Kilkenny & Glendalough, Ireland 2023

Kilkenny & Glendalough, Ireland 2023

May 16th, our last morning was spent in Kilkenny before the drive back to Dublin. We didn't head right back to Dublin, we stopped in Glendalough for a few hours for some sightseeing. 

Before our tour started off again, we had time to walk around Kilkenny in the morning. A walk along the river and around the Kilkenny Castle grounds and park. 

A view of the river, next to the Kilkenny Castle wall. 

We didn't have time for the Kilkenny Castle tour, but we did walk around outside. 

By 11 am we were back on the road heading to Glendalough located in the County Wicklow.  The Wicklow National Park and Glendalough known as the Valley of Two Lakes.  Also accessible is the Monastic City. At the Monastic City we saw the Gateway and St Kevin's church, the cathedral ruins and the beautiful round tower. 

The early Christian Monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the 'Monastic City'.

The City consists of the monastic remains, the most impressive is the Round Tower.

The Gateway to the Monastic City

I like this heart shaped carving around the bench. 

There are various hiking trails in the park, the green trail takes you to the lakes.

Upper Lake, one of the two lakes in Glendalough.

" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown

I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!  

KiIkenny, Ireland 2023

 Ireland May 15, 2023

On this day we were heading to Kilkenny Ireland with stops on the way at the Cahir Castle, the Rock of Cashel and the last stop our lodging in Kilkenny. 

1. Cahir Castle, located in the Tipperary County of Ireland. It is in the Cahir town center and sits on a rocky island in the River Suir. The castle dates back to the 13th century. When Lord Cahir died the castle became the property of the Irish state and named a national monument. A gaggle of Domestic Geese have become famous in the town of Cahir, on and around the Castle grounds. 

Domestic Geese at the River Suir and Castle walls.

A larger view of the Cahir Castle and the River Suir.

The castle grounds include a couple of cannons.  A cannon ball can even be seen stuck in one of the castle walls, apparently from a siege back in 1599 by the Earl of Essex.

Rock of Cashel located in Cashel, Tipperary County Ireland. It is a complex of buildings dated from 12th and 13 centuries. 

The Cathedral has a central tower and the rest is the massive residential castle. It was built between 1235 and 1270. 

The round barrel tower is part of the Cormac's Chapel, the oldest section said to be built between  1127 and 1134

Hore Abbey is seen from the Rock of Cashel complex. The former Benedictine Abbey was given to the Cistercians in 1270. Now known as the ruins of a Cistercian Monastery. 

After our tour of the Rock of Cashel we headed to the town of Kilkenny for our lodging for the last night of our guided Ireland tour. 

" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown

Thanks for visiting and for the comments.  Take care, enjoy your day!

Killarney, Ireland 2023

 Killarney, Ireland 2023

May 13th-14th, we had two nights in Killarney. So we are back on the road leaving Dingle heading to Killarney.  The tour is on the road to the Ring of Kerry. We had a photo stop at  Inch Beach located in Kerry, it  is a sand spit jutting out into the sea between Dingle Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour. 

Another stop was for lunch, we stopped in Portmagee, hubby and I had a nice lunch in the Skellig Seafront Cafe. We walked around the coastal town being followed by a cute kitty, it is a nice village with pretty views. You can catch a boat tour here to the Skellig Islands which is a UNESCO Heritage site. 

A view of the marina area of Portmagee.

Here is a hazy view of the Skellig Islands. 

Our driver/guide made an extra stop at the Kerry Cliffs, it is similar to the Cliffs of Moher with gorgeous scenic views.  It was hard deciding which way to walk on the cliffs, to the right or left.  I went left and hubby went to the right.  

A view from the Kerry Cliffs, you can see the Skellig Islands in the distance. 

The Killarney National Park  was the last stop for the day before heading to our lodging for the next two nights. 

Ladies View the scenic overlooking Killarney's three lakes.

The Torc Waterfall is 20 meters high, located in the Killarney National Park and located only 7km from the town of Killarney. 

On the 14th, we had a day of rest. My next post will be on May15th when our tour picks up and heads to Kilkenny.  

I hope you enjoyed this post on our Ireland trip, we have seen so much just in one day, more on Ireland to come soon. 

" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!  

Dingle, Ireland 2023

 Dingle, Ireland 2023

May 11th-12th, we had 2 nights in Dingle. I am sharing photos from our tour on the 12th, a good part of the tour was on the scenic Slea Head Drive. 

Images are of our hotel and the view from our room, some street scenes from around the town of Dingle and views of Dingle Bay, a lifer the Grey Heron and the marina. 

A view of the colorful buildings in Dingle taken near the marina. 

A view of Dingle Bay. 

May 12th, we were back on the bus for a tour and views of Dingle Bay, the Stonehouse Restaurant and scenes from the Slea Head Drive, some beaches and the Atlantic Ocean. 

Below is the Dunmore Head viewpoint. It is the western most point in Ireland. The ocean was mostly calm on this day, not many waves to be seen. 

The Dun Chaoin Pier was a beautiful view.

The Coomeenoole Beach surrounded by the cliffs. 

Below is the Ceann Sibèal view point. This area was made famous from the Star War movie The Force Awakens.

The Clogher Strand beach with it's pristine white sand is located on the Dingle Peninsula.

Another beautiful day in Ireland with gorgeous scenic views. We were back in Dingle for lunch or dinner and our room for the night. 

" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown

I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!  

Cliffs of Moher, Ireland May 2023

 Cliffs of Moher, Ireland May 2023

May 11th, we spent around 3 hours at the Cliffs of Moher. Below are some of the scenic views,  we had a nice weather day to visit. 

The walk way from the parking lot to the cliff trail!

The views are gorgeous!

The O'Brien's tower is seen in the distance.

The Sea Pink flowers are pretty and seen along the cliffs and coast.

Some views just speak for themselves.  

O'Brien's Tower built in 1835 as an observation point for tourist visiting Ireland. 

The Busking Pitch is set up for the local buskers to bring their talent to the Cliffs. 

The rocky coast and Cliffs of Moher

More gorgeous views of the cliffs and ocean. 

I enjoyed seeing all the sea birds perched on the cliffs and sea stacks.

It was windy the day we were at the Cliffs, at times I felt like I had to hold on. The wind was strong enough I felt it was pushing me along.

 

A Cliffs of Moher welcome sculpture near the parking lot, I liked the cute Puffins.

I hope you enjoy my photos from our visit to the Cliffs of Moher, it was one of my favorite places to visit.  

" We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." unknown

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your day!