Thanks Bob. I spent far too long enjoying your photos. Where were all the phone booths? They sure were painted colorfully.

Phone booths were displayed at a petrol station / Salvage Yard in Nutts Corner, Co Antrim, where the A26 meets the A52.  They also carried a wide variety of other items, too:  http://www.thesalvageyard.co.uk/1-home

Info about the area:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Nutts_Corner

http://nuttscornerraceway.co.uk/

 

To be FAIR, though -- we were just passing through -- and spotted the phone booths, arrayed along the road ...  I had a nice chat with the owner of the large Salvage Yard, tucked in behind the petrol station.  The phone booths are for sale -- along with large quantities of Belfast Bricks, Victorian Streetlights, post boxes and whiskey barrels.  They sand-blast, repair and repaint the boxes and replace all the glass.  A UK Booth runs about 1200 GBP -- PLUS shipping, which he 'estimated' as about 600 - 800 GBP!.  The ONE, IRISH phone booth (being rather unique, in NI) was 2000 GBP ...

It sure would look good, in the corner of my Living Room / Pub ...

Mrs. Bob said, "NO!", though, so ...     

Bob

Thanks for posting, many familiar images amongst those

 

 

     A brief synopsis:  Travelers included my wife and I, our daughter, SIL and two Granddaughters Very Nearly 5 and Just Turned 8.  We would arrive in Dublin separately (within ½ hour of each other), drive to a rental house, in Mallow, Co. Cork and spend 10 days visiting and touring.  On 27 June, we would drive to Dublin, spend the night and the kids would return home.  The Mrs. and I would spend the NEXT 10 days doing a "Loop Tour" of the North, West and South West and return to Dublin on the evening of Sunday, 7 July, for OUR return flight on the morning of 8 July.  Kids were booked on USAir, MCO-CLT-DUB.  We were flying Delta, GNV-ATL-Dub.  It was a GREAT plan, if I do say so, myself!

BUT ----  NO Battle Plan EVER survives First Contact with The Enemy!

     Our journey began about 1 PM on Monday, 17 June, at GNV Regional Airport.  We flew Delta Connection to ATL, about 4 PM (after a 3/4 hour delay) and then, onward to DUB, about 7PM. No significant problems or difficulties.  We bought the "Economy Comfort" seats (10A&B) and only discovered (too late) that sitting in a Bulkhead row LOST us some seat-width space, as the tray tables and entertainment screens fold into FIXED arm rests!  Our RETURN flight, we were one row back (11 H&J) and found those seats to be MUCH better.  We paid about $160 extra (each) for the "Economy Comfort" -- $80 per seat, per flight.  May do that, again, on the OUTBOUND flights, at least, as the extra room IS nice

     As we waited to snake our way through the LONG Immigration line at Dublin Airport, I managed to connect to the Free Wi-Fi and discover that the "kids" had been delayed by a FULL day and wouldnt arrive until 8 AM the NEXT day.  It seems that the weather, in CLT, was too severe to allow their 757 to land initially, but NOT so severe that the DUB bound 757 couldnt depart!  On arrival, they were advised that the NEXT USAir flight (Tuesday evening) was Over-Booked.  USAir gave them a Discount voucher for a hotel and then booked them on a next-morning flight to BOS.  After an 8 Hour layover, they would THEN fly into DUB on Aer Lingus!

     We debated how to deal with THIS as we SLOWLY made our way through Immigration.  Should we check into an Airport Hotel, or check into the Mallow Self-Catering?  We remained undecided, right up until we collected our Hire Car, from Hertz.  I had booked and pre-paid for a 7 passenger Peugeot 5800 -- a Diesel, with automatic.  Price was US, $650 (waiving the CDW coverage) after availing of assorted Discounts (AAA, Hertz Gold Plus Member and Pre-payment).  Not included (to be paid locally) were a few assorted Fees (2 Booster Seats, at 30 Euro, a 30 Euro "Handling Fee" for Waiving the CDW and a 5 Euro Fee for paying via Credit Card (????) ) Also, additional was the cost of the initial tank of fuel (at 90 Euro).  Hertz also employs a transponder that Auto-Pays the M50 Toll which they subsequently charge you for, at US $4.05, per use, via your credit Card.  Its a little pricier, but MUCH easier than remembering to search out a Pay-Point.

