European Trip Day 8 ...Doolin

To Doolin via the Cliffs of Moher

It was sad to say goodbye to our travelling companions Jan & Nick today. We're heading off to Northern Ireland and they're spending more time in the south....but we'll meet up with them near Trim for our last night in Ireland.

Fond farewells from An Parking

We pootled off towards Tralee and all went well until we got to the outskirts and our GPS decided to take us on some weird diversion down tiny tracks which we knew couldn't be the way to Limerick. Finally we managed to regain the main road and reach Adare.

Adare is a really beautiful town. We loved the thatched cottages with their beautiful cottage gardens and all the lovely churches of stone

It rained

We did say thatch?

No idea why he's there

Well we needed refreshment

Celtic cross in Adare

Barb was frustrated in her attempt to see the castle, though.  It was in plain sight quite close by as we drove past, but there was nowhere to stop and no way in. We found out at the information centre that you needed to get the shuttle bus for a guided tour. Nope!

Adare Castle with John obbligato

We drove on towards Limerick and became embroiled in a massive traffic jam. It took us an hour to go five kilometres because there was some big match being played in the nearby sports grounds and everyone was fighting to get there. The parking was quite hysterical.

We eventually got free of the mayhem and found our way to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. It was busy here too, so we were lucky to get a park. The castle was fantastic. You could go inside and climb all the way up the steep spiral staircase to the top, stopping off to see the rooms on each floor as you go. It was surprisingly warm and cosy for a castle (we are becoming a bit picky with our castles, as you do).

Note Isla being restrained for the photo-op

The Folk Park was interesting too. We went through various types of houses, from farm labourers and fisherman's cottages right up to wealthy landowners homes. It was very well done and we could've spent a lot more time here. There was even a man playing a fiddle and singing while we had lunch and some people got up dancing. Not us. Barb was barely walking after climbing the spiral staircase.

The Cliffs of Moher are only a few kilometres from where we are staying at Doolin. We stopped there to have a look while the sun briefly made an appearance. It has been overcast and showery all day.

It was a magnificent sight to behold. Very reminiscent of the Great Australian Bight only a lot greener and windier. They had a stone wall all round the edges so there was no danger of being blown off (though Barb had serious doubts at the time!). Barb managed the stairs....just!

We were very glad to reach our B&B in Doolin where we're staying a couple of nights. There are two pubs within a few hundred metres of here. They were both packed full by the time we went out at 8pm. Note to self: go earlier tonight! Luckily we were carrying crackers and cheese and fruit which we ate in our room.