Some of the fishing boats in Dingle.....
The Beehive huts of Ireland. There are 414 of these huts in just a 3 mile stretch along the Dingle Peninsula. These are over 4,000 years old. Again, no mortar or dirt holding them together, just good handy work. These are said to have been used by Monks who prefered to live a solitary life as they translated writings. Now on farmers' land....they charge you 2 Euro to cross onto their property to have a look. Morgan took this picture from across the road.
On what's called the Slea Head drive. The lavender was in full bloom, so all the moutains had this purple hue.
This father and son stand by the side of the road and pose for pictures with silly tourists. This is the son, his donkey and his dog. You buy sprigs of lavender from them or just get a picture. They appreciate a Euro or two. This kid did not look thrilled with having to do any of this....
This is Dad, his donkey and his crazy dog who would jump up and down on the back of the donkey.
In Killarney--and it's purple mountain majesty. See how purple the moutains look? That is lavender in bloom.
In the city of Killarney, you can take a horse drawn carriage ride around the city.
The church in Killarney
Blarney Castle. This is where the famous 'Blarney Stone' is. Nope she didn't kiss it. Legend has it that he who kisses the blarney stone will be gifted with eloquence....or have the gift of gab. Morgan figured she was talkative enough--not to mention how unsanitary the whole idea of kissing that stone is--blech. The stone was built into the castle in 1446. The castle itself was built in the 1300's.
The view down from the top of Blarney Castle.
See that line at the top of the picture. That is the line of people waiting to kiss the Blarney Stone. Morgan took this picture from what would have been the 3rd floor of the castle.
At the Waterford Crystal factory in Waterford, Ireland. Super expensive crystal, but after you watch how it is made and how long it takes to produce one simple piece....you know why.
Waterford Crystal has and still produces the trophys for some of the most major sporting events world-wide. They also supplied the crystal ball that dropped in Time Square for the special millenium celebration.
A Waterford vase. This vase would bankrupt most of us.
One of the old mast ships in Tramore, Ireland. This is one of the 'Death Ships'. When The Great Famine hit Ireland in 1845-1849, these ships were loaded with those trying to escape certain death by coming to the Americas. They were packed with double their capacity knowing that on the voyage over to Ellis Island more than 1/2 would die from hunger and disease. A good amount of the Irish-Americans now living in the US are born out of those who made it over (and survived) during the famine.
Goodbye to Ireland. Morgan says she can't wait to go back. Her tour director, a born and raised Killarney native spoke these words to them on their last night in Ireland....it is an old Irish blessing:
"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."
Until the next time.....
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