St Patrick's Day - Festival in Dublin

Anyone who has visited the Emerald Isles will know how green this country is, however on St. Patrick’s Day it gets even greener!

This year, Dublin City is truly going for Green and visitors to the city during  St Patrick’s Festival week will be seeing Green, both day and night.  Businesses and venues will be turning on green lights during St Patrick’s Festival week, creating a city-wide green illumination.

The St Patrick’s Parade officially opens the Festival with dazzling displays from street theatre troupes, artists, dancers and marching bands.  The finest of Irish performing companies will be there to wow the crowds.  Marching bands from both Ireland and across the globe will animate the streets and get feet tapping as they march through the heart of Dublin city.

St Patrick’s Parade Route

The Parade begins as usual on Parnell Square and continues on to O’Connell Street and over O’Connell Bridge to Westmoreland Street.  It then winds it’s way down Dame Street and Lord Edward Street passes by Christchurch Cathedral and along Patrick Street where it finishes just past St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

St Patrick’s Festival is the biggest event of the year and if you’re planning on being in Dublin around St. Patrick’s Day, it’s advisable to book your Dublin hotel before you arrive.

See St Patrick’s Festival Events here >

Lá Fhéile Phádraig Sona Daoibh!

Event :  St Patrick’s Festival
Venue:  Dublin City
Dates :  March 16 – 20th, 2011

Parade Route:

St Patrick's Day Parade Route, Dublin

Belleek Lattice Work © Travel Signposts..

Belleek is a little village in County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland that not many people may know about, except perhaps those people who are keen on Belleek china. Whilst the larger part of Belleek is in County Fermanagh, a part of the village spills across the border into County Donegal.  So, after our stop in Donegal, we hop across to Belleek to visit the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre.

Belleek is home to the Belleek Fine Parian china, a pearly coloured china. The company was established in 1857 and is best known for its fine lattice work ornamental pieces that are decorated with pastel-coloured flowers.

In the foyer of the Belleek Centre, visitors will see Belleek’s most prized piece of work.  “The International Centre Piece” is one of the oldest and most prestigious pieces of Belleek ever made. This piece was displayed at the Paris Exhibition in the year 1900 where it was awarded its fourth gold medal.

Our 30-minute guided tour of the Belleek factory starts at the mould-making area, then the casting department, the basket making and floral department, the kiln firing area and then finally to the decorating area. At each of the departments, our young Irish guide explains the processes that take place in that area.

Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre © Travel Signposts

The basket making and floral department is quite interesting. As we watch the craftspeople weaving intricate strands for the basket pottery (see picture below) and then painstakingly creating little flowers, leafs and stems for them it makes one appreciate the skills and how much manual labour goes into each piece and therefore the cost of the china. All the products here are hand-made and every piece is an original piece.

Except for the basket-making and floral department, you’re not allowed to take photographs on this walking tour, although it’s not obvious why photography is not allowed.

If you’re a collector or are looking for some Irish gifts, there is plenty of time after the tour to gaze around in the showroom. Whilst the ornamental pieces are very pretty, for many people they are not utilitarian and neither are they easy to carry around on tour. A few people bought small pieces, like the Christmas snowman, porcelain bells, broaches, etc.

St Columba's - Drumcliffe © Travel Signposts..

“Under Bare Benbulben’s Head In Drumcliffe Churchyard Yeats Is Laid….” and although Drumcliffe is best known around the world as the final resting place of William B. Yeats, the site on which St. Columba’s Church stands has been a place of Christian worship for over 1500 years.

St. Columcille founded a monastry in Drumcliffe in 574 and at that time, it was one of his principal religious houses, together with Derry, Durrow and Kells.  Christians have been worshipping here since that time.

Remnants of the Monastery

Today, the only visible remnants of the monastic site are the High Cross, the Round Tower and the plain Cross shaft.

The Drumcliffe High Cross is one of the finest examples of high crosses remaining in Ireland. The carvings on the cross represent biblical scenes including Adam and Eve, Daniel in the lions’ den, the crucifixion, etc. Originally painted in bright colours they were used as a visual aid for religious teachings.  Picture the pilgrims gathered around the cross and the images being illustrated to them.

The Round Tower is believed to be the only one of its kind in Co. Sligo. Like other Round towers, such as the one in Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, it would have served as a bell tower as well as a shelter against plundering Vikings and local chieftains. To get to the high doorway, a ladder is required, making it more difficult for the invaders to attack.

Local Drumcliffe Legend

Local legend has it that the tower will fall down when the wisest man in the world passes under it!  If you visit  Drumcliffe today, you will see that there is only a stump of the tower left, so one wise man must have passed under it at some point in history!

