Destination Ireland - October, 2008

Recently, we had a chance to travel with the Ireland Tourism Board and had an option of itineraries to choose from.  I chose Northern Ireland which included Dublin, Belfast, and the North Antrim Coast, along the Causeway Coast, Derry, Enniskillen, Glasson, Kinnitty and Limerick City. 

IRELAND’S 40 SHADES OF GREEN

Departing on Aer Lingus on their new AirBus 330 was a special treat as this is their newest aircraft in their fleet.  This aircraft featured individual TV screens and personal choice movie or television selections.  The flight from Los Angeles to Dublin was non-stop for 9 hrs. 40 minutes.  The flight was long, but well worth it.

DUBLIN

As we arrived Dublin we were greeted by the representatives of the Ireland Tourism Board, our tour guide and driver.  Hospitality is top notch in Ireland!   Upon everyone’s arrival, we were transferred to the Four Season Hotel in Dublin where we were greeted by the staff and given lunch upon arrival (www.fourseasons.com/dublin).  The hotel is lovely as all Four Season are.  The Irish staff was eager to serve and very accommodating. Our group was quickly whisked away to have a driving orientation of Dublin followed by a reception at Dublin’s Lord Mayor’s residence.  The Mansion House, which is in the ownership of Dublin City for nearly 300 years.

JAMESON DISTILLERY

That evening we departed for the Jameson Distillery for a traditional evening of fine food, song and dance.   The tour of the distillery was very interesting.  It is the original site of where the famous Jameson Whiskey was first started (www.jamesonwhiskey.com).  This site has been made into a museum and the actual production of the Jameson Whiskey is now in a county outside of Dublin.  After dinner at the Jameson Distillery I had an opportunity for my first traditional Irish song and dance. The following day we were quickly on the move to Northern Ireland to the city of Belfast.  Interesting city!  As you enter Northern Ireland you notice the difference in the stores, and restaurants which is more “Americanized”.  We saw more McDonald’s and instead of TJ Max it was TK Max!!  You know women always point out the shopping points.  Belfast was amazing and full of history, and the currency changes from the Euro to the British Pound….interesting!  Northern Ireland today remains a divided society with a legacy of civil conflict, at times it was made obvious through territorial markings such as painted curbstones and the flying of the British or Irish national flags. This is very interesting to see as you tour the 6 counties of Northern Ireland and the division that still exists.  They are moving forward but there will always be conflict as is in many parts of the world.

CULLODEN ESTATES

Our first stop was the Culloden Estate and Spa, Northern Ireland’s most prestigious 5-Star hotel (www.hastingshotel.com). After a lunch and tour of the Culloden Hotel, we had a Belfast City Tour and discovered the beauty and pride of this great historic and industrial city.  We toured the site of where the Titanic was built – amazing to see the dry dock of how ships were built and back in that era!  I took several pictures but they just don’t justify the colossal efforts this took to build such an amazing ship!  As the Irish say, the Titanic left Belfast just fine…it was 10 days later that it sunk!

TITANIC DRY DOCK

That evening we had a cocktail reception and site inspection at the Merchant Hotel Belfast.  This is an intimate 5-Star luxury hotel located in the historical Cathedral Quarter of Belfast’s City center.  The Merchant boasts many accolades including the 2007 Conde Nast Traveller Hot List of the World’s Best Hotels (www.themerchanthotel.com).  That evening we checking into the Europa Hotel located in the heart of Belfast next door to the Grand Opera House and close to Waterford and Odyssey Concert venues.  Our special treat for the night was to see a show at the Grand Opera (www.goh.co.uk) called “On Eagles Wings”…this wasn’t on the itinerary and was a special surprise.  The show was very nice and it was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of touring.