     The Peugeot is a NEW model and APPARENTLY, Hertz had PLANNED to purchase a number of them but, INSTEAD they SEEM to have only acquired models with MANUAL transmissions.  Over the course of our trip, I noticed a goodly number of Peugeot 5800 that sported the Hertz "1" decal but ALL of them had stick shifts!    Instead of the brand-new, Peugeot 5800, I was issued a rather WILTED 2010 Ford Galaxy 7 passenger that showed 68,619 MILES on the Odometer.  The Damage Sheet listed a number of minor cracks, scratches, dings and dents but a careful inspection found MANY more.  The Lot Guy seemed rather bemused when I insisted that he ADD them.  The Galaxy was a 2 litre, Diesel automatic, with AC.  I actually couldnt have cared less if it was an Automatic, but am SO glad that I had booked one!  The Peugeot is about 1.5-2 feet SHORTER than the Galaxy and THAT space DIRECTLY translates into Luggage space!  Thank Goodness we were "UPGRADED" to the Galaxy as we NEVER would have fit everything into the Peugeot!

     Realizing THAT, our decision was made.  We decided to check into Mallow just to rid ourselves of OUR luggage.  We exited the parking lot (collection was at the Depot, via Shuttle Bus) and made our way onto the M50, passed beneath the Toll Recorder and exited onto the N7.  After a couple of miles, the N7 became the M7 (Motorway) and we stayed on it until we exited at the Junction for the Service Plaza at Mayfield, where we stopped for breakfast and to withdraw 700 Euro from the ATM 400 from my account and 300 from my wifes to cover the payment of the Self-Catering.

     Shortly after getting back on the M7, we paid the Toll (Hertz had EMPHASIZED that the Transponder worked ONLY on the M50!) and then diverted, onto the M8, toward Cork.  We exited the M8 around Mitchelstown, at Junction 12, in order to take the N73 to Mallow.  I made another stop, in Kildorrey, in order to call ahead to let our host, David, know when to expect us.  It turned out that we would be arriving, just about the time that he needed to be in Cork city for an appointment, so David arraigned to leave the keys where we could find them and suggested that he would Check-In with us around 5 PM-ish.

      We arrived at Ivy Bridge Lodge  http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/irelandb/IR281.htm  about 1 PM, hastily unloaded the car, showered and crashed for a nap of a little over two hours.  About 4 PM we made a brief dash up to the Tesco in Mallow, where we purchased a few basic grocery items and Topped Up the SPARE phone with 10 Euro of call credit.  Then, it was back to Ivy Bridge for a delightful visit with David and Eilish.  We pre-paid our rental of 730 Euro a little pricey for ten days, but considering that we were using up the better part of two weeks, mid-June, we thought we had scored a TERRIFIC bargain normal June rates run about 495 Euro, per week.

     The house is spectacular, too.  Its a two storey, thoroughly modern, three bedrooms, 3 ½ bath with a fully appointed kitchen, extra large, wood fired dining room/ sitting area and a gianormous sitting room complete with a baby Grand piano all done up to APPEAR as if it was an ancient, stone farmhouse!  I cant recommend the place enough.  Wonderful house, hosts and location; thats my opinion, in a nut-shell.

We had an early, lite meal of sandwiches, cleaned up and headed to bed around 8 PM with our alarms set for 3;45 AM.

More To Come --

Bob

I agree, Tony, BUT the price for the Peugeot was 200 Euro CHEAPER than what they wanted for a Manual transmission Galaxy and this trip had already shaped up to be a costly one.

In any event, it DID all work out for the best.

