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Brenda Ireland

I recommend flying with Aerlingus. Just know that if they tell you it's a direct flight and you're not intending on stopping off in Dublin first, you'll be a little surprised. We arrived in Shannon in around 7 hours, coming from Chicago. We rented a car and there were three in our party, with one joining us later. The first surprise was a car that was a combination manual and automatic. I've never seen one of those before and of course you drive on the left side of the road. One of the delightful surprises was the discovery of palm trees growing here and there; the result of a mild climate. It is quite breezy and it's a good idea to have an umbrella handy, but the rain quickly passes over.

Kinsale is a charming town, with many quaint shops and pubs. We were treated to a song or two by pub owner Sean, who pulled his stool right up to our table and sang for us. Another patron went out to her car and retrieved her drum and joined in the fun. Everyone we met was very friendly and genuine. The harbor at Kinsale is sparkling and peaceful. You can spend time out on your B&B balcony and watch the sailboats skim by. You'll have to check back later for more of the story as we traveled to other towns like Killarney and Galway.

Killarney is a charming city situated in a wide green valley. Although it has plenty to offer the tourist, it still retains it's small town feel. The winding narrow streets are lined with intriging shops and cafes with bright doors and flower boxes at the windows. In the heart of the city lies a triangle park, the beginning point for many a horse-and-carriage ride. The drivers will tell you as much or as little about the area as you wish on your way to Muckross House.

There you will see expansive gardens full of varied flora and an almost Narnian rock garden with winding paths. Muckross house has formal flower gardens on two sides and faces a small lake. The view from the front lawn could quite possibly take ones breath away.

Galway is a city that would seem at first glance to be straight out of a Pirate movie. It's bay is covered with shells and rocks and has piers that jut out into the ocean. As we learned from our B & B hostess in Killarney, they pronouce Galway "Gull-way". Many of the winding streets are paved with bricks and lined with colorful shops. There was even a lone musician, playing his violin for passers by. The intimate feel of the streets mask a quite large city, but with a very close feel. We found an absolutely wonderful pub down by the Bay called Lohan's. Excellent food, friendly atmosphere and a great view were our reward for the walk from our accomodations.