Cathy and I went alone...our first trip alone since our honeymoon twenty-two years ago. Casey was in Spain taking credits in Spanish language and art. J.P. stayed at home to work on his college applications. Thank you, kids!
We flew into Belfast and started out in Northern Ireland. We drove up the Antrim Coast (perhaps the most beautiful road in the world!) along the Irish Sea to the Giant's Causeway.
Talk about a math teacher's dream! The Giant's Causeway is made up of millions of hexagonal pieces of volcanic rock formed ages ago. Guesss what I brought home as a souvenir?
Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge in Northern Ireland. It's torn down each autumn and rebuit each summer. Sorry, we're not that adventurous. This is as far as we decided to go.
Me and our rented car on the Antrium Coast Road.
Ruins of Dunluce Castle in Northern Ireland. Four hundred years ago the dining room broke away and fell into the ocean in the middle of dinner.
We cross the border into the "south," the Republic of Ireland. This is the countryside at Cathy's grandmother's cottage. The address is as beautiful as the photo - Upper Bealbally Gap, Glangevlin.
This is an old photo of Cathy's mother (left) in the 1970's outside her mother's original thatched cottage. We visited the site, but only the foundation stones still remain. (More souvenirs!)
Cathy's mother's cousin at age 70. A professional photographer took this shot and used it on tourist postcards.
Cathy and her mother's cousin Frances McGoldrick at the grave of Cathy's great great grandmother, Mary Donan, at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Glangevlin. This was the first time Cathy learned her great great grandmother's name. This is a family grave - her name is not on the headstone - only Frances knew that she was there.
Cathy enjoys a cup of tea on the Dingle Peninsula. If the background looks familiar, this is where they filmed Ryan's Daughter. The scenery is absolutely spectacular.
Ruins of Hore Abbey in the shadow of the Rock of Cashel. I love poking around medieval ruins!
Ruins of the chapel at Hore Abbey
Same from a different point of view
Detail of a grave stone at Hore Abbey. This inscription can drive one to tears.
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Cathy and I went alone...our first trip alone since our honeymoon twenty-two years ago. Casey was in Spain taking credits in Spanish language and art. J.P. stayed at home to work on his college applications. Thank you, kids!