I'm back from a great 10 days over in Ireland. It was the first time in a long time i've travelled without the want or need to take a laptop and i have to say, i loved it.
Ireland as a place was pretty much as i expected it and no great surprises, more of a surprise for me was finding out exactly how much i miss the more "outdoorsy life" you don't get so much in Japan.
The days and nights were full of socialising with Friends and i managed to see more of Ireland than i'd first planned due to a trip to Dublin by train and then a return to Adare around the coast by car.
I took a few photos while abroad but also missed out on a few occasions due forgetting my camera or being a little too inhebriated to use it. I've narrowed them down to a selection of shots and will put them all up at once. There may be some more coming when a few Friends arrive back in Australia.
Unfortunately there's very few high rise hotels in Adare, so it was B&B Accomodation. I was out the back in the converted stable.
The Main Street of Adare. Saturday was extremely busy due to a Bank Holiday on the Monday and lots of people heading off for a long weekend.
They've been planning a bypass since the mid 90's to limit the conjestion … not sure when it will be built.
Collins on the corner, the scene of many a crime over the course of the week.
A glimpse of the traffic heading back to Limerick from Kerry on the West Coast.
Park Avenue Cafe on the corner at the busiest intersection in town … well, pretty much the only intersection in town.
Lunch consisting of Corned Beef and Cabbage … with the mandatory pint of Heineken to wash it down. It's been a while since i've had some "English" food and i made the most while i was over that way.
The Dunraven Arms, the best place in town and the location of the wedding reception later in the week.
Thatched Roof Cottages are a big attraction in Adare with most people stopping by for a photo opportunity.
A Church in the Main Street, not the one my Friends were married in.
The Train Station at Limerick where i boarded a train bound for Dublin.
No Shinkansen bu 2.5 hrs later it got me to Dublin.
Dublin Train Station, a little more life and looking promising.
Heaps of chicks getting around with Cowboy Hats in Dublin, i think there was a concert on but i'm not sure who.
Good to get into a place with a little more action.
Dublin has a river running right through it which makes for a nice city walk.
One Show Only for the us in Dublin. I met some Friends who'd been in London for a few days on their way to the wedding and we stayed at the Westin.
Bags in the room and it was straight down to the Temple Bar in Dublin, a must visit for anyone going through Dublin.
Surprising i'd never tried a Guiness prior to this trip. I forced it down and will probably never have another again. Still, it was a the best place to say i'd had my first Guiness.
Dinner at The Eden in Dublin was great, this time it was Braised Lamb with Veg … and of course Potatoes … everything comes with some variation of potato in Dublin.
Dinner was over and it was time to pull a few more drinks. Unfortunately the camera didn't make it out after dinner.
Up early the next morning and on my way to breakfast i noticed the Westin provide a "Jogging Station" for guests. No chance, off to breakfast we went.
On route to get the hire car the next day i had a good walk around other parts of Dublin.
There's plenty of buildings covered in Ivy i think it is. Either way, it looks nice.
Yet another pub with another Irish name. If i had a dollar for every pub i saw in Dublin i'd be a rich man.
If i had 10 cents for ever time i heard the word "Fuck" or a variation of it i'd be even richer, the Irish LOVE swearing.
A 500 Euro Note, or about 85,000 Yen (USD$775) …. you don't want to lose one of these.
More girls wearing Cowboy Hats.
Down to Kilkenny the scenery was much different. Lots of water once again, heaps of pubs too.
We'd planned to have lunch here by the water, except the menu was a little shabby so we decided to try another place.
One of many castles in Ireland.
Lunch in Kilkenny was the best meal by far … and washed down with a Corona and a glass of Australian Red.
Off to Waterford for our next stop. Waterford is the home of Waterford Crystal.
Still making our way back from Dublin to Adare and having travelled through Kilkenny and Waterford and prior to Tipperary we then found ourselves at the "Rock of Cashel" a historic and popular site in Ireland.
Chicken Terrian for dinner at the Dunraven Arms when we got back to Adare from Tipperary where, needless to say, there was a lot of singing in the car.
The boys spent many an hour in the beer garden at Chawkes pub on the Main Street, something else i miss while living in Japan.
Later that day a few of us had to head to Neenah, about 50kms away for the wedding rehearsal.
The morning of the wedding and some 5 long days after arriving in Adare the boys pulled as few beers while we waited. I was in the wedding and didn't take my camera that day. I will get some photos when the others return home for those that know the Bride and Groom.
Another Castle on the banks of the river as you enter Adare from Limerick … or in my case, as i walk home to my accomodation.
Time to head home via Limerick Bus Station. Limerick is known as "Stab City" to the locals in Ireland. Didn't spend much time there but did take a few photos on the way out.
Limerick probably isn't one of the first places i'll return too.
As with a lot of Ireland, the housing is the same, house after house and street after street.
From Shannon Airport in Ireland to Paris … via a plane far to small for my comfort.
The final beer in Paris Airport, while watching a game from Euro 2008 …. before continuing on the long journey back to Japan.
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lovely place Ireland is. the Rock of Cashel looks interesting. castles fascinate me. ^^; too bad we don’t have any of them here. orz
Seems a very nice place…especially with the building covered with the leaf. I think Europe have many romantic places than Asia. Anyway, are you going to move there soon?
No, i won’t be moving there.
sounds like you had a very nice time ! it would be great to visit there
It would be a good place to hire a car and tour around for a month if you had the time. You’d get to see a fair bit in a month.
Awesome pictures!!!!
I would like to get out that way someday.
Thanks for the tour, Neil. After seeing those photos of Dublin and the rest, I was ready to move to Ireland! Fortunately, Limerick provided a much needed reality check.
I’m part Irish. I would have loved to see Ireland. Not very rich, but I can still dream. See other countries by traveling on the internet. Old used conputer from craigslist for $75. Disabled, live on SSI. Others can travel and share their pictures with me and others. Thank you for doing it. I enjoyed them.