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Aer Lingus announces its Spring sale
Alison sees full-page ad in NY Times, gets all sweaty. We haven't travelled in several years. Could be time to do it again! -
Tickets purchased!
After hasty consultation, A & R decide what the hell. -
R identifies our first destination
"A, Perhaps Westport, whence came my mother's mother, would be a fine place to park our arses this May. It's a handsome town near the coast with good seafood restaurants, great pubs, a food festival in May, and a pilgrim's mountain named Croagh Patrick we could climb, just to earn our fish and chips." -
R starts learning Irish
Conas ta tu?
- Pog mo thoin! -
Passport renewals applied for
Goodbye, punky white hair and sweaty sneer! -
Muriel lends R her copy of Malachy McCourt's History of Ireland
Wherein A learns about Granuaille http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_O'_Malley and vows to honor her stomping grounds with a visit. -
R downloads the Lonely Planet guide to counties Mayo and Sligo
That's Croagh Patrick. Purportedly dangerous to climb unless the weather is clear as it is in this photo. -
A day trip from Westport
Louisburgh, where R's grandparents lived before they went to Westport, was the terminus of an infamous and tragic event during the Great Hunger. Read about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doolough_Tragedy -
Eileen Fahey recommends...
...Newgrange in Co. Meath. It's a monumental neolithic site, 5,000 years old, full of carved stones and mystery. -
A's shortcut to speaking Irish
I'll just wear wool; I'll fit right in! -
We identify our second stop
The bartender at McGrath's recommends Doolin, "the perfect Irish village and a great spot for music." -
Louisburgh's having a...
...traditional music festival, conveniently scheduled for the week we'll be there! -
We book accomodations in Doolin...
...but are skunked on our first choice, which is already entirely booked: http://www.doolinbandb.com/ -
A's passport arrives
-
We can't go here
It's too far away from everything else. Dammit!! http://www.wiki.ie/wiki/Giant's_Causeway -
Erin go Bragh!
We're on our way: car to Lebanon, NH, Dartmouth Coach to Logan, Aer Lingus flight EI 136 out of Terminal E, 6:00 PM. Wonder if inflight offers Guinness? -
Red-Eyed in Dublin
But not for long. We get in at 5:15 and search vainly for scones, hop a train to Westport. We're at:
Abbeywood House
Newport Road
Westport, Co. Mayo Phone: 011-353 (098) 25496 -
On to Doolin
We're staying at: Danaher's Doolinview B&B
Teergonean
Doolin, Co.Clare Phone: 011-353 (065) 707-5875 -
On to Dublin
We're staying here: Abbott Lodge
87-88 Lower Gardiner St
Dublin, 1 Phone: 011-355 (01) 836-5548 -
Homeward Ho
Aer Lingus flight EI 137, departing Dublin 1:50 PM and arriving at Logan 3:45 PM. Dartmouth Coach back to Vermont, arrives around 10 PM. http://www.concordcoachlines.com/dartmouth_coach_bus_schedule_fares.htm
Don't bother us; we're jet-lagged!
