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| The day began early with a drive out to the town of Dingle itself |
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| The very pleasant waterfront boast very nice sculptures including the Dingle Dolphin - Fungie |
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| The locals will tell tales of going out to see Fungie. |
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| The harbor is nice with many commercial fishing trawlers |
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| And a few beer trucks! |
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| The town is pleasant and even has a stream running right through the middle! |
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| This passion scene is much like ones we have seen elsewhere - very touching as we recall Christ's suffering for us! |
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| The inscription is in old Irish - how's your Gaelic? |
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| My kind of store - "Foxy John's Bar & Hardware!" |
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| We were told if we wanted the best ice cream in Ireland to try Murphy's - - - and it was very good! Of course we have many others to try before we pass judgement! |
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| The legend of Fungie the Dolphin influenced this shop |
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| The mass was at St Mary's in Dingle |
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| The three kneeling children in the grotto identify this as Our Lady of Fatima |
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| In the courtyard next to the church - do not know if the large building in the background is associated with the church |
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| The bishop's homily was excellent (as usual). The banner on the ambo is in Gaelic Mother of God (I think) |
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| The item in his hands is a carpenter's square, so I'm guessing this is St Joseph |
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| The Blessed Mother |
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| The church is not huge but is large and very warmly welcomed us |
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| The stained glass was very beautiful |
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| The Holy Water fonts were also very elegant |
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| The stations of the cross were mosaic and pretty modern |
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| I thought this Holy Family was quite striking! |
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| On the road around the peninsula! |
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| The beautiful beach at Inch was empty on this overcast, chilly day |
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| The Blasket islands just offshore are beautiful but rugged |
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| The coastline is rugged as well |
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| This modern version of the stone "famine" huts is a storage shed with a modern roof but is built just like the old huts |
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| This barn is built in the Mansard style where the roof becomes the sides in thatched grass. |
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| When we reached this little steam overflowing the road, our guide announced very somberly that we would all have to get out while our driver tried to get around where "the road had washed out!" He soon admitted he was joking and this was normal. Dennis is a real jokester! |
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| The "beehive" dwellings are masterful feats of construction - dry fit stones with no mortar that have lasted centuries! This one has a gate added to keep the sheep out but these were lodgings for ancient dwellers of the land (stones are very plentiful!) |
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| The sleeping giant - one of the Blasket Islands |
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| At a place where returning seaman can see it is this scene of Christ's Passion |
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| When we asked Dennis our guide and Morris our driver to pose, they insisted this was their best side! |
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| This hawk was keeping station right above the hill above - probably waiting for lunch to appear! |
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| These two island were just barely visible through the haze & mist |
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| The sheep are ubiquitous! |
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| We arrive at Gallarus Oratory - what a magnificent view . . . |
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| Both toward the water and away |
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| The walk up from the parking area is even and easy |
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| The oratory is a place of prayer (ora in Latin) |
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| Theresa & Bob at the oratory |
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| The oratory is also dry fit stone and has survived for 12 or 13 centuries! |
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| This place of prayer may have been used by monks who lived in beehive huts nearby - no one knows for sure |
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| Dennis answers a question for Bob |
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| The view of the bay is indeed beautiful |
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| These cats had found a spot of sun outside the visitor center |
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| On the way home, we passed many beautiful sights - rivers . . . |
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| . . . abandoned rail bridges . . . |
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| . . . and just beautiful coasts. |
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| This windmill in Blennerville is the last still in operation |
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| This canal just outside of Tralee was part of an extensive system of canals but is now just a memorial to those days. You can see "Rose of Tralee" on our bus's windshield. It is a huge beauty contest each year in Tralee |
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| We got off the highway and took a bit of a tour of Tralee . . . |
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| . . . finally ending up at a park just next to the museum (shown here). As we got off the bus, the custodian quickly closed and locked the public restrooms in the park so he wouldn't be late getting home - at least that's our guess! |
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| This is the Aquadome of Tralee - indoor water fun complex |
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| Back in Limerick, we were taken to Bunratty Castle for an evening of fun, food, drink, and entertainment |
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| This imposing castle is now an entertainment venue wher we were called "me Lord" or "me Lady" |
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| The drawbridge was down for us! |
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| And a piper played for us as we entered |
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| The castle is the main attraction but there is much more to the complex as shown in this plan |
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| The evening began in the upper hall where we were serenaded with an Irish harp and a violin |
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| The drink was mead - honeyed wine |
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| Two of our group, Larry & Chris were selected as Earl of Thomand & his Lady for the evening |
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| Theresa takes a snapshot of the crowns |
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| After a very formal welcome . . . |
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| . . . the Earl and his Lady were crowned |
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| At dinner, we were seated next to the Earl and his Lady!! |
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| Our other dinner companions - Ken & Caren . . . |
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| . . . and Bob & Kathy |
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| The evening wrapped up with some great singing |
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