Week Long Highlights Tour of Ireland

Our first day full day after arriving the night before from the States we explored the center of the city including Eyre Square. We then went on a day tour which included one of our must-see sights, the Cliffs of Moher. Once the tour returned to Galway, we walked more around the city and had a wonderful dinner in the Latin Quarter. Here is a link to video from our @NanDanTravel You Tube Channel on our experience at the Cliffs of Moher: https://youtu.be/dDZ1E1nXR8A?si=vqQW50V85qZanIdC

We drove approximately 2 and 1/2 hours from Galway to Blarney Castle and Gardens. While the grounds are beautiful and the castle has been wonderfully kept in its current state, with lots of information signs, kissing the Blarney Stone was one of our highlights. Continued to Cork only a mere 20 minutes away. Dinner was at a wonderful pub close to the hotel. Here is a link to a video from our @NanDanTravel You Tube Channel about our experiences at Blarney Castle and Gardens: https://youtu.be/yguBX9mCVok?si=GZuee0Mi0adDvwlW

Today saw us take a day bus tour around the Ring of Kerry. It also lives up to the hype. The scenery was breathtaking. It was nice to have someone else drive so we both could equally enjoy nature's wonders. In the evening we went to a different, also recommended, local pub a little further walk from our hotel and were treated to wonderful Irish folklore music by local musicians.

Today saw us drive from Cork to Killiane Castle for our overnight stay. It was our day for castles. First up was our drive to Kilkenny Castle, in the town of Kilkenny. On our way we first came across another castle, Kilcash Castle, just a minute or two drive off from the highway which was a nice surprise. Then it was touring the very large Kilkenny Castle. From there we drove to Killiane Castle Country House & Farm. Killiane Castle, to note, is just south of Wexford. We chose Killiane Castle because of its good reviews and wanted to go exploring inside one of King Henry VIII Ten Pound Castles. It did not disappoint. And the overnight stay was as tranquil and peaceful as we hoped. The Irish country-side just takes one's breath away.

Powerscourt Estate in County Wicklow was a pleasant surprise that Nancy found. It's gardens and sculptures and water fountains are patterned after the Italian influence. It is 47 acres of the 3rd best garden in the world by National Geographic, per the Powerscourt website. We can believe it. We then drove through Dublin, a mere 2 5 minutes away with no traffic, to the Dublin International Airport to drop off our rental car and take a taxi to our hotel near Temple Bar where we would stay for the remaining 4 nights of our adventure.

A day bus tour was in the offerings for today's adventure. First a 'black taxi' tour of the different areas of Dublin with a focus on 'The Troubles' was sobering and not to be missed. Dunluce Castle and how it has been preserved was the most surprising of our Irish adventure as it was incredible and so glad we did not miss it. Next was the Giants Causeway with its hexagon-like rocks going out to the sea. What an amazing day. Here is a link to our video of the Giant's Causeway from our @NanDanTravel You Tube Channel: https://youtu.be/_B6EB2JMK54

Today was another memorable day. The guide we hired for our 3 hours Dublin tour was so knowledgeable. Everywhere we turned, one historical statue or tale after the next. Off to the Guinness Storehouse self guided tour which is not to be missed. The Galaxy bar at the end with its 360 degree views of Dublin were wonderful. Talking through Temple Bar area on way to dinner and a show at night including, yes, Riverdance.

There is so much history and things to see and experience that a couple of days merely touches the tip. Visiting Trinity College, St. Stephen's Green Park, Phoenix Park, Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin Castle, multitude of sculptures are just to name a few.