Europe Photo Album
Ireland
In late May and early June of 2006, we traveled to Tralee, Ireland and Paris, France. Becky's dad (Bruce) was teaching a graduate class at the Quinnipiac University campus in Tralee. Becky's mom (Connie), two aunts (Barb & Colleen), and brother (Steve) were there, also.
Tralee is the capital of County Kerry, often regarded as one of the prettiest (if not *the* prettiest) county in Ireland. We continue to be amazed when we look at these pictures just how beautiful this place is!!
Tralee (home to the "Rose of Tralee" festival you may have heard of) is a small but growing city on the southwest side of the country, with easy access to the Dingle Peninsula, the Ring of Kerry, the lakes of Killarney, etc.
Ireland had been cold, rainy, foggy, and cloudy for most of Bruce & Connie's visit, but the day we arrived, the weather dramatically changed! Our 10-day trip was sunny (partly-cloudy at worst), warm, and rain-free. Everyone kept telling us how lucky we were (a few even thanked us for bringing them such nice weather from Texas!). So, be warned, if you travel to Ireland, what you see may not be just like these pictures - it could easily be cloudy and foggy on a future trip.
More than half of Becky's family ancestry is from Ireland -- with 100% of her mom's side coming from Ireland around the time of the famine. We don't have as many details, but there are also a few Irish ancestors among Becky's dad's side -- and Matt has a little bit, too. Even though the potato famine was a long time ago, there remains a strong tie between most Irish people in Ireland and Americans of Irish descent. We had a few opportunities to see buildings that would have been around in those times, and it gave us a new appreciation for all our ancestors lived through!
Connie had been to Ireland about 35 years ago - and she and Bruce had visited Tralee in 2005 to plan the class. They were nearly locals by the time we arrived - knowing where to go (on the often confusing streets), and giving us pointers of what to see. We enjoyed touring together most days.
Mid-way through our trip, we all went separate ways -- Connie, Steve, Barb and Colleen to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland, Bruce to oversee his students, and Matt and Becky to Paris. More about that on the next pages.
Blarney Castle
(Click on any image for a slightly larger version.)
We arrived at Shannon airport at 6:30am Monday. The others were off near Kilkenny that day, so we toured on our own before getting into Tralee late in the day. Matt did well driving on the "wrong" side of the road (thankful we managed to get an automatic). We tried to check out Limerick, but shops were all closed (because it was so early in the morning), so we headed south.
Fresh from an overnight flight, we weren't exactly up for a lot of touring, but we did take in the Blarney Castle, where we both kissed the Blarney Stone, giving us the "Gift of Gab" (not like either of us needs it, right?).
Most other visitors that morning were American tour groups -- we all lined up to walk the tight circular stone stairways to the top of the castle where the famous stone lies. To kiss it, you lie back, a staff member holds onto you, and guides you backwards to kiss the stone. It's mostly a good way to get dizzy. You also soon notice that the Blarney stone is far smoother than surrounding stones... Kinda creepy when you think about it. :)
After the Castle itself, we toured the gardens, fresh with blooming flowers.
Blarney Castle
To reach the top, you climb small winding staircases (these were tight spaces and the steps were rough)
It's windy up there!
Becky, kissing the stone
Matt, on top of the Castle - after kissing the stone
The view to the countryside around the Castle
Flowers in the Gardens
Becky in the gardens. (wearing a U2 shirt -- which seemed appropriate when in Ireland)
A picturesque bridge and waterway at Blarney Castle
The path continues through a forested area
There are some unique rock formations on the site, also
After visiting Blarney, we went into Cork - a bustling city near the southern coast. By this time, sleep deprivation was kicking in hard, so we didn't do a lot (and no pictures of this part). We decided it was time to head northwest towards Tralee. Matt drove and Becky attempted to give directions. Well, that didn't work so well... We wound up on narrow roads through the Irish countryside (instead of the "improved" two-lane "highway" we could have taken). We were too tired to enjoy it, but it was a pretty place to get lost!
We made it to Tralee, with only a few more wrong turns, and met up with the family. We had a nice dinner at the Station House in Blennerville (towards the cost a few kilometers from Tralee -- and just a few minutes drive from where we were all staying). Blennerville is a very small town, though was once a sea-port where many people sailed to America. It's home to the Blennerville Windmill, and a small museum (which Connie toured, but we didn't see) that has info on the boats which sailed for American during the famine.
Steve (with Dad and a student behind) at the Lodge in Tralee
