It was an Up With People reunion that brought us to Limerick. 40 years ago Chris traveled with a group of 125 from 13 different countries for a year and a half staying with host families in the US, Canada and multiple countries in Europe. They would work on building bridges of understanding within the communities they visited and used a 2 hour song and dance show as a means to give back to the communities they visited. This was the first time an organized alumni reunion has taken place outside of the US. The volunteer team did an amazing job corralling the large group for 7 days! We had an opportunity to take bus tours, visit and reconnect, eat, and of course sing and dance too!
After the reunion in Limerick we were off to the Shannon Airport to pick up our itty-bitty “zero turning radius” rental car and on to explore more of Ireland. Ken has been to Ireland a “few” times, but he never played a tourist. We have a bit of a schedule, but there is room for improvisation…something we both realize we are not fond of. We appreciate knowing where we will be resting at night rather than “flying by the seat of our pants!”
Our only real direction was where we were staying for the next 2 nights and following the “Wild Atlantic Way” signs. We stopped at St Mary’s, Quin, County Clare, timing was perfect for 11:00 mass! We visited the Quin Abbey and Monastery, and had a bowl of leek & potato soup at The Abbey Tavern Inn across the street.
Ken said, “Now if there’s anyplace you’d like to stop at along the way, don’t hesitate to shout it out and we’ll stop!” We geocached along the way and over every bend the scenery was more beautiful than the previous bend! “WOW” and, “Oh look over there!” became very frequent comments. We prefer the back roads and slowing down, but realized at the rate we were moving we’d not make it to the scheduled B&B by nightfall!
We arrived at our B&B in Louisburgh, County Mayo, during daylight (the days are a bit longer with the sunseting about 9pm!) and then quickly headed back into town for a quick bite of dinner!
Mary served us an “Irish Breakfast” and then we set out for the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock. The plan was to make it a “quick day” and “not so long…” We found some amazing geocaching places on our way to Knock! There are no words to describe the scenery and the pictures won’t do it near justice. Have no fear, we have plenty of pictures to share!! We had dinner back in Louisburgh at “The Chipper!”
Bunratty Castle, County Clare, built in 1425, is the most complete and authentic castle in Ireland. It is the center of a medieval “living” folk village. The castle is full of spiral staircases, great halls, multiple chapels and hidden rooms. What a great time we had walking through the castle and village imaging all of the feet that had stepped where we were walking.
Ken & Chris outside one of the homes in the folk park at Bunratty Castle Village.
The dorms at the University of Limerick where we stayed for the Up With People International Alumni Association Reunion.
As we were driving through Quin in County Clare, we happen upon an 11:00 AM mass with just a right timing. After mass, we walked over this Franciscan abbey dating to 1401. It was very interesting to walk through.
The Friary dates from the 1400’s. People are buried all throughout and around the building.
The Altar inside the Friary.
We always stop when we see a St Bridget and Our Lady grottos. This one was just at the corner of Corofin, a small town we were passing through.
This is one of our first geocache finds of the day. Geocaching can bring you to some interesting places. This one is near Corofin. Chris is crawling into a holy well in this photograph. The cache was up hear the trunk of the tree.
Another amazing archeological find along our way. This is the Leamaneh Castle just east of Kilfenora. We saw this from the roadside, turned around and went back to it. Unfortunately, it is on private property so we weren’t able to walk around very much.
We met this guy in Kilfinora, County Mayo.
This is our itty-bitty Fiat car that we rented, front of the smallest library in all of Ireland! We were here in Lisdoonvarna (sing the song if you know it!) because of the song and in search of a geocache located at this little library. We found the cache, sang the song and had a great laugh!
Our hostess, Mary, at the Three Arches bed-and-breakfast in Louisburgh, County Mayo cooked up a delicious Irish fry for breakfast.
In search of yet another geocache, it was through this bridge attached to a sign. This is along the “Wild Atlantic Way,” in Kilsallagh.
No, this is not a pregnancy test. Fortunately, we did get booster shots about a week before we ventured out on this trip! There have been many from our group who have tested positive. They symptoms are more of a head cold and chest congestion.
The Basilica at the Our Lady of Knock Shrine in County Mayo. This was on our list as we were here 20 years ago. This is the sight of one of the apparitions where Mary appeared to some of the towns people in 1879.
On August 21,1879 our Lady appeared on the gable wall of the parish church to several villagers in the town of Knock. She appeared with St Joseph and John the Evangelist. The apparition lasted for two hours. It started raining, and though the witnesses were soaken wet, no rain fell on the gable wall. Today, people flock to the shrine to be in a place where the Mother of Jesus appeared. You were all prayed for while we were here.
This is a GIANT mosaic on the wall behind the altar inside the Basilica, Our Lady of Knock.
Here, Chris is filling some bottles with Holy Water! We purchased a holy water font to put in the RV. We already have a stash of holy water from our previous visit. We just needed a font to put the water in! We remember Liam enjoying the very cold holy water when he was about 2!
Our bottles of holy water that we hope won’t spill in the luggage on the return trip home!
This was another one of those driving along and have to turn around to go visit places. It is All Saints church, which is part of the Church of Ireland (Protestant) faith, Clonbur, Co Mayo.
Our Bed and Breakfast, The Three Arches, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo, overlooking the Irish Sea. The room on the far right was ours. Mary was a great host and her traditional Irish breakfast was amazing!
Unleaded gas cost €1.82/liter. We will help you with the math conversion…$6.90/gallon!!! it’s a good thing. We have a tiny car!
We left Limerick on Sunday morning and have been following the “Wild Atlantic Way” along the western shore of Ireland. We will take it all the way to Donegal!!! It is the blue water sign,going north.
Stonehenge in Ireland!??! This is near Blacksod, Co. Mayo.
Pictures cannot serve the beauty of Ireland any justice. Click on this one and zoom in. The farmers all have their sheep spray painted a certain color in a certain place on the back of the sheep so that they can be identified to who they belong to!
Guess who’s is whose! The Rockshore is actually a lager, not a cider.
Here are one of the many sheep we’ve seen. You can see the red spray paint on the coat to help the farmer identify his/her sheep!
This was in an Abbey along the way in Toormakeady, Co Mayo. We couldn’t figure out why those two deep troughs on both sides were there. Any ideas?
Another traffic jam! This farmer was directing his cow. We aren’t sure if the cow escaped or if he was being moved.
Our second accommodation while on the road is in the room above the bar of “The Acres” pub in Killala, County Mayo. Our room is the top left.
A monastic tower in Killala, County Mayo from the 13th century. The only entry point is that opening on the left which is 3 meters off the ground. The monks will use a ladder and then bring the ladder in!
A beehive meditation hut used by monks as a place to meditate and pray.
