What You'll See When Touring in Ireland

Posted on Friday, September 03, 2010

Your friends have told you about many of the sights they enjoyed in Ireland:  Dublin’s pubs and Abbey Theater; Ha’Penny Bridge over the Liffy River and , of course, kissin’ the Blarney Stone!!  And you wondered, as they extolled the beauty and history of the fantastic Ring of Kerry, what’s the Ring of Kerry…who’s Kerry and what kind of ring?

To begin, the Ring of Kerry is a 110 mile loop on the Ivenagh Peninsula in south-western Ireland.  Here you will encounter the raw beauty that is real Ireland.  Rolling hills and forested valleys, colorful villages and towns; traces of ancient monasteries and stone circles, such as the Seven Sisters, erected by pagans during the Bronze Age.  Starting in Killorglin, and proceeding on a counter-clockwise route, you will enjoy the Ireland of your dreams; verdant, charming and sparsely settled (except you will see lots of other tourists!). Note that I said counter-clockwise…the road is narrow and tour buses are many, so you can avoid traffic problems by starting early and stopping at any and all sights that may intrigue you.  Yes, you can do this by tour bus, but you’ll miss the leisure of stopping at an out of the way town, having a pint at a small pub, or just dreamily looking out over the ocean and mulling over the year of history, the Troubles and the Great Famine.

Take your time…yes, you can drive the entire Ring in a day, but so much nicer to stop for the night at a charming B & B,  relax over a fine dinner, perhaps enjoy an Irish Night with set-dancing, or just chat with the locals. After a hearty breakfast you can be on your way. You’ll have a chance to drive Coomanaspig Pass, the highest point accessible by car; from which you can see the Skellings and other small islands.  There’s a sixth century hermitage once inhabited by monks. Or you may wish to pay homage to Daniel O’Connell, the Emancipator, at Derrynane House, his home, now restored.

And oh, the names!  MacGillycuddy Reeks, Staigrefort, Rossbeigh, Bog Village and Black Valley, Killarney.  Rossmaine and Cahersiveen and Cahsrdaniel…what names, how lilting!! 

How about a stop in Kenmare to see and perhaps buy, some Kenmare Lace, started as a cottage industry during the "Little Famine Years" by the Poor Clare nuns, and still being hand-made by the local women.  Take a jaunting car ride, and think back to the great classic movie with John Wayne and Barry Fitzgerald, "The Quiet Man" .  Look closely at the road side, especially if there’s a rainbow:  that brief movement in the bush?  Leprechauns!!

I must admit, my favorite tour was a drive on the Dingle Peninsula…further north and the westernmost area on the European continent. Only ten miles wide and forty miles long, from Tralee to Slea Head The locals will tell you that they’re so far west that the next parish is Boston!!!  But you may have a bit of trouble understanding the people in the villages; they often speak An Gaeltacht, a Gaelic-English mixture. But they are friendly and they’ll be glad to regale you with stories of their family, their history and a lot of lore…you’ve heard of  a load Malarkey, haven’t you?

Drive through the Connor Pass to Dingle, the most westerly town in Europe, and then Tralee.  You will be rewarded with beautiful drive, green and rugged and not too touristy.  The fishermen still sail out, not for your camera, but for their family’s living.  Only about 1500 people live in Dingle Town…but it is calculated that there are 500,000 sheep in the hills.

Along the way to your delightful hotel at the world’s edge, you will find Bronze Age settlements, monasteries from the Middle Ages, scenes straight out of the movie "Ryan’s Daughter" and even some of the "beehive huts" where hermit monks once lived.  The scent of peat, as you linger with your coffee after a wonderful dinner, and you’ll know you’re near the ocean, as the sea breeze wafts into your bed room and you snuggle into your feather duvet…dream, relax, know that you are truly in Ireland.   

Half Off Companion Fare on Select Ireland Tours

Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Companion half off! Book a tour and the companion travels for half price on select departures Glimpse of Ireland 8 days (October 2 and 16, November 20) or Irish Jaunt 5 days (October 9 and November 6)   Call today! Offer ends September 4, 2010

Terms & Conditions: *Glimpse of Ireland and Irish Jaunt Companion Half off land special, buy one and get the second person at 50%. Valid when entire package is booked and paid in full with Brendan Vacations between August 13 and September 4, 2010, based on double occupancy. Valid on October 2, 16 and November 20 "Glimpse Of Ireland" departures and October 9 and November 6 "Irish Jaunt" departures ONLY. Offer is valid for new bookings only and is not combinable with any existing promotions or discounts. Promotion cannot be booked online. Once payment is received, cancellation penalties may apply. Offer is subject to limited availability, other conditions and may be withdrawn at any time. Please mention promo code when booking: BVIJGOI.

Top Five Castles in Ireland

Posted on Sunday, May 09, 2010

Traveling to Ireland can be one of the most adventurous trips you'd ever experience. The shores lines are covered with many castles and battlement ruins preparing Ireland to protect their 5,600 kilometeres of coastline. Whether you want to experience the history and heritage or relax for a day at a local golf course or the many beaches, there is something everyone will enjoy.  

Some of the top five castles and attractions that you can experience while visiting Ireland include some of the following...

The Dunguarie Castle in County Galway  
The Dunguarie Castle has survived 12 centuries in battle and siege, up until 1924. Since 1924 it has become the perfect retreat for poets and writers. After seven centuries of standing on the site of Guaire, King of Connaught, the Dunguarie Castle is one castle you'll want to experience in Ireland.  

The Dunluce Castle in County Antrim
Many years ago a violent storm caused an abundance of lose when a portion of the Dunluce Castle fell into the sea killing many cooks and kitchen hands. After many years the Dunluce has become the spot that was the inspiration of Cair Paravel from Chronicles of Narnia, done by C.S. Lewis.  

The Leap Castle in County Offaly
If you'd like a little excitement and scare in your travels, travel to the Leap Castle. This castle is said to be haunted by ghosts. The Leap Castle was once the fortress for the O'Carrolls many years ago and now has become the picturesque ivy-clad ruin.  

The Hillsborough Castle in County Down
The Hillsborough Castle has become the residence for Elizabeth II when traveling through Ireland. The best time of year to visit this castle is in July, when the Garden Festival is held within the beautiful walled gardens each year.  

The Belleek Museum in County Fermanagh
Over the past 150 years the Beleek Museum has been the creators of many fine pottery collections. The Belleek museum gets over 250,000 tourists each and every year, including John and Jackie Kennedy back in 1961. The shop and tea room are the most popular tourist attractions within the Belleek Museum.

All throughout Ireland there are many things for travelers to experience. You don't want to miss out on any of them, so make sure to plan out your vacation to Ireland beforehand. Ireland is the home of endless amounts of adventures and experiences... take the time to experience them all before you leave.