Bob

Actually, the upgrade WAS free.  I BOOKED the Peugeot to save the 200 Euro.  I believe that I only received the Upgrade because the booking had specified an Automatic.  Lucky, that.  I got the bigger, better vehicle AND the cheaper price.  The Automatic was an interesting experience.  Personally, I'm quite comfortable with a stick shift -- It's what I usually rent.  Over-all I was very pleased -- both with the vehicle AND with Hertz (for the MOST part.

Bob

Thanks so much for sharing this very detailed trip report. Having taken grandkids to Ireland I know how great it is to see Ireland through their eyes.

Looking forward to reading more about your family trip and the reaction of your little ones.

I have been waiting in anticipation of this report!

Wow, you drive from Dublin to Mallow on jet lag day, and back to Dublin the next...you are an iron man!

We wondered how the Grand daughters faired over the course of their entire time there. I will start another post regarding a possible trip to Ireland with our grand daughter.

Dan

More Pix added!

Thursday, 20 June:

Our day got off to a slow start, as the missing suitcase held virtually ALL of the clothes of SIL and VN 5, so we had to avail ourselves of the washer and drier (located, with a deep freeze) in the detached garage.  We had been invited to the Cousins house for a get together and evening meal of burritos that was being provided/prepared by a young cousin who was in the process of opening a Burrito Bar in Cork city.  Apparently, they are all the rage, in Dublin, but no one had yet opened one in Cork, so he was quite optimistic.

To while away the time before that, we made our way to Blarney and gave the girls an in-depth tour of the Castle and grounds. JT 8 was big enough to actually kiss the stone (something that I have never done), but VN 5 had to settle for merely posing.  She seemed perfectly content with that.  They even seemed to enjoy the 45 minute, steep and narrow, spiral-stone staircase climb up to the top.  Ah, the innocence of youth!

 After that, we retired to the Woolen Mills for lunch and to allow the girls to do a bit of shopping.  We had given both of them Piggy Banks some years ago, designated as Ireland Money-- and, to their credit, BOTH girls had managed to save goodly amounts of spending money.  It was delightfully entertaining to watch as they mulled over their choices and weighed the Value versus Cost

Our evening with the Cousins ran late, as they usually do.  The food was DELICIOUS and Im certain that the new shop will be a rousing success.  The young entrepreneur has an excellent product, a goodly amount of experience gained in the family business    AND has an OUTSTANDING location.   The place is called: El Banditos 

We enjoyed catching up with the Cousins and then made our way back to Ivy Bridge about 11 PM.

More To Come

Bob

A Monday Two-fer!   

 

Saturday, 22 June:

 

We had a fairly early start, for a long day.  We were due in East Cork at 1 PM.  If you read the Trip Report for April 2012, you might think that Irish Weddings NEVER end, but the truth is that they do.  Apparently the central hero and heroine of that tale took the biblical edict, Be Fruitful and Multiply to heart because, here we were, 14 months later, readying to attend the Christening of the Fruits of Their Labor!

We began the day, about 11AM, at the home of a different cousin, in Watergrasshill, Co. Cork, as she was fed us a Light meal, in betwixt finishing the baking of numerous items for the Post-Christening Party.  The girls played heartily with her little ones, so a good time was had by all.

We gathered at the small. Stone church in Leamlara, Co Cork, for the service and some pleasant chat, after.  Then, nearly all of the attendees repaired to the parents home for a massive gathering, replete with platters and platters of food, desserts and liquid refreshments. 

Our wee ones ate, laughed and played with younger cousins, while we older ones laughed, talked and mingled for hours.  It was truly a magical time.

We didnt arrive back at Ivy Bridge Lodge until nearly midnight.

 

 

 

Sunday, 23 June:

Despite expectations of a late start, we were actually on the road around 10 AM.  As the weather seemed to be continuing the beautiful morning / mediocre afternoon pattern, we set off toward Killarney once again.  This time, we skirted to the North and headed out through Killorglin, with an ultimate goal of the Kerry Bog Village.

We had never stopped there before, but it looked to be a good option for the little ones.  Its kind of a Mini-Bunratty Folk Park with LOTS of animals.  We stopped in to the Red Fox Inn, next door, for lunch first and then made our way into the Park.  There, the girls had the opportunity to see and (to a limited degree) interact with two Irish Wolfhounds, goats, sheep, chickens and Kerry Bog ponies.  We also wandered in and out of recreated cottages and a blacksmith foundry.

