Half from Half Term

Half of these pictures are from Half Term. The others are just cute!

The climbing queen

The dancing queen

Serious sag

Brave boy

Popeye?

One day

Couch creatures

Downpour before Departure

On our final day in Ireland we packed up, cleaned the house, took our garbage and recyclables with us and headed over the mountains toward Kerry Airport. It was raining in the mountains but we stopped at a few spots to enjoy the views. On the other side we visited Muckross National Park with the estate home, waterfall, and hike through the forest. We also stopped at Ross Castle which has been restored to some of it's grandeur but were not able to take a tour due to time. From there we went to the airport after topping up with fuel. Kerry is a small airport and you must board the airplane from the tarmac. It was while waiting on said tarmac that a wind blew up with a downpour that gave us one last reminder of the wild weather that sweeps in from the Atlantic!

Muckross Gardens

The Waterfall

Muckross Deer

Ross Castle Restored

Restoration Poster

Waterproof Jaunty

After the Downpour

Sheepshead

We undertook a strenuous hike on the tip of Sheepshead which afforded beautiful views of the adjoining peninsulas, the lighthouse, and a whale! Barbara was challenged, but true to her character, indomitable.

Andy and Patsy

Indomitable Barb

The Bogs

Coastline Castle

Cliffs

Herders Hut

High Lake

End of the Peninsula

Fiddle Fest in Baltimore

We drove down to Baltimore to take in a fiddle festival and see the coast. Bushes Bar was the scene of an impromtu gathering of musicians with guitars, fiddles, flutes, bodhrans, spoons, and singing. It was a lovely day on the water with great views of the Atlantic.

Come on in

Beacon

Raging Red

The Gathering

Lonely Lighthouse

Mr. Pheasant

Pirate Fortress

Roots Trip

While in Ireland we are tracing the roots of my Great Great Grandfather McDonald. Following on from my cousin Lisa's research, we traveled to Mallow and visited the Heritage Center. Susanne helped us identify a family that is similar to the details we have about our ancestor David McDonald. The names were different perhaps due to the Gaelic roots, but we did locate a family with similar names and dates and went to the general location where they were recorded. This is an area around Shanballymoore, Kildorerry, and Doneraile, 30 or so miles north of the city of Cork. We did find the names McDonald and McDonnell on gravestones in the Templeroan Cemetery outside Shanballymoore but they didn't seem to be related to our ancestors. From there we went down to Cobh where most of the people left to immigrate around the world. The Queen Victoria was docked there as it was the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania of the coast. We met many friendly and helpful people and saw a lot of fine countryside on the trip.

Helpful Center

Getting Close

Templeroan Cemetery

Another Spelling?

Meal at the Thatch and Thyme Kildorerry

Queen Victoria at Cobh Harbor

Heritage Museum Cobh

Potato Famine 1845-47

Great Great Grandpa was among them

Beautiful Bantry

Just our second day in Ireland and we are all in agreement; the scenery is fantastic. Down to the town of Bantry this morning, then out to the home of St. Finbar. We dodged showers and took a lot of pictures. Here is a selection.

Strength

Bantry View

Castle

Celtic Cell

Hiking Garb

St. Finbar's Island