Mighty Good Craic!

We're headed to Ireland!

Due to scheduling conflicts and typical family summer chaos, there was no true 25th wedding celebration this past July when we hit the big milestone. Laura and I discussed the fact that since there was only two days allowed for our honeymoon by a not-so-people-oriented Squadron Commander back in the day, that we could just celebrate the 25th Anniversary in much the same manner: a trip to IKEA or Costco, maybe, or an overnighter to the Motel 6 in Zanesville, OH... (wonder if the shaking bed still costs a quarter??)

Thankfully, fate had other ideas!

Last Spring, Jill decided her college experience wouldn't be complete without a Semester Abroad, and took it upon herself to investigate the process, visit the Study Abroad Office on campus, get all the info and make her applications. Her first choice, St. Andrews in Scotland fell through when it filled up before she got her paperwork in, but the Study Abroad folks came through and found a program in Ireland that seemed to fit the bill: A semester at the University of Limerick. Personally, I thought Ireland would be a great experience, and I have been just a BIT jealous at her good fortune...who wouldn't love to spend four months in a college town in the heart of Eire?

So.... After we went through the craziness of packing her up and sending her off via jet plane on the very day a Nor'easter clobbers the East Coast (Laura routed her through Chicago, missing all that madness!), we sat down over a cup of coffee and realized that since she was there, and we had never been, going to visit her was a great way of killing two birds with one rock: We get to go see her an stave off any homesickness, PLUS we can take a couple of days just to ourselves and get that 25th Anniversary trip in after all!

After agreeing on a time frame, I contacted a local travel agent (Liberty Travel) and had them set us up for a 6 day tour then three extra days just hanging around Limerick/Shannon area so we can visit with Jill around Thanksgiving when most other kids in the US are home with their families. I think we found a pretty good plan, and though it's not comprehensive, it should be a lot of fun! Our five day tour is called, "A Taste of Ireland."

Day 1: Overnight Flight to Dublin
Depart your North American gateway city and travel through the night to Dublin.

Day 2: Dublin Independent Tour
Arrive at Dublin Airport, go through immigration formalities and pick up your baggage. Go your hotel, located near the Georgian area in central Dublin. In the afternoon use your independent open-top bus tour voucher with a Guinness or Jameson visit and tasting - these features are valid for 24 hours.

Day 3: Dublin Tour & Burlington Cabaret
Enjoy a free morning in Dublin for further sightseeing with the included vouchers. At 2:00 pm all participants join a local guide for a tour of ancient and modern Dublin. Drive through the main streets to see historic buildings such as Trinity College, where the Book of Kells is housed; the evocative figures of the Famine Memorial; and rows of Georgian houses with gaily-colored doorways. Stop at Dublin Castle for a guided tour through the elegant State Apartments, which are filled with elaborate Waterford Crystal chandeliers and portraits of prominent Irish leaders. Return to your hotel for a get-together with your tour group and a welcome drink. In the evening enjoy a great dinner of Irish specialties, which is followed by a show of traditional Irish songs and intricate step-dancing, right in your hotel at the Burlington Cabaret. (B, D)

Day 4: Blarney Castle & Killarney
Depart Dublin and travel through the center of Ireland, which has many mixed farms. Stop to view the stately church ruins atop the Rock of Cashel, rising high above the surrounding plain. Continue your drive south and, just a few miles outside Cork, visit Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.” Also visit the Blarney Woollen Mills where you can find quality Irish-made goods of all types, conveniently displayed under one roof. Drive through Macroom, built around a fine castle, and into County Kerry where the scenery becomes more mountainous. Arrive in Killarney, picturesquely set beside lakes with Ireland's highest mountains, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, forming a backdrop. Check in to your hotel and relax before dinner. After your meal you may like to take a stroll through the compact town center and explore Killarney's famous singing pubs. (B, D)

Day 5: Ring of Kerry & Skellig Experience
Today embark on Ireland's most popular scenic drive of 100 miles - the Ring of Kerry. This winding route reveals breathtaking sights of the Macgillycuddy's Reeks as well as coastal views of beaches and cliffs. As you travel along, there will be plenty of stops for photos at the best vantage points. Stop at Kells to meet a local farmer, Brendan Ferris, for a taste of farm life with a sheepdog demonstration of herding flocks and see different breeds of sheep. Drive through the village of Cahirciveen and cross to Valencia Island by bridge. Visit the Skellig Experience to learn about the nearby rocky islands where early Christian monks lived in austere conditions and today they form a thriving bird sanctuary. Stop to walk around Sneem, where brightly-painted houses are grouped around a central green. Pause at Moll's Gap for a view of the Three Lakes of Killarney with the town in the distance. Return to Killarney and enjoy a fine dinner in your hotel once again. (B, D)

Day 6: Cliffs of Moher & Bunratty Castle
Leave Killarney and drive north to Tarbert for a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Your tour continues along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches to almost 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive past Lahinch golf links, one of Ireland's most famous, and through the marketing town of Ennis to Bunratty. Check in to Bunratty Castle Hotel, which is located very close to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. In the evening head to Bunratty Castle for a memorable experience in a wonderful setting with good food and entertainment. Take your place in the Great Hall for a medieval-style feast of excellent dishes and plenty of wine. During and after the meal the lords and ladies will serenade you with song and harp music, evocative of the Middle Ages. (B, D)

Day 7: Shannon
Take a group transfer to arrive at nearby Shannon Airport where you pick up a rental for the next three days of touring in and around Southwest Ireland!

Day 10: Shannon Departure
Travel back to reality via Shannon Airport.

The Hotels where we're scheduled to stay look pretty inviting:

• Burlington Hotel, Dublin (2 nights)
• Killarney Towers Hotel, Killarney (2 nights)
• Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty (1 night)

All in all, it sounds like a lot of fun, and something we've both wanted to do for a long time. Now it's time to start packing!