We seemed to have arrived after the Tour Buses, so we only shared the Red Fox Inn with a handful of others and we had the Bog Village pretty much to ourselves.  The girls genuinely appeared to enjoy themselves, so I would say that the Bog Village IS worth a stop if traveling in the area with pre-teens.

We returned to Ivy Bridge, after a brief stop in Mallow for groceries.  We had invited some of the Cousins over, for dinner, about 5 PM.  Imagine our chagrin, when they arrived carrying TONS of untouched Left-overs from the Christening! 

After being impressed by a Grand Tour, we settled down to a hearty meal of chicken, ham and more salads and desserts than you can imagine.  Then, the adults settled down to the serious business of conversation and tea drinking, as the girls (including an 8 year old cousin) gambled and cavorted about, within and without of the Lodge.

Another fine time was had by all, before the Cousins reluctantly parted, about 9 PM.

More To Come

Bob

 

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Monday 12th of August 2013 10:03:25 AM

Tuesday, 25 June:

The cool settled in overnight and it brought a day filled with moderate stretches of rain.  That made us really appreciate our decision to do the Gap on the previous day, but we were now facing the dreaded, Were running out of time and still have SO much left to do .. stage.

So, we drove down to Cork and routed ourselves onto the N22.  We made a brief stop in Macroom, where I pointed out the GENERAL area of the Ancestral Home, but then continued onward, to Ballyvourney, where we stopped for lunch, at the Mills Inn.    

Ballyvourney is a fascinating Gaeltacht  area, with a deep and rich history but, it is most strongly associated with the Black and Tans, the War of Independence and its aftermath the Civil War.  The old wounds lay close to the surface here, but so, too, do the old traditions.  There are large gatherings of Set Dancers in Ballyvourney on certain nights, drawing crowds from all over the County.  There are also fine, old buildings and even a few ancient and early Christian sites close by, as well.

Out from Ballyvourney, I turned off the N22, at Clonkeen, over Poulgorm Bridge, onto the R569, which is signposted for Kilgarvan and followed through there, to Kenmare.  Once in Kenmare, we joined the N71 and followed it North.  Shortly beyond Molls Gap, we turned off to the Left, into Kissane Sheep Farm.  I had planned to visit the Stone Circle, in Kenmare, but we were racing to make the scheduled start of the afternoon tour and it was raining lightly, as well.  By the time we reached Kissane, the tour had already commenced and it was actually raining fairly briskly.  We beat a hasty retreat to the barn. 

We really didnt miss out on too much, as the outdoor portion of the tour only encompasses about ten minutes and basically involves a brief talk about the breed of sheep and the layout of the farm much of which was covered again, during the much longer, indoor portion of the tour.  There was an in-depth discussion about the business economics of raising sheep -- very poor apparently, as the owner conceded that it was only through conducting tours that made the operation viable a demonstration of shearing and a chance to interact with an assortment of sheep of various ages.

By the time the demonstration was over, the skies had cleared and we were welcomed to walk about the various trails that wind through the extensive property.  The girls seemed to enjoy the visit and we adults found it interesting and informative, as well.  With the afternoon sun peaking through, the scenic views on our walk about were very enjoyable.

Back in the car, we continued on, into Killarney, where we wandered about, doing a bit of shopping and had dinner, before retiring to Ivy Bridge Lodge.

More To Come . . .

Bob

Bob,

You're on a roll indeed. I spent far too much time reading your TR and now I have to rush to my afternoon appointment.

Michele

Bob,

I am glad that your time at Ivy Bridge was so grand. You definitely covered a lot of ground! Too bad ya didn't make the Donkey Sanctuary, I think that would've been a huge hit with the girls.

Glad that the luggage finally appeared!

I am just finishing up an email to David, would ya mind if I included a link for this report?

