I was somewhat apprehensive to head to the Blarney Castle in Blarney, just north of Cork. In case you have been living under a rock, or stone rather, Blarney is known for its castle and probably the most loved piece of stone in the world for all of the kisses it receives, the Blarney Stone. On top of the 15th century Blarney Castle, you will find that famous stone. If you kiss it, you supposedly will receive the gift of gab, the present of eloquent nonsense. Elizabeth I, out of frustration and annoyance, supposedly coined the term blarney over Lord Blarney’s ability to chatter endlessly Continue Reading
The Irish Spirit at Number 31 in Dublin
“You have arrived at your destination”, my GPS Susan keeps uttering. However, I would miss the only number I was looking for, 31 to be exact. I continued down my first “Irish lane” experience, where a wall sits dangerously close to your left and cars cram in on the right. You have nowhere to go but straight until you meet the regrettable dead-end. At the end of my dead-end were two saviors. Jesus doesn’t wear simple clothing. In Dublin, he wears a nice suit. Two gentlemen in suits kindly help me out of my pickle of a first driving experience in Ireland. Fresh off the boat, I know I probably Continue Reading
Glendalough, Ireland Wishes You Were Here
After a dramatic first day in Dublin of driving on the “wrong” side of the road and going on one hour of airplane sleep, I decided to get back in the hire car a day later and head for some of Ireland’s narrowest roads. While this may sound like the worst of ideas, driving the Wicklow Mountains just south of Dublin proved challenging, yet good for this traveler’s soul. The Wicklow Mountains don’t really look like “mountains”, but I didn’t seem to mind. Driving through a number of gaps and valleys, I found myself on a narrow road and completely isolated. Apart from trying to not shut my eyes Continue Reading
Budgeting For a Month in Ireland
In just under a month, I will be in Ireland. While that thought both terrifies and excites me, I am at those planning stages, going over budgets and finances. I have noticed a pattern with emails I receive. Most want to know how to travel and how I travel. How can you afford to travel? How do you budget? To be honest, I have never really been strict with a budget until this trip. I generally have an idea in my mind of what I am looking to spend. As I will be traveling around Ireland for an entire month, organization proves to be key toward keeping a budget. Before things get out of hand and Continue Reading
Where are you going? Battling Irish Tricksters in the Village of Teelin
It is freezing cold. No, it is colder than freezing cold. It is June in Ireland and I am dressed in my newly purchased Donegal wool sweater. To make the cold even more bone chilling, we can’t seem to get the peat fire started. At the top of the northwest end of Ireland in Donegal County, the little village of Teelin can’t be heard. It is quiet with only a couple hundred people if that. The day my family drove into town, I think the population added on 7 for good measure. There are many that boast Irish heritage. I am definitely one of them. Sadly, most do not still have relatives in the Continue Reading