UK Wicks: Ireland

Our Ireland holiday was grand. Ireland was on our list of places to visit and we decided last minute to book a 5 day trip over the extended Diamond Jubilee weekend. Our trip consisted of 2 days in Dublin, 1 day in Waterford, a stop at Blarney Castle to kiss the stone, 1 day in Killarney, and a visit to Dingle before heading back to Dublin airport. Google Map of our drive

The people in Ireland are very nice. The food was amazing, but that might be because we have lived in England for so long. In Dublin we did the Guinness tour and Jameson Whiskey tour. We stayed at the beautiful 5 star Shelbourne Hotel and did the sightseeing tour bus.

pub lunch

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle Court

Dublin Castle

Chapel Royal in Dublin Castle

Ireland's oldest pub

They must sell a few pints

inside the oldest pub

So true

Walking to the Guiness tour

indoor waterfall

A taste halfway through the tour

Gravity Bar

Our little beer lover

view from Gravity Bar

Park across the street from the hotel

Trinity University

Sphere - same one as Vatican City

our room at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin

Cole calling room service :-)

yummy breakfast at Elephant Castle

Yummy Sweets

sweet shop

St. Patrick's Cathedral

inside St. Patrick's Cathedral

Jameson Irish Whiskey Tour

Guiness beef stew...YUMMY

Monument of Light on O'Connell Street

shopping

Irish Mickey

Shelbourne Hotel

statues outside of the Shelbourne

inside the Shelbourne

We drove to Waterford, Ireland about 2 hours south of Dublin. Kelly was excited to see the Waterford Crystal Factory tour. It was amazing how each piece is hand crafted. We bought wine glasses for our 10th anniversity since we enjoy drinking wine together. We stayed a night at the Waterford Castle Hotel, which is on its own private island. The castle was closed off for a private wedding so we stayed at one of the cabins. The cabins are beautiful modern townhouses surrounded by a golf course.
The next day we drove to the Blarney Castle and kissed the stone. The castle garden was beautiful and the kids loved running and exploring the grounds.

Waterford Crystal Factory Tour

Crystal Clock

wine glasses we bought for our 10 year anniversary

drive to the Waterford Castle

Waterford Castle

hog roast at the castle

Blarney Castle

getting ready to kiss the stone

Andy kissing the Blarney Stone

Kelly kissing the Blarney Stone

beautiful Blarney Garden

We left Blarney Castle and drove a bit further to Killarney and stayed at Woodlawn House. The village of Killarney was walking distance from the B&B so we walked to dinner. The next morning we drove to Dingle, Ireland. The drive was beautiful with views of the Dingle Bay. We then drove 4 hours back to Dublin airport.