The present St. Columba’s Church was built in 1809, but there seems to be a dearth of information about it.

William B. Yeats' Grave, Drumcliffe..

Driving south from Donegal to Sligo, we make a stop at Drumcliffe, a town best known as the final the resting place of William B. Yeats.  Yeats’ grave is in the churchyard of St. Columba’s Church where his great grandfather, John Yeats, was Rector in the early nineteenth century. 

Although Yeats was born and educated in Dublin he always considered Sligo to be his home.  It was Yeats wish that he be buried under Ben Bulben.

Yeats Died in France

William Yeats died in France on 28th January 1939 and due to the War his body could not be returned to Ireland.  He was buried in Rocquebrune near Monaco. It was not until 1948 that his body was returned to Ireland and interred at Drumcliffe.

A year before his death, Yeats’ composed these words which hint at where and how he is to be buried.

Under bare Benbulben’s head
In Drumcliffe churchyard Yeats is laid
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,

By the road an ancient cross.
No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut;
Cast a cold eye
On life, On death.
Horseman pass by!

Yeats’ Wishes

Visitors to Drumcliffe will see a very plain grave for this great Irish Nobel Prize winning author, poet and dramatist.  According to Yeats’ wishes, the headstone is a simple limestone slab, on which are cut the words:

Cast a cold eye
On Life, On death.
Horseman pass by!

Yeats’ wife George is buried here as well.  In St Columba’s Church is a memorial to Yeats’ great grandfather.

There is also a gift shop here where visitors can enjoy a nice cup of tea and some light snacks.

Bunratty Folk Park

Set within the grounds of Bunratty Castle is Bunratty Folk Park, one of the most visited sightseeing attractions of Ireland’s west country. The meticulously reconstructed buildings in this Folk Park give visitors a glimpse into rural life in Ireland in the past.

Folk Park Buildings

The village houses and shops that make up Bunratty Folk Park have been chosen from many different areas of Ireland and they form a collection of typical 19th century rural Irish buildings and architecture. The buildings range from the large landlord’s house to the smallest peasant’s cottage.

There’s also a school, a pub, grocery, hardware shop, post office, a smithy, watermills and a fine collection of old farm implements. Through these buildings visitors get to see a collection of Victorian village buildings in Ireland’s past.

A Walking Tour of the Folk Park

With your entrance fee to the Folk Park, you are provided a leaflet with which you can do a self-guided walk to learn about the buildings and its inhabitants. Some of the buildings belonged to famous people. An example is Hazelbrook House which was originally built in 1898. This was the home of the Hughes Brothers who produced HB ice cream, a household name in Ireland. At Hazelbrook House, visitors can learn about the evolution of ice cream making in Ireland and also the history of the Hughes Brothers family and their HB brand.

Another highlight building of the Folk Park is the Ardcroney Church. This original Church of Ireland building was moved stone by stone from Ardcroney in Co. Tipperary and rebuilt in Folk Park.

Meet the Locals at the Folk Park

Bunratty Folk Park

A Great Learning Environment for Children

Bunratty Folk Park is particularly popular with families and schools and it’s easy to see why. There are lots to see and explore here and it’s a great learning environment for children. Had we more time at this place we would have loved to have chatted with the other people in the village and perhaps have a drink at Mac’s, a working pub at the top of the village street.

Located right between the City of Limerick and Shannon Airport, Bunratty Folk Park is also a stop for all tours of the Irish West or Southwest.

Search and book your Bunratty hotel and read hotel reviews here.>

Take a tour of Bunratty Folk Park with Travelsignposts Photos HERE.

Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet

At Bunratty Castle in County Clare we have an opportunity to experience a medieval banquet. Ah, but weren’t they all carnivores during that time and should non-meat eaters like us attend a medieval banquet?  Our tour director convinces us that an evening at Bunratty Castle is an event not to be missed and that some fine food will be arranged for us.

Welcome to Bunratty Castle

As we make our way to the castle gate, a lone piper welcomes guests with bagpipe music.  We cross the drawbridge to the castle entrance and are greeted by the Castle staff, resplendent in medieval costume. The Earl’s butler greets us with “Welcome milord” and “welcome milady” – yes, this evening we are the guests of the Earl of Thomond, a man with a reputation for lavish entertainment and fine hospitality.

Medieval Banquet

The evening begins with a mead reception in the Great Hall of Bunratty Castle and as we drink our mead, we are entertained with some medieval and traditional Irish music.

Next we proceed to the large Banquet Hall filled with rows of tables and benches. Our entrée is a spiced parsnip soup which is poured out of a jug.  But, before each course is served to the guests, the butler first tastes it to ensure that it is not poisonous and then the Earl of Thomond has to taste the food first to ensure that he is satisfied with it. The Earl of Thomond tonight happens to be a member from our group.

