We stopped at Dunluce Castle on our drive up the Antrim Coast after leaving The Giant’s Causeway and were glad we did. What makes this medieval castle ruins stand out is definitely the location. Perched right on the edge of a cliff, looking straight down to the sea, this was a photographers dream. The entrance fees were pretty steep considering this is just a ruins, but once inside you are rewarded with some of the […]
If you are driving the coastal route of Northern Ireland, and the season allows, I would highly recommend this stop. Carrick-A-Rede (which means Rock in the Road) is only 7 miles from the Giant’s Causeway in the County Antrim. The day that we were there started out pretty clear and around 70 degrees. By the time we walked the pretty good distance from the car park to the bridge, a fog had rolled in and the […]
Named as the fourth greatest natural wonder in the UK, The Giant’s Causeway truly is nothing short of amazing and was our favorite stop on our entire ten day tour of Ireland/Northern Ireland. According to Irish legend, the almost perfect octogonal columns are the remains of a causeway built by the giant Finn MacCool. Scientifically, 50-60 million years ago, Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activity and these columns are the result of cooled fluid molten basalt. […]
The Bushmills Distillery claims to be—and is almost unanimously considered to be—the oldest licensed distillery in the world. We took this tour first thing in the morning and were sampling whiskey by 9:30 a.m. Yikes! That being said, this was a well organized and informative tour. If you like whiskey and are in the neighborhood, your should definitely stop for a pour.
Wow! This was definitely one of my favorites and a must see. Most impressive was the library and all of those incredibly old books. Trinity College has received a copy of every Irish or British book published since 1801 which supposedly is in excess of 4 million volumes. Photography is not allowed but I was able to sneak in a few shots….too amazing not to. The Book of Kells was also pretty cool but my advice […]
Another touristy but must visit is the Guiness Vat House. he tour is not guided and not very interactive but you are rewarded at the end with a pint of fresh Guiness (which tasted better than any I’ve ever had) and a terrific view of the city.
This area is very touristy but such a colorful and fun place and no trip to Dublin would be complete if you didn’t spend some time here. Being a bit of a foodie, my personal favorite was the food market. A lot of really great organic cheeses, baked goods, and handmade soaps and things. There are usually some street bands playing and the atmosphere is just very upbeat and festive. The pubs are also plentiful but also […]
Really what can you say about a bridge. It’s long, metal and crosses over water. Some are bigger than others and I guess some are prettier than others. This particular one crosses over the River Liffey and got its name because back in the day it used to cost a half penny toll to cross it. As far as bridges go, it is pretty and does its job. The Ha’Penny Inn located at the end of […]