I would like to share some information about the place that visited while in Ireland. It was a quick trip. We stayed for 3 days but that included 2 nights in a castle in the country and one night in the heart of Dublin in a hostile. It was a phenomenal trip that I will always hold close to my heart.
FACTS:
Ballyseede Castle: Take a step back in time with a hotel steeped in history that offers luxurious surroundings within 30 acres of private gardens and woodland. I have fond memories of playing chess in the drawing room and relaxing to the sounds of the piano in the sitting room. It was also the big joke that a ghost of one who lived there many years ago still roamed the halls of the castle. It was enough for me to not sleep a wink and for my roommate to have a good laugh at my expense.
Blarney Castle: The castile is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland. It is near the River Martin. The castle originally dates from before AD 1200. At the top of the castle lies the Stone of Eloquence, better known as the Blarney Stone. Tourists visiting Blarney Castle may hang upside-down over a sheer drop to kiss the stone, which is said to give the gift of eloquence. Photographs are taken of the "magic moment". There are many legends as to the origin of the stone, but some say that it was the Lia Fáil—a magical stone upon which Irish kings were crowned. According to legend, kissing the stone endows the kisser with the gift of gab (great eloquence or skill at flattery). The stone was set into a tower of the castle in 1446. Surrounding the castle are beautiful and quite extensive gardens.
The Cliffs of Moher are located in County Clare, Ireland. The cliffs rise 394 ft above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag's Head, and reach their maximum height of 702 ft just north of O'Brien's Tower. The cliffs boast one of Ireland's most spectacular views. The Cliffs of Moher were filmed as the "Cliffs of Insanity" in the 1987 movie, The Princess Bride.
Bunratty Castle: (Castle at the Mouth of the Ratty) is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. In Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. The first dwellings to occupy the site, in 970 were part of a Viking trading camp.
Killarney National Park (Irish: Páirc Náisiúnta Chill Airne) is located beside the town of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932. I think the most impressive park of this area was the “Land of Lakes.” The lakes (many lakes) were situated on the tops of mountains.
Lahinch : The beautiful beach sweeps past the town and creates waves for surfing. The beaches were a miz between large and small boulders with a sandy beach that seemed to miles and miles away. I just sat there watching the waves crash into the rocks and feeling the cool Irish breeze in April. It was chilling but at the same time, I knew this was something that I had never experienced before in my life. While others shopped, I chose to have fish and chips at a local restaurant on the seaside and then, watched the beach for the remainder of the time.
Dublin: This is the site of my very first hostile stay. Actually, I am happy to report that survived. Truly, hostiles have a bad wrap. They are basic living, which many can compare to camping or even dorm life. While in Dublin, I kept a keen eye out for my favorite band, “The Cranberries” but was not able to find them L I experienced my first Irish Cab Driver chat (talked US politics which was different). I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral and went to Ireland’s oldest pub to eat and drink! It was a great last night traveling abroad.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, formally known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin or in the Irish language as Árd Eaglais Naomh Pádraig, founded in 1191, is one of the two largest cathedrals in Ireland. It was one of only churches that I visited that allowed photography and I took advantage.
Torc Waterfall is a notable tourist attraction at the base of Torc Mountain, about 5 miles from Killarney in County Kerry Ireland. We could only see the base of it but it is awesome to think that I have had the chance to see a waterfall in Ireland. The watershed was beautiful and the cool breeze of the April was undeniably chilly. I loved every second of it. I don’t think that I took my eye off the waterfall until I heard that it was last call for transportation.