By this time, some are wondering when the cutlery is arriving.  We’re reminded that there is no cutlery because this is a medieval banquet.

Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet

So, we slurp the tasty soup straight from the bowl and there is nice damper to go with it. For starters, platters of spare ribs done with honey and mustard sauce are placed on the tables and again you tear into the spare ribs with your hands. The main course is breasts of chicken with apple and mead sauce served with potatoes and seasonal vegetables. This is followed by dessert which is a fruit of the forest mousse on a biscuit base.

We have the vegetarian option which is a slice of melon for entrée, followed by a vegetarian tart.

Wine is included with the meal, but there aren’t many takers as both the red and white are pretty undrinkable.  Tony asks to buy a beer, but they didn’t have any.

While the meal is taking place, the Castle staff provide musical entertainment. It seems that to work in the castle you have to multi-task as some of them help in serving the food and then join in providing the entertainment as well.

Touristy But Popular

Although the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet is an event staged for tourists, it is nevertheless very popular and gets booked out.  The vegetarian meal is rather light on for the €59 charged and the wine certainly needs improvement, but food aside, the medieval banquet is an opportunity to experience Bunratty Castle in the evening, enjoy some Irish folk music and get a hint of what life might have been like when the Earls of Thomond were in residence, although a very sanitized version of it.

Search Bunratty hotels and read hotel reviews here.>

See our Medieval Banquet photos HERE.

Giant's Causeway © Travel Signposts..

The Causeway Coast and its mystical Glens region is steeped in folklore, myths and magic. One of the favourite legends is that of Finn McCool, one of Ireland’s greatest folk heroes.

As the Legend of Finn McCool goes – Finn was a giant of a man who protected Ireland against all invaders. The Prince of Ireland had a Scottish rival, a giant by the name of Benandonner.

One day Finn McCool decided that he would challenge his rival in battle so he decided to build a causeway to Scotland. When the work was completed,  the Giant Causeway stretched from North Antrim to Staffa.

Benandonner, the Scottish giant, accepted Finn McCool’s invitation to walk across the causeway and fight for supremacy. As  Benandonner appeared over the horizon, Finn McCool realised to his horror that he had taken on a rival much larger than himself. He panicked and raced home to his wife, Oonagh and asked her what he should do. The quick thinking Oonagh got a vast cradle made, disguised Finn as a baby and got him to curl up in the enormous cradle.

As Benandonner approached, he saw this huge ‘child’ and took fright. “My God”, he said “if the babies are this size, what would the rest of them be like!” Benandonner thundered back to Scotland, tearing up the causeway along the way.

Like all legends, there are many variations to the Finn McCool legend, but I like this one best because it shows that behind every giant, there is a smart thinking woman!  To this day this Irish legend still makes me smile whenever I think about it.

Giant's Causeway © Travel Signposts..

The Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on the north Antrim Coast, an area of outstanding natural beauty.  Thousands of visitors come to this part of the north Irish coast just to see these intriguing rock formations which are the result of volcanic eruptions.

Over 60 million years ago the Antrim Coast was subject to intense volcanic activities.  Millions of tonnes of molten rock were thrown up and over the course of time, the rapid cooling process and variations in the cooling rate caused the formation of columns, mainly into hexagonal and some octagonal shapes. But what’s bizarre about these basalt formations is the symmetry of the columns.

Some aerial photos that I had seen of the Giant’s Causeway gave the impression of dramatic and steep cliff-like structures plunging from a great height down into the sea.  So, before we arrived here, I imagined that we would be standing on top of the cliff and looking down at these unusual stepped columns.

But my impressions were totally wrong – a road leads to the rock formations and when you reach it you can actually step along the basalt columns.  For the more sure-footed, there are some high sections that you can climb up to for a magical aerial view of the Giant’s Causeway and surrounding landscape.

Did A Giant Build the Causeway?

When this amazing natural phenomenon was discovered in 1693 it caused quite a sensation at that time. There were a lot of argument and speculation as to whether the Causeway had been created by men with picks and chisels, by nature, or by the efforts of a giant. It was not until 1771 that a Frenchman (Demarest) announced that the Causeway was the result of volcanic action.  However, some might still choose to believe that it was really the Irish giant Finn McCool who built it.

Getting to the Giant’s Causeway

Giant's Causeway © Travel Signposts

From the Visitor Centre you can take a leisurely one kilometre walk down to the Causeway and enjoy the views along the way.  The road is undulating so it may take about twenty minutes for some – less for the fast walkers.  Alternatively, you can take the Causeway Coaster which is a mini-bus shuttle service that leaves every few minutes.  The bus is accessible for people with disabilities and the trip costs £1 each way. We strolled down, spent time on the rocks and then caught the mini-bus back up to save time.

