Ireland - Day One

Arriving Shannon airport at 5:30 AM (local Irish time). With a hundred MPH tailwind we made the flight in under five hours. We were greeted by a cold heavy rain, but our driver, Tom, optimistically predicted we would still be able to see the Cliffs of Moher. And he was right! Arriving at the cliffs, it was cold and windy, but no rain. And since we a arrived before the place was open we had the cliffs to ourselves -for free!! Some folks even saw a whale breaching near the cliffs. En route to Galway we passed through , a town known for a unique festival when folks from all over the world come to find a mate from among the local farmers. Then Tom found us a place that could take the group for breakfast. Continuing on we passed through the Burren, an area where the receding glaciers of the last ice age scraped away all the topsoil leaving just the barren rock exposed. About noon we arrived at the Park House Hotel in the center of Galway City. All but three of our rooms were ready and most of the group was able to check in. Some slept, some showered. And some headed out to find the nearest pub, which didn't take long at all! Later we all gathered in the lobby and then headed out to drinks and dinner at the famous Quay Bar and Restaurant.

On arrival in the dark, cold and rainy.

 

Our first driver, Tom Enright.

 

 

 

 

Below are some pictures from the Cliffs of Moher.

 

 

The Matchmaker Festival.

 

Our lunch stop

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At The Quays.

 

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