More from our outing...

I have to say that the end of the day was my favorite part. We ended up finding a quiet little beach that was tucked away in the shadow of the cliffs. The waves were gigantic, but the wind was still, and there was hardly a whisper of sound. We climbed along the rocky shore and sat and watched the waves crash for a long time.







B watching the waves...




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A visit from friends

We have some of our best friends here visiting this week! R & B are so much fun to hang out with, and we are having a blast getting to show them some of our favorite spots!

Here are just a couple of pics from today...

This is the most photographed dolmen in Ireland. This prehistoric site has been called many things over the years - druid's table, a stone table, portal tomb, etc... It consists of several large standing stones with a large capstone resting on the tops.










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Yesterday

I'm dragging a bit today. I have been really busy the last couple of days giving a small group a tour of the area and surrounding counties. I did however get some cool pics. Here are just a couple of the group from yesterday.












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A Study in Flowers (pt. 2)

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a study in flowers (pt 1)

Last evening was such an amazing time. I had tons of work that needed to be done around the house, but I ended up spending most of the evening in the front garden. I really don't think that there is anything better than a beautiful summer's evening spent enjoying the front garden. The sun seems to hang in the sky in a prolonged hour-long sunset... the wind is fresh and cool... there is already the smell of peat fires on the breeze... the only sounds are of birds, children playing, and church bells in the distance... neighbors stop by for a chat... and the soil begs to be worked and cultivated. After I did some yard work I took a little time to document the flowers growing in the front garden. It is early in the season, but the lighting was perfect and I could not resist taking a few pics for my mom.

Here is the first... more are to come over the next couple of days...







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more from Paddy's Day

In the parade....




Nothing says "St. Patrick's Day" like sponge Bob!




Pub decorations...




Crowds




The best seats





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Paddy's Day!

It was an amazing St. Patrick's Day! The weather was perfect... not too hot... not too cold... but a perfect 60 something. The sun was out... and there was not a cloud in the sky! Dee and I met up with some friends and went to the parade. The warm dry weather really brought out the crowds, which really added to the excitement. Here are a few quick pics... but I'll be posting more soon!

The modern version of St. Patrick (and his pet snake - I think). It is a rare sight that St. Patrick has to wear sunglasses!





Watching the parade





There were several groups of immigrants that marched in the parade... even a group of Americans that dressed like Obama and carried masks. These are a couple of our friends F and E. You did know that Obama is Irish... didn't you? That isn't a joke.




at the end of the parade...





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Happy St. Paddy's day!

It is starting out to be a beautiful St. Patrick's day here! Dee and I are headed into the parade in just a little while... I'll post some pics just as soon as we get back! Hope that you all have a great and green day!

Here is a cute little story about St. Patrick. Hope you enjoy!





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TV in Ireland...

This is my new favorite commercial on Irish TV. hope you enjoy!

Flowers (pt.2)

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Flowers (pt.1)

Someone (I'm sure it was my mom) requested some flowers... so because the last two posts were a bit of a downer (recession, coffin ships and all)... I thought that I would post some happy flower pics.














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Today's Random Pic...

A famine ship docked in Dublin.






This is the Jeanie Johnston. A beautifully reconstructed famine ship (late 1800's). These type of ships were once known as 'coffin ships' because of how many would lose their lives while on board. In her day, this great ship carried an average of 200 people on voyages of approximately 47 days from Ireland to America. It was from her decks that many Irish men, women, and children said goodbye to their families and their homeland.

I took the photo in Dublin a couple of weeks ago, and was able to achieve the 'old time' look by double exposing the photo with another one.



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Change is in the wind...

I usually get the same answers when I ask Americans what they think of when they think of Ireland...

Green fields
St. Patrick
Farms
Sheep
Leprechauns
Dancing/music
The potato
Immigration

Most people don't realize just how different modern Ireland is to these stereotypes. Don't get me wrong... you do still see all of these (with the exception of the leprechauns), but there is so much more to life in Ireland than just the green fields.

You probably know that in the mid 1990's a new wind, called Technology, blew through Ireland. Almost overnight Ireland became a major hub for IT companies doing research, development and manufacturing. The young, highly educated, English speaking population here was a perfect place for the technology boom to take place... and it did! Ireland had an explosive economy known as the "Celtic Tiger" and led Europe as the second best performing economy in Europe. For about 10 years Ireland's economy grew and grew and grew and grew......

Today, however, things are changing. With the global economic downturn and with cheaper workforces in Eastern Europe coming into the European Union - Ireland finds itself in a real crisis. In fact, they are now saying that Ireland has the second worst-performing economy in Europe with only Latvia performing worse. Unemployment has doubled in the last year (now over 10%), and many of the large IT companies (like Dell) are pulling out and moving to Poland.

Recession is the word of the hour... and it is the word on everyone's lips. I don't know what lies ahead in Ireland's future, but everyone here is starting to brace themselves.... only time will tell what is in store for the emerald isle...

From my sickbed...

I have been sick all week! I'm feeling much better now (I hope)... but I have spent most of the week in the house... I did, however, have a few bursts of energy. During one of these moments of clarity I experimented with some macro photography. Here is a picture I took of a little guy in our windowsill.










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I wish...

(Early on Sunday morning I headed out for a quiet walk by myself. I drove down to a quiet beach with my camera, a good book, and my journal... I ended up staying for three hours)


Photos really do not really tell the full story of just how amazing Ireland is...



I wish that I could describe the smell of seaweed, salt air, and last night's peat fire...

I wish that you could know the bitterness of a wind so cold that it makes your ears ache and eyes water...

I wish that you could know the warmth of the sun as it comes out from behind a cloud...

I wish that I could describe the stabbing feeling of the cold North Atlantic water sinking into my shoes...

I wish that I could tell you just how the rain stings as it falls from a clear blue sky...

I wish that you could know the textures of a giant boulder that I sheltered under...



I wish that I could describe the colors of the rainbow...



I wish that you could feel the excitement of spotting seals sunning themselves on the rocks and playing in the water...




I wish that I could really show you all of the artwork tidal waters create on the sand...



I wish that you could know how it feels to jump over little streams and to slowly walk on fresh sand as the tide retreats...

I wish that I could give you a whiff of the giant wet dog that slobbered all over me...




I wish that you could hear the sounds of seagulls and sandpipers looking for food or cows in far away fields...

I wish that I could tell you just how slippery wet seaweed and rocks are...

I wish that I could describe how it feels to stand 10 feet away from a seal and to watch it slip into the sea...




I love photography... but it never really captures the adventure and the story that goes behind every photograph.




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Today's Quote...

Ireland beat England yesterday in a very exciting rugby match! In an interview before the game Ireland's team captain said something that I thought was interesting... and I thought that I would pass on a bit of wisdom:

"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."
Brian O'Driscoll




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