The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre houses the Tourist Information office, bureau de change, accommodation booking service, an Interpretive Audio-visual presentation and a souvenir shop.  The Giant’s Causeway is a designated National Nature Reserve and The National Trust are the guardians of the Causeway.  The National Trust also services the Trust Shop and the Tea Rooms.

The Giant’s Causeway is about 2 miles away from Bushmills. The closest road is the B146 Causeway–Dunseverick Road. To get here by bus, there is the Causeway Rambler bus (Ulsterbus service 376) that runs from Bushmills and Carrick-a-Rede, though it only operates in summer.

Address:

Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre
44 Causeway Road
Bushmills
Co Antrim
BT57 8SU

Map of North Antrim Coast:

Killarney Towers Hotel © Travel Signposts..

Killarney Towers Hotel is a three-storey modern hotel in the heart of Killarney city. It is very convenient to the many restaurants, pubs in town and the shopping area.

We had a triple room so there was plenty of space to spread out, quite a treat after some of the smaller places we’ve stayed at.

The bathroom has nice green marble benchtop and there’s a jacuzzi in the bathroom. After a busy day of travelling, the jacuzzi is a nice treat. Our room was very comfortable, but there are a couple of discos around the hotel so if you have a front room, you’ll hear the loud music. Fortunately the volume reduced just after midnight. Guests who are used to retiring earlier might find it noisy. If you’re sensitive to noise, remember to ask for a room away from the discos.

Killarney Towers’ main business seems to be from tour groups. There were at least three groups staying there during our visit and the Innisfallen dining room was overly busy. The maître’d was rather rude and herded people into the restaurant, forgetting that guests who are part of a group are nevertheless paying guests of the hotel. She wanted to put Tony and I at different tables for dinner and when we said that it was not acceptable, she was quite rude, insisting that the whole restaurant was fully booked out, which it wasn’t.

At breakfast on the last morning she greeted us with “Folks sit where you sat the other night”, no good morning or any signs of politeness. Come to think of it, all the waiting staff were rather grouchy. They must overwork them at the hotel as the maitre ‘d also works at the reception during the day.

Breakfast at Killarney Towers was good. There were fruit and cheese for people like us who don’t eat the cooked breakfast. Our dinner here on the first evening was a buffet dinner. For meat eaters, there was plenty of choices, but not so for vegetarians. Tony had some fish, which was tasteless.

Killarney Towers has free Wi-Fi in the rooms but you have to ring to get an access code which lasts for three hours and then you ring again for another number. The guy at the reception agreed that this process was a bit of a pain for them as well. There appears to be one guest computer only, just outside the dining room and there was a line of people waiting to use it.

There is also one slow lift only, somewhat inadequate for the many group tours that were staying there.

What We Liked: The free Wi-Fi, breakfast and the jacuzzi

What We Didn’t Like: There were no ‘Irish Eyes Smiling’ amongst the staff in the dining room and the inadequate and slow single lift for the whole hotel.

Search and Book Killarney Hotels here.>

Penne Arrabiata

Strolling through the streets of Killarney, we take the opportunity to check out a few restaurants to see where we might dine this evening.  We check out the Flesk Restaurant where we dined on our previous trip.  Peering through the window and from the weather-worn menu in the restaurant window, it reminded too much of a group-type place and on a Saturday night it could be a bit rowdy and noisy. We next check out the menus at Gaby and Foley’s and they are as expensive as they were many years ago.

We finally decided to give Robertino’s a go.  We don’t remember seeing this restaurant before, but the waiter assures us that they’ve been in business for 18 years.

We order a spread of dishes to try out the food here - insalata capresse, vongole al pommodoro, gamberoni, pizza quatro formaggi and penne arrabiata.

From the outside, Robertino’s looks like a small restaurant, but it is actually quite a large place, taking 100 covers at a time.  The front section of the restaurant is noisier as groups are seated there.  If you want a quieter dinner experience, ask to go to the back room.  Just before you get to the back section, there is a small section to the right, on a little platform.  This is the most private section and where we dined.

Robertino’s has a nice range of traditional Italian dishes, seafood mains and meats.  I notice that the people around us are mostly having pastas which look appetising.  The prices at Robertino’s are reasonable, but the wine is on the expensive side.  Our Corvo is 30 Euros, and this is the most expensive item on the bill.

Robertino’s is on High street in Killarney, not too far from our Killarney Towers Hotel in College street.