Driving into Dublin from Carrick-on-Suir provided quite the culture shock for all of us. Not only were we a wee bit frantic about getting Eric to his flight to London on time but driving into a city of 1.3 million people when we had been use to 1.3 million sheep was a bit of a jolt. Eric was to drop us off at a house we rented through Craig's list and then return the car to the airport before his flight out. When we arrived at the resident address we fou...

A long day of travel awaited us as we woke up VERY early so we could drive to Dublin via Carrick- on- Suir where Pop Pop's mother was born. The beautiful blue skies over Kinsale had morphed into a storm overnight and it was a cold and dreary morning when we trudged into the breakfast room at the Old Prebyteria Bed and Breakfast where we were treated to a most delightful sight! The proprietor had gotten up early to accommodate our travel schedule and had the chef ...

Our next stop was to be Kinsale about a two hour drive from Ballyvolane but we wanted to take a wee bit of a diversion to see the Blarney Castle as Grammy and Pop Pop had visited it many years ago the latter of whom had kissed the Blarney stone, setting the bar for all who were to follow. It was a beautiful day when we arrived with the sky a deep blue and the fluffiest white clouds passing by ever so slowly. I had pretty much expected a castle off side the road t...

I am sitting in the drawing room before the guests show up for pre dinner drinks and conversation. The fire is glowing in the fireplace and what looks to be the last few drops of rain are meandering down the window panes. The five of us decided to spend the day here rather than drive into Cork and sight see. How many times will there be when our whole family can relax together in such a wonderful spot and really experience being one of the clan? We spent most of ...

Arrived at Ballyvolane Manor early evening after a full day of driving the Dingle Pennisula around Shea Head, which is a couple hours loop beginning and ending in the town of Dingle. With remnant clouds and occasional showers from the previous day the landscape was spectacular and the ocean views from the cliffs unreal. We then began our trek south towards Cork. Ballyvolane is a B and B just north of Cork that has been sitting quietly on my radar for some years.....