BALLYGALLY CASTLE HOTEL

Departing from Belfast we headed to the North Antrim Coast.  We had morning coffee and scones at the Ballygally Castle Hotel which is a property that faces the soft sandy beaches of the Ballygally Bay and dates back to 1625.  This was our first encounter of a “haunted” hotel.  Every castle has to have a ghost of some kind, and the ghost of Ballygally has been around for the better part of 400 years!  The popular theory is that the ghost is that of Lady Isobella Shaw, wife of Lord James Shaw. Lord Shaw wanted a son, and when his wife delivered his heir, he snatched the baby from his wife and locked her in a room at the top of the castle.  While trying to escape to search for beloved child, Lady Isobella fell to her death from the tower window!  Another theory is that she was actually thrown from the window by the cruel Lord Shaw or one of his henchmen. Lady Isobella’s ghost is reputed to be a ‘friendly’ spirit who walks the corridors of the old Castle.  Over the years many guests have reported strange experiences and have felt a presence in their rooms!  There are also endless stories of unexplained noises in the night and an eerie green mist over the Castle.  The hotel is so fiercely proud of their permanent resident they have even given her a bedroom, ‘The Ghost Room’ here in the tower in the oldest part of the Castle.  The room was fascinating though, you had to climb these stairs that were very steep and very narrow to a tiny room in the tower where the room has been left untouched as she had it.  Even the bedding looks as though she still sleeps there every night waiting for the child to return to her….fun stuff!

DERRY

Next on our journey through Northern Ireland was one of the most interesting cities to me….Derry or London Derry (depending on where you’re from).   The story of Derry is a long and tumultuous one. Set on a hill on the banks of the River Foyle, strategically close to the open sea, it came under siege and attack for over a thousand years.  You can walk along the great 17th-century walls, about a mile round and 18 feet thick, which withstood several sieges and even today are unbroken and complete, with old cannon still pointing their black noses over the ramparts. The great siege lasted for 105 days.  This was quite interesting to hear from a city historian that gave us a walking tour of the city.  We walked the wall and he pointed out many historical building and events that lead to uprising that began in 1968.  This revolt was triggered by the civil rights movement in the United States.  People wanted religious freedom…the unrest between Protestant and Catholic remain today to a degree.

GIANT CAUSEWAY

Next our touring stop was at the famed Causeway Coast.  We visited the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge view point for photos ops and then onto the Giant’s Causeway & Visitor’s Center.  A presentation on the story of Finn McCool and the formation of the causeway, where we took a trip down to the 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns that form the Causeway.  Leave it to the Irish to always have a fable to go along with everything.  This was an amazing and must see for Ireland!!  Absolutely beautiful! On our way from Derry to Co. Fermanagh, we visited Orchard Acre Farm – one of Fermanagh’s ecotourism products – specializing in creative craft, cookery and gardening (www.orchardacrefarm.com).  From there we had lunch on the Lady of the Lake which is great for small groups to take a tour of the lake with a wonderful lunch on board the small vessel.  Their staff is ready and waiting to serve you as you tour the shores of Lough Erne via boat.  After lunch, we checked into the Lough Erne Golf Resort & Spa…heavenly!  I must say this is a winner for any client that loves to golf!

MONASTIC SITE AT CLONMACNOISE

We departed the Lough Erne Golf Resort for Enniskilen.  After making a brief stop at Cavan Crystal Factory and a wee bit of shopping at the Cavan Crystal Gift Shop, we were off to visit the Monastic site at Clonmacnoise.  This is an early Christian site founded by St. Ciaran in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon.  The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches (10-13th century), two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian graveslabs in Western Europe (www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/Clonmacnoise).

KINNITTY CASTLE

One of the best nights we had included a stay at the “haunted” dwelling of the Kinnitty Castle, Co. Offaly.  Kinnitty Castle is located at the foothills of Slieve Bloom Mountains in the center of Ireland, just 1 km from the picturesque village of Kinnitty on County Offaly (www.kinnittycastle.com).  This was a great evening where we explored the castle, researched the history behind the haunted events that were told to have happened and all around a great evening of good fun, great food and mystery!  I didn’t end up with the special room, but none of my traveling companions advised of any unnerving experiences during the night.  However, many people weren’t able to sleep for some reason!  That seemed to be the best sleep I had all week!

DROMOLAND CASTLE

Departing onward to Limerick City where we arrived the Dromoland Castle Estate, Dromoland is one of Ireland’s finest 5 star castle properties and one of the few estates tracing back its history to native Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage.  It is one of the most desired destinations in Europe and its old world tradition remain intact.  Wonderful property, service is impeccable and highly recommended for your travelers that want the finest (www.dromoland.ie).

Homeward bound…another long flight but the memories of Ireland last a lifetime!