Easter Sunday

We had really been looking forward to celebrating Easter in Ireland! After a great breakfast at our B&B courtesy of our wonderful host Anne, we headed off to the parish in Doolin. They offer one Sunday mass--so different then the American church. Our parish offers 4 on Sunday and 2 vigils on Saturday--but the population is so much smaller in Ireland, that 1 per parish per Sunday serves the entire community that wishes to worship. Getting a look into the Irish Catholic Church was fun. It was a happy Mass and at the end, the priest called up all the children and gave them all gifts of Easter candy.

This was taken in the drive-way of our B&B, so you can appreciate how beautiful our view was!

The Burren

The Burren doesn't require much explanation. These images speak volumes. It is an incredibly unique natural landscape, with rock of every size and shape beckoning to be heard from the depths of the Earth and making it's presence know to all that are fortunate enough to encounter it.

We set out to do just that after Easter Mass...

Surfs up!

You might not have guessed it, but surfing is huge in Ireland. Surf school in action:
Name of piece: Sandscape.
Artist: God
Date: Anniversary of His Resurrection, Circa 2010

Newton Castle

While traveling around the Burren Easter Sunday, we spotted this old castle in Ballyvaughan. Today, it houses the Burren College of Art, but the tower remains open for exploration. When we reached the top, there was an artist's easel and paints set up--he must have decided to take a break for the holiday. :)

The grounds were beautiful and covered in daffodils.

Rambler's Rest

Our stay in Doolin, Co. Clare was so lovely because of where and who we stayed with. While John was working in Florida last summer, he had a woman in his class who was originally from Ireland. He mentioned we were planning a return trip and she insisted that we visit Co. Clare and stay at her Mom's bed & breakfast in Doolin. It couldn't have been a more perfect location for our weekend there. And the view--oh the view! Just north of the Cliffs of Moher, overlooking the Atlantic. You can't beat it.

Ann, the owner of the B&B, was so incredibly warm and accommodating--she made sure we were comfortable and well fed! What a kind, sweet heart she has. She treated us like family and we instantly felt like she was part of ours. We couldn't wait to continue on our journey, but the second we left, we missed her and continued to throughout the trip.

I loved this flower box she had in the window of her sitting room.
God love Ann. She is famous for her home-made scones--and even baked us a special batch to take on the road.
Her breakfast was outstanding and the orange juice was the best! She also made sure to make our coffee just to our liking.

Galway

For as much as we walked around this awesome city during our 4-day stay, I didn't take many pictures. But here's a few--it's a cosmopolitan city with a small town feel. So many nationalities are represented here, primarily European. Those lucky EU citizens can move freely and work in other countries similar to how we have the ability to move from state to state.

The main gathering place in the city is Kennedy Park, more commonly known as Eyre Square. JFK spoke here on June 29, 1963. He traveled to the island of his ancestry and Galway was one of his stops, though his mother's ancestors were from Co. Limerick and his father's from Co. Wexford.


Eyre Square was beautiful.
John made friends with a great gal named Dorthy Richardson while working out in California this year--we couldn't resist snapping a picture of this bar for her and her family.
Galway is known as the City of the Tribes--these flags represent the founding family tribes.


Our B&B wasn't far from the popular Salt Hill section of Galway. We loved walking along the "wall" and enjoyed some great breakfast & coffee at Coco Cafe there.
The Galway Museum. We didn't make it in, but still a cool sight even from the outside.