Monday, May 9, 2011

An Daingean

Well it is Sunday and we finally have good internet service. When the signal is low you can type and and then it goes down. Anyway we are now on the Dingle Peninsula.
The inn keeper at the Breffni Arms Hotel in Arvagh  arranged for a lady to take Lisa and I  out to Derrylane Church where my great-grandparents ( had one ttoo many greats in there)were married. On the morning it was time to go, he said that we could follow him out. We thought the lady had blown us off and that we weren't going to get to go into the church. At a turn off, he pulled off and got out of the car to give us the directions to Pearl's house and that she would take us to Derrylane Church. It so happens that Pearle and her husband own a B&B, The Arches, that John and I wanted to stay at in 2007 but she wasn't home at the time. We met Pearle at her home and drove to the church. Pearle had problems securing a key to the church and that is why she didn't meet us in town. We were able to go into  the very church that Charles and Elizabeth Scott were wed in 1863. After some conversation, Pearle thought that her husband Wilson Kells may be related to us. Somewhere in his family tree, he has Scott relatives. We would have stayed at their B&B but they were headed out of town that evening. Maybe we should have anyway. I had second thoughts about going to Belfast. There is too much traffic, and not sure we could safely leave the car with luggage in view ( car's boot much too small). So we headed to Ballyshannon on the west coast since Ballyshannon is close to the Beleek Porcelain Factory.
Saturday morning we headed to Beleek in Northern Ireland. Lisa spent a ton and I didn't. We decided to go on to Gallway which was a big mistake. Galway is very popular with the young people, especially on weekends. You guessed it. We drove in circles in the midst of Galway on narrow, narrow streets with people all over the place. We finally gave up on finding a hotel and headed south landing at Bunratty Castle area. We found a nice place to stay at Bunratty Manor which promised a good internet connection but they must have lied because the signal was to low to get on line. So we headed south on Sunday morning and are now on the Dingle Penninsula. 
Well I am finishing this on Monday evening since the little people must be messing with me and they cause me to loose my place on this blog. Not to worry. I think we finally figured out where it goes. Today we took a wonderful tour of Dingle seeing an igloo looking Gallarus Oratory ( early Christian church) built about 1300 years ago, It is all made of various size stones constructed without mortar. You could actually stand inside but not without thinking that after 1300 years it may be time for it to come down. Amazing ! After our tour, we shopped a bit and then headed to Kinsale in County Cork. We had pretty good roads and managed to arrive in this tiny seaside town about 7pm.   I am getting close to Rachel Allen's cooking school.  I don't think they have room for us to sit in on a demonstration but just going there will be fun. Hope I get there. We are safe and well.

3 comments:

  1. Wow, sounds like you have been very busy and covered a lot of ground already. How amazing to tour the church where generations before you had married. I can only imagine that you were a little anxious in the 1300 year old church. I am sure you are getting some wonderful pictures. Hope that you do make it to Ballymaloe Cookery school. I am sure it is a wonderful place. Take care. I am enjoying the blog.

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  2. Wow Aunt Carol...I can't imagine how that felt being in the very place where they had wed sooooo many years ago....that gave me chills reading it! I think it is so neat that you travel and research our heritage...it's amazing....thank you for that. Im am also enjoying your blog. Look forward to hearing more from you and pictures!
    Stay safe, love,
    Patti

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  3. Your changing itinerary is turning this trip into quite an adventure! Sounds like you're having fun and seeing a lot of interesting places and things. All of it sounds great. Too bad you couldn't stay at the B&B with your "relatives". It's wonderful that you were able to actually go inside the church where your great grandparents were married. I looked up a lot of the places you've visited, and the Dingle Peninsula looks especially beautiful. I particularly love the looks of the Gallarus Oratory. And I can't believe you didn't stock up on porcelain at the Beleek factory! I hope you're having good weather and taking lots of pictures for us to see when you return. Have fun! We can't wait to hear more of your adventures!

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