Connie and John were in Ireland from 13 to 27 September.
Here we would like to share with you just a handful of photos from our trip. We flew into Dublin and spent a night at a great hotel near St. Stephen’s Green, near the busy center of town.
The next day we drove up to the coast of N. Ireland, near Castle Rock and Collerain, to stay with a WONDERFUL family that hosted us while we took in the International Sheepdog Trials from the 16th to the 18th.
After a day of touring the Giant’s Causeway and the fabulous north coast, we drove to Westport on the west coast, where we spent the next four days, based at The Boulevard B&B on the South Mall. We took in great music at Matt Malloy’s Bar there, toured Achill Island and learned about the tragic and heroic history of Irish farmers at the Museum of Country Life and the Michael Davitt museum. After stopping at the farm of one of the leading dog handlers of Ireland we did Dublin and the surrounding areas while headquartering ourselves at the Dublin Airport Hilton (got a great price for the room and fabulous breakfasts).
A highlight of our stay in Dublin was an “experimental evensong” service at Christ Church Cathedral there. Choir and organist improvised in beautiful ways during the chants (and a procession and recession that had the choirsters and their voices weaving throughout the beautiful cathedral) and droned during the readings that were both powerful calls for justice and mercy. The whole of it was composed by Dubliner Tom Lane, and I hope it or something like it is repeated.
So, here are some snapshots of our trip to Ireland:
Michael Gallagher and Cap won the 2010 International Supreme. Photo by John
Graham Powell's Gwen was second in the 2010 International. Photo by John
A leprechaun named Kelly walks the Giant's Causeway. Photo by John
The tiny port of Ballintoy, Northern Ireland. Photo by John
Rainbow over north coast of Ireland. Photo by John
The Mall in Westport, Republic of Ireland. Photo by John
Carrie, the enthusiastic docent at the Michael Davitt Museum, points out details of the church where Davitt was baptised. Photo by John
Harp busker on the streets of Dublin. Photo by John
