Our Virtual Trip – Ireland 2020
Sunday, May 3rd we were to fly from Chicago to Dublin, Ireland, arriving Monday, May 4th. We were to travel with my brother, Dick, and his wife, Pat, on our 14th Men of Worth tour (their first MoW tour). We were looking forward to traveling again with James Keigher and Donnie Macdonald (Men of Worth), Bronagh, Phyllis, Jeff and Kathy, and others we’ve traveled with before. And we were looking forward to meeting new travel buddies. We were especially looking forward to returning to the island of Inishbofin (our favorite place on earth) and all our friends at Murray’s Doonmore Hotel on May 11. We will miss the music, the craic, the food, the whiskey, the beer, and the sticky toffee pudding. To make ourselves feel (somewhat) better, we decided to take the trip anyway… virtually. We had lots of fun planning our trip, looking for pictures from previous trips and creating new travel memories. We laughed at our own antics, because, after all, there was no one around to laugh with us, and we are easily amused. So, come on along with us, and enjoy Ireland! Fasten your seatbelts, seat backs up, tray tables closed. Here we go.
Here I am loading Bofin, our stateside white cow.
Vanity license plates came in time: BOFIN. Paula is our Bofin driver, destination airport. Our white cow can’t swim that distance. Our ultimate destination is Inishbofin, Island of the White Cow, in Ireland, north of Galway Bay along the Wild Atlantic Way.
Flying into Dublin is like flying over a green patchwork, dotted with cities, towns, industrial areas, farms, stone walls, fields, cows, and sheep.
It’s springtime in Ireland, and the sheep are romping in the fields.
Dublin airport is very familiar, as is the ride into the city, and we spend a night downtown on the Liffey, across from Heuston Station, preparatory to travel to Shannon.
Sheep are everywhere, even on the hotel roof.
Across the river to the left is the Guinness Storehouse, the brewery, bottling plant, and keg depot. With pubs closed throughout Ireland, the kegs just pile up. Sad.
Restoratives from Jameson Distillery are in order. While the pubs are closed, package purchases provide a needed rest therapy after an arduous, if imagined, journey.
One of our favorite restaurants in Dublin, The Bank on College Green, near Trinity College. Wine, Guinness, and good food in a former and opulent bank.
Our next leg of the journey will be a train from Dublin to Limerick.
There’s more to this train than meets the eye.
The journey involves an hour and a half trip to Limerick Junction, with a transfer to a chuntering train from Limerick Junction up to Limerick, while the main line continues south to Cork.
From Limerick to Shannon by bus.
It’s can be chilly in Ireland at this time of year, but we’re equipped.
From Shannon to Cleggan by bus.
Martin, our trusty bus driver.
Sheep and ruins along the way.
A rest stop in Galway affords pit stop and a short ramble down the pedestrian shopping street. At other times, the street is full of shoppers, buskers, and tourists. Under current conditions, it’s vacant enough so we don’t have to wait in line to chat with Oscar Wilde.
Here and there an abbey. A visit to Kylemore Abbey in Connemara was on our itinerary this year after several previous trips that afforded only views from afar. Alas.
Cleggan to Inishbofin by ferry. The ferry passes in front of Cromwell’s Barracks, a west coast garrison and a place of imprisonment, and occasional execution, of Roman Catholic clerics in the 17th century days of Oliver Cromwell’s Protectorate.
Bofin harbor in sight off to port.
And Murray’s Doonmore Hotel, our favorite location on the island: best food, pub and music on the Wild Atlantic Way.
An April 1st post. It’s really still a hotel.
Home at last! I think they were expecting us!
And the special of the day is:
Our Glorious Leaders at Murray’s – in the events room at Mruuray’s
And in their more natural habitat, Murray’s Bar
We’ll miss the occasional ramble to check in with the locals.
Trying to connect with the white-faced sheep too.
The costume/camouflage seems to have little effect. Perhaps social distancing extends to our ovine friends too, unless they live together.
“Do you herd sheep?” my grandpa asked.
My grandma leapt in fright.
“That grammar’s wrong to me,” she said.
“Have you heard sheep is right.” –Walt Kelly
And if we need a break from the entirely too excellent food provided at Murray’s by Andrew, Donna, Aileen, and Alice, there’s always the food bus close by: Inishwalla, purveyor of fine Indian cuisine in an informal setting. Seating is available on the second level, but not recommended on a warm day.
All too soon we’ll have to think about crossing the Atlantic back to home,
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And now we’re virtually glad to be home after our virtual journey. So glad you virtually joined us on our virtual trip. May you be safe, healthy, and living out real or similar travel dreams in your not-too-distant real future.
Jim and Paula Hawkins
travelntrouble 