The last few weeks we have been on a clockwise spin around Ireland taking in this amazing country and its stunning countryside, coastline, and a whole lot of history.
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| Exploring the Pepper Pot Tower at Powerscourt Estate in the Wicklow Mountains |
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| The Japanese Gardens at Powerscourt |
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| The heather in bloom near Sally Gap in the Wicklow Mountains |
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| Lough Tay (part of the Guiness Estate in the Wicklow Mountains) |
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| More blooming heather in the Wicklow Mountains |
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| Old Glendalough Monastery |
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| The Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford |
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| Blackberries have been in season and think we ate 50% of the Irish crop |
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| Hook Head lighthouse down the South coast |
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| Waterford Crystal factory tour - couldn't afford any souvenirs but the tour was excellent |
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| Sorry, no souvenirs Nancy! |
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| Learned all about the vikings that invaded and inhabited Ireland - some crazy looking ones still around |
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| The Dunbrody Famine Ship in Newross - history of the potato famine |
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| Visited the Kilkenny Castle |
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| Rock of Cashel |
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| In the ruins of the Rock of Cashel |
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| Charles Fort near the town of Kinsale |
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| Coastline along the Beara Peninsula |
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| The Healy Pass across the Beara Peninsula - what a road |
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| Watching a sheep dog demonstration in the countryside |
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| The girls at the aptly named Lady's View lookout near Killarney |
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| Muckross House in the Killarney National Park |
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| Stayed on a farm a few nights and adopted all their pets (favorite was a pair of Jack Russell puppies) |
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| Muckross Lake in the Killarney National Park |
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| Stunning Gap of Dunloe drive |
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| One of many ring forts explored - Staigue Fort on the Ring of Kerry |
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| Generous tasting at the Skellig Chocolate Factory |
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| Checking out the peat or turf drying in the sun - dug up from the bogs and used instead of fire wood |
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| Picture perfect Dingle Peninsula |
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| Picture perfect Dingle Peninsula |
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| Picture perfect Dingle Peninsula |
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| Prolific Fuchsias in bloom all over the South |
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| The Gallarus Oratory |
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| Walking on the Ring of Kerry |
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| Glendalough Lakes high up in the mountains on the Ring of Kerry |
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| Leacanabuaile Ring Fort |
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| Cahergal Ring Fort |
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| Ireland's best castle ruins - Ballycarbery Castle |
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| Ballycarbery Castle - so much exploring to do! |
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| Cliffs of Moher |
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| Cliffs of Moher - views are much better that side |
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| More Cliffs of Moher |
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| The limestone plain of the Burren near the Poulnabrone Dolmen |
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| Exploring the town of Cong on our only rainy day in Ireland |
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| The monks' fishing hut at the abbey ruins in Cong |
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| Picture perfect Kylemore Abbey |
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| After a heavy rainfall the day before the Aasleagh Falls were in full flood |
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| Drive through the Connemara National Park |
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| Exploring the graves in the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery |
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| Into Northern Ireland and the Bogside murals in Derry or Londonderry (depending on which side you're on) |
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| Looking down from the Londonderry city walls on the Bogside neighborhood and its sad history |
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| Guild Hall in Londonderry with Peace bridge in the background |
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| Endless views of bog and heather at the far North end of Ireland |
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| Giant's Causeway |
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| Giant's Causeway |
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| Giant's Causeway |
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| The scenic drive known as the Dark Hedges |
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| In Ahoghill cemetery where we discovered the grave of Russell's Great-Great Grandfather Thomas Conwell. It was partially grassed over and had to dig up the grass to find it. |
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| The resting place of Thomas Conwell who died in 1870 |
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| In another cemetery in Ahoghill we discovered Russell's Great-Great-Great Grandfather Anthony Conwell (died 1834) |
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| Touring the political murals in Belfast - this is William of Orange who is a hero to the Protestants |
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| The "Peace Wall" which still functions to separate the Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods |
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| The gates in the Peace Wall in Belfast (opened through the day, closed at night) |
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| Bobby Sands, one of the heroes on the Catholic side |
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| Headquarters of the Sinn Fein on Falls Road |
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| The Titanic Experience in Belfast where the Titanic and her sister ships were built |
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| Newgrange passage tomb - thought to be almost 5000 years old |
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| Visiting the Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin |
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| The Long Room Library at Trinity College in Dublin |
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| A bog man at the National Museum of Ireland |
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| Some ancient and giant deer at the National Museum of Ireland |
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| The Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin |
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