Slan Beo,

Bit

 

Thursday, 27 June:

 Waking to warm, blue skies, we completed our packing, settled up on our fuel and electric expenses and bade our farewell to David, Ailish and Ivy Bridge Lodge.  The girls were rather sad to part company with the ponies.

 Utilities cost us 20 Euro for electric and 50 Euro for heating oil, which -- considering how much laundry we did, plus adequate heat and showers for SIX Floridians seemed quite reasonable.  On multiple occasions, we set the timers to apply heat and hot water for the time we EXPECTED to return only to arrive MUCH later, so we WERE rather wasteful, in that regard!  Even then, added to the 430 Euro rental, our total expense for a 10 day / 9 night stay -- for SIX came in right at 500 Euro.  I consider that a terrific bargain.  In comparison, a standard B&B, at 35 Euro, PPS, would have cost 630 Euro for just TWO people!

 When you add in the riding lessons, the delightful hosts and the incredibly beautiful house and surroundings, we feel privileged to have paid that LITTLE.

 Departing Ivy Bridge Lodge and Mourne Abbey, we headed North on the N20, to Mallow and diverted onto the N73 to connect with the M8 toward Dublin.  We stopped into Cashel, hoping to have lunch at Ryans Daughter, but they were entirely Booked . . . Instead, we walked about the town and settled into the John J Feehan, where we enjoyed a fine meal. 

 Nearby is the Tourist Office, Shop and Micro-museum and the picturesque Water Fountain known as the Back of the Pipes.  We wandered up to the Rock, to give the girls some views and exercise and I regaled them with tales of the Bishops brew master who having raised himself up from such humble beginnings, had descendants that would include Lord Ardilaun Sir Arthur Guinness!

 More Info:  http://www.turtlebunbury.com/published/published_features/pub_feats_arthur_guinness.html

 I think my SIL was impressed . . .

 After departing Cashel, we made another stop, in Kildare, in order to keep my promise to JT 8, of visiting the Round Tower.  Yeah, I know.  It wasnt a HUGE sacrifice on my part but, due to her enjoyment of Mario Corrigans Do Fish Wear Pyjamas?, she really did want to visit the Tower.  She actually made it all the way to the top, too and was delighted by the views.  My wife and VN 5 turned back, though, at the 4^th floor.  While they and my daughter waited for us on the ground, my wife struck up a conversation with the gentleman collecting the entrance fee.

FYI The charge, for five of us, was 10 Euro --  "Since the girls are so young"

It turned out that the man was also a Round Tower aficionado (Who wouldve thunk, right?     ) and quite proud that he had actually visited 20 different Towers.  He seemed genuinely amazed and impressed when I admitted to having located 40, so far. He seemed even more incredulous, when I offered that my plan was to visit at least 8 more, on this trip!

 He asked if we had seen the shiela-na-gig in the Cathedral which I wasnt aware of and then, there was nothing for it, but we spent another 45 minutes or so, perusing the antiquities, there.

More info: http://www.irelands-sheelanagigs.org/archive/

                  http://www.irelands-sheelanagigs.org/archive/index-30202.php.html  ---  Although, I dont necessarily agree with his conclusions . . .    

 

Back on the road, we made our way to the Premier Inn, where I had reserved two family rooms for only 79 Euro, by prepaying and our daughter was finally reunited with her long-lost luggage.  We ate dinner in the hotels dining room.  The food and prices were excellent, but we were rather dismayed by the chaotic service disarray.  During the course of our meal, we seemed to have four or five different wait persons who appeared briefly, and then seeming disappeared.  It took four requests and over 30 minutes to finally receive my wifes chicken Caesar salad!  It was particularly dismaying, as we had enjoyed EXCELLENT service during our stay, back in October of 2012.

Still, our rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable and I certainly cant quibble about the price or location!  We have, since, and likely will, stay there, again. 

As the kids flight home was scheduled to depart at 9:30 AM, we opted to end the night early.

 

More To Come . . .

 Bob

-- Edited by Itallian Chauffeur on Thursday 15th of August 2013 10:34:48 PM