Delays at T 1 in Dublin this summer! :    

http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/passengers-face-delays-dublin-airport-10513896

This should NOT impact T2 flights to the US.   

Oh no! The Cherry Tree Walk in Killarney was demolished!!!            I haven't been there in a few years and now this. It was so beautiful. Click on the video at the link to see it now. 

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/disgusted-locals-upset-as-killarney-cherry-tree-walk-felled-261103.html

OK its COLD. as to the weather? snow? Look we were threatened with a hurricane that turned out to be a stiff breeze earlier this year. I grew up on the Pennines in the UK I know that any clouds full of snow are going to dump most of their load on the 5000+ ft climb they need to do just to get over those before they get here.

Standing against the wall ready to be shot but I really doubt there is much for the vast majority of visitors to worry about. (I have made sure the 4x4 starts just in case)

Hardly worth it just yet Michele. Problem is i'm old enough to remember having to clear over a foot of snow off the drive so my dad could get the car out and get to work when I was a kid, couple of inches doesn't impress that much.

Looks a bit worse over the east they had the camera crews up on Sally gap showing a full 4 inch fall. My cousin over above Newhey UK has about 18" and a blizzard blowing. no excuse for them the farm has to keep running, cattle & Sheep can't eat through the snow so bales have to be taken out for them.

Dublin Bus's have been cancelled tomorrow and nobody knows whats going to happen yet in real time.

Just had message from Cork cousins. South of Cork city, she hasn't seen that much snow in a long time. Cousin living north of Cork city snow just starting. Schools were closed. This was late afternoon, early evening Irish time on Wednesday.

If you sometimes enjoy 'Waterford Whispers' "NEWS" -- as I do -- you might also enjoy Donegal Dollop:  http://www.donegaldollop.com/2012/04/tory-islands-round-tower-lie/

I recently discovered them whilst researching Tory Island's Round Tower . . . as I often do . . .   

Need another reason to visit Donegal?

https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/mesmerizing-lake-discovered-in-remote-cave-in-ireland/vi-BBLMlGQ?ocid=spartanntp

Thanks for the good news Bob.

Some good news for the future! The N22 Macroom Bypass is proceeding as planned.  Expected completion is 2023 and it is expected to cut 15 to 20 minutes from the Cork to Killarney drive time once done!

Council chief says 280m Macroom bypass progressing well (irishtimes.com)

Our flights in April were just cancelled by the airline. We were anticipating rescheduling for the 4th time anyway.

Been "talking" (on line) to the wife's cousins and a few friends and acquaintances that live in Ireland.  They seem to be going through a rather "tough patch" since the first of the year -- particularly with Covid.  With today being Imbolc (Saint Brigid's Day) -- and the First Day of Irish Spring, we can only hope that things settle down and the outlook improves quickly.

Here in Florida, the early Immunization Chaos SEEMS to have subsided -- No more 'Inoculation Tourism', at least, but it's still a bit of a free for all.  Numerous selfish people are "casting about" and seeking vaccinations from any location -- Just heard from one couple that bragged about securing appointments in Tallahassee, for him, and Fort Meyers, for her (two days and 300 miles apart)!  My wife and I followed the rules and registered only in our own county.  We aren't scheduled yet and are number 15,275.  At last count, Sarasota County was calling up to number 6,300 -- so it may still be a while.

I had REALLY hoped to visit the Round Towers on Tory (Donegal) and Ram (Antrim) islands this summer, too!!      

Roy, I'm guessing September for International 'reopening' and I expect some sort of proof of vaccination will be required.  I'm hoping that Domestic travel will resume before that, though. 

When we received our first dose (Moderna) on 12 Feb, we were each issued a card with shot info (Date, Location, Batch # and Brand) and advised that it MUST be returned with us at the time of our second dose.  At that time, a second info label will be added.

As an aside, it was strongly suggested that we subsequently LAMINATE the card as it was believed that air travel would likely REQUIRE that we present the card prior to boarding -- even Domestically.

Of course, since the inoculation does NOT prevent CARRYING the virus, until the population of your destination is adequately vaccinated, it's unlikely that a "Vaccine Passport" will have little value in Ireland (or other countries) prior to completion of THEIR inoculation programs.   

Very good points. Plotting the trip, even if it's 50/50 that it'll happen, has provided some fun in planning and some light at the end of a tunnel. I'm up by Canada, winter can drag enough, and the prospect of no travel and dealing with this pandemic even longer can be totally wiped out feeling.

But speaking of tunnels, any thoughts on if a tunnel will be built between Scotland and Northern Ireland? So many of the ferry routes have shifted to Ireland, it was interesting to see. All the brexit changes to come...

www.thelocal.fr/20210214/after-brexit-france-and-ireland

FYI -- Concerning Laminating Your Vaccine Card --

When we received our second dose, we were firmly advised to NOT laminate it!

One of the reasons is due to the fact that IF the label stickers were transfer printed, then the heat from the laminator could turn them BLACK -- rendering them unreadable!

Another reason that I've heard is that there is space available on the card for a THIRD shot -- what has been anticipated as a likely BOOSTER -- and that lamination would prevent proper annotation.

What we did, was store a photo (Front AND Back) of the card on our Cell Phones.  I also plan to scan the cards into my computer and then email the images to both my, and my wife's email accounts.