The Cliffs of Ballybunion

These are pictures of the Ballybunion cliffs which are pretty spectacular!

This is the Nun's Strand which was only for the Nuns from the convent on the right. We couldn't see a path for this beach and it looks like it is no longer accessible. 

The Neighbours

While staying with Grannie and Grandad in Cork; Iman, Jack and Ayden, hung out and played with old and new friends in the neighbourhood. Thanks to Ruairi and Clodagh for keeping Iman, Jack and Ayden company and very busy!

And not forgetting our new friend Sean who has the most gorgeous smile and also Clodagh's friend Emma. The holiday would not have been the same without these guys. Same time same place again next year please!

A new school year

Iman and Jack went back to school today, both very excited to see their friends again and go into new classes. Iman is in Year 2 and Jack is in Reception. Ayden too was excited and insisted on wearing his uniform!

Spotty was dragged into this one!

Kilkee

On one of the days while we were at Ballybunion, we took the ferry up to Kilrush in Co. Clare and drove over to Kilkee, another lovely seaside town. Our first stop was further afield to Doonbeg Golf & Spa Resort . Donncha's cousin Kevin works in the hotel and we called in for lunch. A very impressive hotel and that week they were preparing for the wedding of none other than Andrea Coor! Lunch was very nice and Iman, Jack and Ayden made use of the green area next to the restaurant (a.k.a the first tee box) to run around.

After lunch we headed back to Kilkee to go for a short walk along the cliffs. It was a lovely sunny day but also very, very windy.

Still it didn't stop some going into a dip with the waves, rocks and all

At the top of the cliff we were rewarded with this view. And we turned around here as it was far too windy with the kids.

A bit of a swot....

Well done to my nephew Amin who aced his IGCSEs with 7As to his name. You've set a great benchmark Amin and we're all very proud of you.

Spirit of the Glen

One item on Donncha's list of things to to with the kids in Ireland was to see a hurling match so one Sunday we went to Parc Ui Caoimh- the main local stadium in Cork. We were there to support Glen Rovers, the local neighbourhood club for Donncha's parents and the club that Donncha and his siblings grew up playing with.

The kids were very enthuastic about the outing. Iman asked 1001 questions, Ayden was all claps but Jack was more interested in what Uncle Sean was doing - "Why isn't he sitting down?" "What is he doing?" - Sean is the club Doctor and was standing on the sidelines going on and off pitch much to the kids excitement.

Unfortunately the Glen were thrashed by a much better opposition.

Iman, Jack and Ayden's real star of the match attending to an incident although he seemed to be more interested in having a word with the ref rather than looking after the player on the ground. 

Model Railway Village, Clonakilty

This was an outing the kids had with Grannie, Granded, Aunty Eilis, Aunty Mairead, Ruairi and Clodagh. The model village looked great fun and I'm sure that Ayden and Jack were in their element. And well done to Iman and Aunty Eilis on the photos!

Dingle

On one of the days in Ballybunion we went for a drive intending to have lunch in Tralee but instead went all the way to Dingle. Its very beautiful down here and we wish we had more time. It is also a Gaelic speaking area so all road signs are in Gaelic. One of Dingle's best known tourist attraction is probably Fungi the dolphin - he's been in the bay since the 80s and is still there today. We had lovely fish and chips in the town, had a quick walk around and then went further down the peninsula for some spectacular scenery.

Dingle also has a thriving nightlife with plenty of traditional Irish music found in bars. I am told that the following are two popular places. Note that Dick Mack's doubles as a haberdashery. 

And Foxy John's also doubles as a hardware and bicycle shop!

On our drive down the peninsula we came across this 1845 restored famine house. It was up on a hill and had a fantastic view of the Atlantic but one can imagine the bitter cold months especially during the famine years. There was also a family tree in the house (which I never took a picture of) showing the ancestors of the house owners to date.

This was one of the sheds. Note the size of the Irish more than a century ago and in the very old houses, door frames and bed sizes are also smaller.

This is the Blasket Islands accessible by ferry and has a small community.

One the way back we went over the Connor Pass - a very narrow mountain road. View was spectacular but it was very cold and windy.

This is an ancient Irish settlement and the bottom of the valley and there are a few dotted around. There are also a few mountain lakes and one that is accessible from the road but Jack was asleep at the time.

The very narrow Connor Pass.