At our visit to the rock at Cashel, the weather was windy and spitting rain off and on.  This didn't deter us and we enjoyed the conducted tour plus our own roamings around.  We did find out that Cormac's Chapel is going to be closed a goodly long time for renovation and were glad we got to see it.  As we went to get our car, wenoticed a cute little coffee shop just down the rock and availed ourselves oif it.  The coffee just hit the spot. 

The next morning as we were leaving Cashel for Tipperary and beyond - not a long way at all! - all three of us noticed we were still just a little unmotivated to say the least.  Usually we had been up for the days journey.  After discussion, we decided it had to be the coffee at our B&B.  Many of them just put a French press coffeemaker on the table and we could let it steep to a nice strong flavor.  Our hostess in Cashel served us, and we strongly suspicioned she was either using decaf or skimping on coffee.  Not good, we depended on our morning caffeine.  At Tipperary we found an open coffee shop and were overjoyed to be served a big mug  of nice hot, strong, coffee.  Our outlook improved immediately.

Our next stop was Kilmallock.  You can read more about it in Michele's book.  We had no problem finding the museum, but found our way to the parking blocked by a semaphore which needed numbers keyed in.  There were some fellows just sitting by and one of them pushed the right button to let us in.  We found later the parking is owned by a business there and it is anyone's guess whether they will let you in or not.  We considered ourselved fortunate and parked in one corner away from eveything.  What a wonderful little museum, and yes, Mary Fox was there.  We had Michele's book in hand and showed her the entry about the museum and Mary herself.  She just had to take it and photocopy it.  To show her appreciation she let us in her office with her own toilet facilities.  We felt we were the winners.    As a long time volunteer at our library's local history room, I could only think about the need for preservation, but also knew it would spoil the spontenaity of this very small little place.  We were the sole traveler's to tour the Priory, and marveled again at the fact that such places are so available to anyone with no restrictions.

We left Kilmallock with a thanks to Mary and traveled to Adare, our next destination.  We knew from previous tour trips that there was a nice tour center with nice facilities and a place for lunch.  There were only 2 or 3 tour buses and it wasn't crowded at all.  One of the thatched cottages was "to let" and looked as though it had been that way for some time.  Think the economy has affected the tourist trade.

Our last accommodation was Headley Court near Bunratty.  It was a great place to stay, even though it was bittersweet because our journey was winding down.  We attended the Medieval banquet at the castle.  It was a fun thing to do, but don't need to do it again.  There was a group of Asian tourists there and they had perpetual looks of confusion on their faces during the whole evening.  We had made reservations before we left the states for the Traditional Evening the next night, but in checking on our reservations, found it had been cancelled.  Another sign of the economy?

Our last day was spent at the Folk Park and at Headley Court packing as we wanted to be at Shannon by 9 or so in the morning.  Looking back, I wish we had gone up to Ennis, but now realize we will just have to go back to do all we didn't get done.

We got to the airport only to find our flight had been delayed.  It was supposed to leave at 11:35 but didn't leave until after 2 pm.  Meant we missed our JFK flight home, but they compensated by giving us seats in business class.  As we were whiling away our time at the airport, thanks to wifi!  we were suddenly surrounded by many GI's in their traveling fatigues.  They were on a layover on their way to Iraq.  They are so young and innocent appearing.  When they left we all wished them Godspeed and those of us who were left behind gave them a rousing send off of applause and cheering.

Yes, we did do customs at Shannon, and it was quite speedy.  It sure helped going through passport control at JFK even though we did have to retrieve our luggage and then recheck it. We were over 24 hours getting home from the time we left HC anf finally arrived at home.,

Thanks to all at this site for their invaluable advice, thanks to Michele for her fabulous itinerary, we will return!  Don't know how some of you do all you do, we traveled constantly and still had to forgo some places.  Next time, we stay longer and build in rest days.

Slainte
Dee, Sondra, and Paul in very hot Southern California