Have you ever considered going to Ireland???
Yes?
Then GO! Right now, pack your bags and GO.
NO?
What is wrong with you? ;)
It must be on your bucket list of travels for sure,
it was everything I had hoped it would be and more.
We were told our boys would love it, a true boy vacation.
That was so very true.
The rustic, rugged terrain provided endless opportunities to explore.
Sure, there were the standard castles and cathedrals to see.
What European country doesn't have their fair share?
This trip however, wasn't about seeing those.
No touristy blarney stone kissing for us,
We wanted to learn about Irelands tumultuos history,
we wanted some adventure, and we especially wanted time in some of our
Father in Heaven's most glorious creations,
The Ireland countryside and coast.
I think most people don't truly understand how old things in Europe really are.
I know I never really thought about it much until moving here.
There are so many places (still in their original state) that date back to prehistoric times.
This particular sight, called Newgrange, is one such place.
Newgrange is a prehistoric monument in County Meath, Ireland.
Side note: I really loved seeing every place described and categorized by what County they were in.
It was built about 3200 BC, during the Neolithic period,
which makes it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
Whoa, what??
That's pretty cool!
This beautiful avenue of beech trees was planted by the Stuart family in the eighteenth century.
It was intended as a compelling landscape feature to impress visitors as they approached the entrance to their home, Gracehill House.
Two centuries later, the trees remain a magnificent sight and have become known as the Dark Hedges.
The Dark Hedges is one of the most photographed natural phenomena in Northern Ireland, you should google it and see what shots really talented photographers have gotten. Especially in the fall and the spring, the trees are spectacular.
Our one castle stop sure didn't feel like one.
Dunluce is a now-ruined medieval castle in County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
It is accessible via a bridge connecting it to the mainland.
So, no stuffy and crowded tours,
no china patterns, chandeliers or masterfully painted ceilings to look at.
Magic to three little boys ears.
The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns,
the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.
However... legend has it that
The columns are the remains of a causeway built by a giant. The story goes that the Irish giant Fionn mac Cumhaill (Finn MacCool), was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner. Fionn accepted the challenge and built the causeway across the North Channel so that the two giants could meet. In one version of the story, Fionn defeats Benandonner. In another, Fionn hides from Benandonner when he realises that his foe is much bigger than he. Fionn's wife, Oonagh, disguises Fionn as a baby and tucks him in a cradle. When Benandonner sees the size of the 'baby', he reckons that its father, Fionn, must be a giant among giants. He flees back to Scotland in fright, destroying the causeway behind him so that Fionn could not follow. Across the sea, there are identical basalt columns (a part of the same ancient lava flow) at Fingal's Cave on the Scottish isle of Staffa, and it is possible that the story was influenced by this.
Here you see what's left of Finn's boot.
Here is what the columns originally looked liked like before
nature and time have had their way with them.
Rumor has it, because of erosion that being able to climb out onto the stepping stones
will soon be something of the past.
Meaning…
HURRY PEOPLE book your trips to Ireland pronto!!
This natural phenomenon was a fantastic sight to see.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is not for the faint of the heart.
This is no joke a true test of guts and will power.
It's a famous rope bridge near Ballintoy in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The bridge links the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede that was known for
its great fishing.
It spans 20 metres and is 30 metres above the rocks below.
You should have seen how rickety the bridge
was before it became a tourist hotspot.
Don't worry, it was only a little windy when we tried to cross.
No biggie.
This was the size of our plank…I mean bridge.
Looks like once again, I was the only one nervous.
My boys all had a look of pure confidence on their faces while they
crossed and wondered why my eyes were filled with terror.
Before leaving Northern Ireland (In case you didn't know was part of Great Brittain) and heading
south into Ireland, we wanted to spend some time in Belfast.
I again, being a novice to European history and current events
was not entirely aware of "The Troubles"
-a civil conflict that raged from around 1969 to 1998
between the Catholic (republican) and Protestants (loyalists).
With rival paramilitary groups formed on both sides. Bombing, assassination and street violence formed a backdrop to life throughout the Troubles.
In all, over 1,600 people were killed in political violence in the city between 1969 and 2001.
Due to the violence, even continuing today,
Belfast is often referred to as the "European Capital of Terrorism"
Below is a re-imaging monument erected to remember the past,
but also to look towards and embrace the future.
When the sun hits it just right it creates a duplicate of it through its shadow.
We took a famous black cab tour which was the perfect way
to learn about the two sides and to be escorted into
their separate parts of the city.
There are countless propaganda murals painted all over their areas.
Some are memorials, some are informational
but they are all political.
There is a graffiti wall that runs between them with armed guards at
the gates. They actually encourage you to write on it.
US Presidents, pop stars and now the Shirleys have all signed the wall.
Just inside the wall were homes, obviously filled with children who never know if and when they are jumping on the trampoline if something like….
...these rubber bullets will come over to greet them.
One day of seeing the city sights of Belfast was enough for me.
There was such an eerie feeling and uneasiness about being there.
I wanted to see something equally as uplifting
like the "ehem"... Titanic Museum.
Belfast is where the Titanic was built and where it made its first maiden
voyage from before its fateful demise.
The museum was really well done.
It was full of modern exhibits and original stories and relics from
the ship. It even had an amusement ride that took you through the building process,
think Peter Pan's ride from disney only Titanic themed.
It must be said as well, because I know you are thinking it.
Yes, at the end Celine Dion's song,
"My heart will go on" was playing.
There. Now you can all rest easy knowing it made its mark in history.
Off to Ireland we went.
Doolin was the destination and we had a great time seeing all
the sights in its beautiful countryside and getting a chance to
hang out in an Irish pub and get our Irish Jig on.
A major highlight of the entire trip was doing the Cliff's of Moher hike with
one of Doolins resident historians Pat.
It's a 5 mile walk along
the coast through what is essentially this guys back yard.
He tells you stories and guides you to one of the most spectacular
views known to man.
As if the bridge wasn't enough, my boys all thought they needed
to take a turn peering over the side of the cliff.
Sure, go ahead and lay on a slippery surface and peer
down to what could only be imminent death if you fell.
Yep, it's official...they are trying to kill me.
This is what they were peering over.
The city of Dublin was just like expected of a big city in Ireland.
Full of Irish charm.
We did an aqueduct Viking tour where we got to yell
"argh" at all the people passing by.
We even got to see Bono's studio/house on the lake.
It is really quite impossible to go into any city or village in Europe without seeing some sort
of amazing Cathedral or church.
This one is Dublin's St. Patricks Cathedral.
I really didn't intend for this to be such a travel log,
sorry.
I guess that just shows how great a trip it really was.
