Well hello all, I'm back from my great holiday so will fill you in with all the details of what happened and what's the goss. Day 1: (Saturday) Saturday night Gi and I left Worcester to catch the train to Birmingham as we had an early flight on Sunday morning. Slept in Birmingham airport and was up bright and early Sunday morning. Day 2: (Sunday) caught the bus into Dublin city and found an internet café to leave out bags in for the day so we didn't have to carry them round all day. Walked the main street "O'Connell" and found some great shops. Had some lunch in a café, bought some souvenirs, then went and saw a movie to kill them time. Went back to the airport about 7pm and had some dinner. Waited for Sue, Luke and Max to arrive at 12:45am. Slept in the airport again with another early morning. Day 3: (Monday) caught the bus into Dublin again and walked to Paddy's Palace where we were all meeting to go on our adventure. We left Dublin about 9:30 and headed to Drogheda where we stopped and had a look at St. Oliver Plunkett's head in St. Peters Cathedral. After having a look around there we went off to Monasterboice where we saw the Celtic Crosses. Belfast was our next stop. Drove down to the docks where we had lunch in a pub that was especially known for where the men building the Titanic would eat and drink all night. Scored my first beer glass from the bar and also a Guinness rugby ball. Headed to our hostel where we were staying for the night, 'Paddy's Palace Belfast'. Met up with an American girl who is living in London teaching, Kristin then spent the whole holiday with us. Went and had a look at Queens College and the museum across the road then headed into town for some dinner. Went back to the hostel to get ready for our first night out in Ireland. Had a few drinks at the hostel then made a short walk to a bar. Met up with the boys and after several pints of beer made our way back to the hostel about 3am. Day 4: (Tuesday) woke up about 8am and got ready to do the black taxi tour of Belfast city. 5 taxis set out on the little adventure where we saw some amazing things. I didn't actually realise how much conflict there was between the Presbyterian and catholic communities. There are massive walls around each community and barbed wire fences, the Presbyterian communities have there gutters painted red, white and blue to represent the union jack on the British flag. Saw all the political murals that had been painted then headed to the peace wall that divides the 2 communities. Wrote my name on the wall. Had a bit more of a dive around Belfast then got back on our coach and drove along the north coast to the Giants Causeway where we spent a couple of house seeing the beautiful ocean and walls. Had some lunch in a pub by the sea side then drove to Dunluce Castle where we weren't able to take pics as it was raining and we had to get to Derry. Got our room in the hostel then headed to town to have a look around and made sure we were back at 7:30pm for Pizza and Punch night. Everyone put in £10 and they bought enough pizza and enough alcohol to make a punch that would last us for 2 hrs. After demolishing the lot we went to a traditional Irish pub for drinks. Another night where we came home about 1am. Day 5: (Wednesday) Got up and went for a walk around the Derry walls, the only ones that still remain in the hole of Ireland that haven't partly been knocked down. Had some spare time so we did a bit of shopping and got some food for our lunch as we weren't stopping along the way. Got back on the bus where we made our way to Galway, slight problem along the way!!! Happily driving along about 1 hr from the town we just went though and 2 hrs from Galway, Max yelled out Steve there goes our tyre. The tyre had come off and bounced along the side of the road. We pulled over to the side and Steve (our tour guide/bus driver) got off to have a look, one tyre was missing and the other one had fallen off the axel. The girls who were sitting at the wheel then said yeah it's been making a funny noise for he last couple of hrs!!! The lady from the house we had just passed came up and asked if we lost a tyre cos her front gate had jus been knocked down by one!!! Steve contacted paddy wagon and he was told a new bus would be here in an hr, we waited on the bus, an hr went by no new bus, 1 ½ hrs went by no new bus, 2 hrs no new bus we waited 3 hrs for the bus to come to get us so we could keep travelling. Kept driving and arrived at Galway about 9pm, got ready and went and hit the town again for another drinking session. Day 6: (Thursday) drove down the west coast of Ireland and stopped at the Burrens next to the sea, beautiful sites. Continued on our drive to the Cliffs of Moher, had lunch there then continued our journey on the ferry across the Shannon's river. Arrived in Annascaul on the Dingle Peninsula where were stayed at the local pub called the Randy Leprechaun. Had dinner in the pub then sunk some more drinks. A karaoke guy came in for us so we sung some songs, a very good night!!! Day 7: (Friday) Drove to dingle where we drove the whole way along the ocean. Stopped at a church that is the only free standing stone built church left in Ireland that doesn't leak There is a small window a the back of the church and it was believed years ago that if a female could fit through the window she will be married within the next year. 2 girls tried it and got through so I thought I would have a go, I got through!!! Was a tight squeeze but I managed it. Drove back to dingle where we had lunch and then continued onto Killarney. This was our last night of the tour. There was an option of going on a horse drawn cart around the national park or going horse riding. Sue myself and another girl chose the horse riding which was an hr long through the national park. Great views and nice and sunny had a great time but my bum the next morning was sore!!! Had a bit of a look around town and bought a top to wear that night. Went out to a lovely bar/restaurant for dinner with everyone from the paddy wagon tour, then back to the hostel to change to go out. Went to a place called the Kube, a cocktail bar, all cocktails were 4 Euro and there was a massive list to chose from. After spending a few hrs there we moved onto the grand where there was a live band and cheap drinks. Stayed there for a few hrs too and got home about 3 am. Day 8: (Saturday) Rise and shine we have to be on the bus at 8am!!! Struggle and a half but we managed, most of us were still drunk!!! Travelled to Cork where the Balarney Castle is and the famous Balarney stone is. Walked our way up the castle to the top where the stone is. The tradition is to kiss the Balarney stone and you will be blessed, only problem is u have to lie down and hang over the side to kiss it. A guy is there to hold your waist so u don't fall but still a bit scary. Had a look around the castle and surrounding area. Went into the Balanrey shop which is supposed to be the cheapest place to shop but wasn't really much different to any of the other shops we looked in along the way. Picked up some nice things. Headed off to Cahair Castle which was nothing special to me but some people thought it was great. Some parts of it were closed for reconstruction so we didn't see all of it. The long drive to Dublin began, 3 ½ hrs to be back in Dublin for 4pm so people could catch there flights home. Went and found a place to stay for the nigh as we weren't heading home till Monday. Stayed at Globe Trotters a nice hostel that was a lot like a hotel. Went and bought some past to cook for dinner eat that ten headed into Dublin city to have some drinks in a bar. Got home again at 1am!! Day 9: (Sunday) slept in a little until 9:30 and got up to have our full Irish breaky at the hostel. It included • Bacon • Eggs • Hash browns • Baked beans • Sausages • Grilled tomato • Toast • Bowl of fruit • And a glass of OJ!!!! Was the best breaky I had had in ages and so filling. Got ready and headed into town to have a bit of a look around. Went and had lunch back at the hostel then headed out aging and went to have a look at Trinity College. Had a coffee in town then back to the hostel to pick up our bags so we could go back for another fore filling nights sleep at Dublin Airport!!!! Ad some dinner there and a pint to help us sleep and sue enough when the boys got there about 11pm we were out like a light. Was awake at 6pm got ready and refreshed our self for our trip home. Plane was supposed to leave at 9:20am, but was delayed until 10:10am so we were there longer then expected. Plane trip was great, slept the hole way the caught a train from Birmingham to Worcester where we were finally home. Had a great time in Ireland and saw so many beautiful places we never thought we would see. Have plenty of photos so will send them on as soon as I get the on to the computer. Hope you enjoyed reading and it wasn't too long love Jemma xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox