Days 5, 6, 7: Dublin

Day five is spent driving from Kinsale to Dublin.

At last on Day 6 we get some rain. This is the view from our hotel in Dublin. That's some old church across the way.








Here I am able to finally use the fancy rain coat and shoes I got especially for this trip.












Here's Julie in St. Stephen's Green, Dublin's versionof Central Park.













The rain didn't last long and it was sun and blue skies once again.












Another first on this trip, fish and chips.












This is the Liffey River that runs through the middle of Dublin.

Day 3 & 4: Cork & Kinsale

From Kilkenny we drove South and West to Cork where we got caught in what locals call a "traffic jam" at "rush hour"











But at last arrived in Kinsale a pretty fishing village right on the coast. This is the view from our hotel.










And here is a cute little street of houses.













This is the end of the original medevil city. there was gate here known as the "end of the world gate" because South of here was the ocean and literally the end of the known world.









Julie made a friend in Kinsale.
















there still is fishing industry in Kinsale which is known for it's great seafood.












And here is one fan of said seafood.












This is summercove a beyond pretty little hamlet a short walk from Kinsale.











These are some flowers we saw on the walk.












Here I am by the Charles Fort (abandoned now) and that's the Atlantic in the far background.










Another picture of the mouth of Kinsale harbor.

Day 2: Kilekenny and Such

Our hotel in Kilkenny.













We made kilkenny our base and the next day drove to Cashel and saw the Rock of Cashel, a ruined cathedral/monastery. That's Ireland's earliest complete round tower.


















In the distance you can see the ruins of Hore Abbey.











From Cashel, we drove to Clonmel for the horseraces.












Here I am in the stands overlooking the crowd that is placing bets with the bookmakers.













Here is one line of bookmakers, the woman in white was often the first one to put up odds hoping to get the early bettors.










here are all the bettors.












And here are the horses. This race was a steeplechase so they had hurdles to jump. A couple riders fell (but no one was injured)


We won bets on all the races but lost more all together.

Day 1: the road to Kilkenny

Here is our tiny Nissan Micra.








This is one of the wider country roads








A lamb in a field in the Wicklow Mountains South of Dublin. The Sally Gap to be exact.








Julie pointing to the tower she wants at Powerscourt, a vast estate an hour South of Dublin.













Looking over the pond towards the main house at Powerscourt.








A view of the ruined monastery at glendalough.








The round tower at Glendalough. These were used as lookouts, storage, and refuge.