post, but I couldn't pass up this post first.

I love these big wood doors. The entry was just beautiful.

Here's looking back outside through those same great wood doors.

After relaxing a bit, Gregg and I headed out to get a bite to eat at the casual restaurant at our hotel, The Fig Leaf. We walked through the gardens and got silly with my camera phone.

Quick picture of the walled gardens at Dromoland. I have better ones that I took the next day.

This is the golf club house where The Fig Leaf Restaurant is located.

Gregg and I ordered a pint each of Guinness to start off. This was the point at which I had to make a few very expensive phone calls because all hell was breaking loose back home with the kids. So Gregg sat and enjoyed his Guinness while I made those calls. Those phone calls nearly ruined my day, if it weren't for the beautiful Gardens, Guinness, and my honey.

When I returned my pint was still cold and my fish and chips had arrived. I ate more fish in Ireland than I had ever anticipated, but it was SO good I couldn't help myself.

If I remember correctly, this photo was taken around 9:30 PM. You can see just how bright the sun still was at that time, and there was at least another hour of daylight left.

On the walk back from dinner, we came upon this banquet hall in the castle. The lights were not on, so the photo is dark, but you get the idea.

Sunday over, ready for some well deserved rest and relaxation.

Cliffs of Moher

After checking in to Dromoland Castle Hotel we decided to get some of our sightseeing done that evening so that we could spend our Anniversary relaxing at the hotel the entire day. The only thing left on our agenda in Clare County was the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs were by far the most amazing sight of our trip and from the 200+ pictures I took while there I have narrowed it down a bit for this post.

The drive from Newmarket-on-Fergus to the Cliffs of Moher was very unassuming, just like this walk was.

But very quickly your breath was taken away from the grandness of it all.

This tower was built by someone in the late 1800's as a way to profit from the amazing views. We didn't go inside, but as you can see, may people did.

I imagine that the views from on top this tower weren't all that much better than mine from the ground.

But who knows?

There were hundreds upon hundreds of stairs here.

After going to the side where the tower was, we headed over to the other side to get more of the spectacular views.

On this side there was no wall to guard you from the edge. Being the adrenaline junky that I am, I couldn't get close enough to the edge. I always felt there was something better to be seen no matter how close to the edge I was. Gregg wasn't having it though, he kept a tight grip on my shirt while I took pictures. I don't think this was for my benefit, I believe he was scared.

This was the sign that nobody was paying attention to. We just passed right on by.

Here you can see the edge where everyone was walking.

This slate wall is to keep the cows from falling over the edge.

I imagine that these are some of the happiest cows on earth.