Well the main part of the holiday with mum was a road trip around ireland. After picking up our car at the airport we ventured to Kilarney castle for a lovely tour. Then onto wexford. After stalling what felt like hundreds of times, and driving around this really confusing town we made it to our hostel. It was definately the most expensive throught the trip for not much.
Day 2: Tracing our family history. Today we went to Barrow. We found the cemetary where 2 of our ancestors were burried. After looking around this lovely little cemetary for about 1 hr we eventually found them. Ahh what a view they have from their final resting place. From there we ventured to Waterford and to Waterford crystal. After I did an ammature thing (left my camera in the car) we were taken on a tour and saw how so much expensive crystal was made. Mum even got her hands on the ashes crystal cup (thank god she did not drop it).
Day 3: Today we went round the ring of kerry. What specatualr views. It was great to see the surf and the sand. Sitting at the beach eating fish and chips, smelling that sea air was something that I have missed. It is just a pitty that it wasnt swimming weather.
Day 4: We start to head north to limerick to spend easter. We visited the local history village and castle. You could definately see that similarities between the english, irish and the welsh. The funniest part of the day was the gift that the birds gave mum. We can definately say she hopes to have good luck for a while.
Day 5 sligo: Well, I definately think mum had the shock of her life in this hostel. When we arrived we found out we were staying in a mixed dorm with 3 older gentlemen. Little did the owner say that they were their on a bender. Two came in at 3 am drunk as anything, lighting up their cigarettes, using snap lock bags to go to the toilet ever few minutes, coughing up their lungs and spitting them on the floor. Lets just say we could get out of their quick enough in the morning.
Day 6 Derry: what an amazing place so rich in current history. Walking around the walled city finding out about the Apprentice Boys, Orange order and the IRA was amazing. For the people to live so close together but be seperated by fences to help stop the fighting. The most amazing part were the paintings on the walls. Our guide explained how the picture of the girl and the butterfly has not long be finished. The artist said he would colour in the butterfly when their was peace. Its now coloured in. The protestant murals were definately different to the catholics, alot still displaying alot of anger.
Day 7 The giant cause way: These hexagon shape rocks were quite amazing, especially how everyone could walk all over them and help them errode. You could see the damage that humans have already done and without some conservation they wont be around to much longer. We then ventured to the Crick a Rick rope bridge (30m up, 20m long). We met the U19 wallabies team along the way. The boys were playing in the world cup but for such big boys some of them were not brave enough to brave this bridge.
Day 8/9 Belfast: Once again a city so full of history. The Ira and Protestant communities so prevelant. But also the Titanic. Belfast was where the Titanic was buit. Venturing to the ship yards to see the place where this enourmous ship was launced was interesting. Finding out that it only had 1/2 sea trial before they sent it to England was amazing. We also did the black cab tour. I have never seen a painting so well done as the one with a Army person with a blaclava on, M16 riffle which follows you around the park. It was also very interesting to see how the fence that seperated the protesants and the cathlics. Starting off at about 3m, then 5m then 10m, and houses still having the protective shields to stop petrol bombs at the back of their houses.
Day 10/11 Dublin: With a case of bed bug bites (I couldnt stop itching) we spent the last couple of days in Dublin visiting trinity college, temple bar, many churches and just wandering.
Its amazing how this country has developed so quickly but can still see/feel the segregation between the north and south. Ireland is definately a country that is well on the way to peace. Hopefully it stays that way for future generations.
