Ireland 2010: Day 7 & 8

Mon 9/20 Got up and had our full Irish breakfast as they call it before heading out for our last day in Ireland. Our first destination was Brosna, home to Daniel Mahoney (Mary Florence Cronin’s father). Daniel immigrated to America in 1886. The route took us part way around the Ring of Kerry. The views here are some of the most spectacular in Ireland. We spent 2-3 hours around Brosna visiting areas where Daniel was raised. Daniel’s parents were Patrick Mahoney and Ellen Downey of Duagh. We met up with several local workers who said that all the Mahoneys from the area have moved on . Finally, it was time to head toward Dublin to put us in striking distance of the airport and our flight home tomorrow. After dinner and a pint at the Hibernian, we settled into our room at Maldron's Hotel in Portlaoise. We were all exhausted from the driving around .

Tues 9/21 Today is our last day in Ireland. We all hate to leave and agreed that a return trip is in order. The countryside is so beautiful and cannot be captured in photos alone. When you stand on a hillside and turn 360 degrees, the vision is breathtaking. Green rolling hills, cows and sheep, and blue ocean water are what you can expect to see. The flight home was uneventful and it was good to be back. A few final thoughts:

Try to get at least 50 Euros for bus fare, cab or coffee before you leave home the U.S.. The exchange rate at the airport is not good at all; when in Ireland your first stop should be to a local bank. The U.S. Dollar has a horrible value right now, and for each dollar we got .74 euro.

Since Ireland drives on the opposite side of the road consider renting an automatic which is not readily available. It is already difficult enough to stay on the left side of the road and shifting with the wrong hand would make it doubly hard. Shannon did all of the driving and the person sitting in the front seat had to pay attention at all times and remind her to stay on the left. That warning was put into play several times!!!! Don't even think about getting on the road without a GPS. It is expensive but will save in time and patience down the road!

The B&B’s were terrific. I highly recommend going that route when possible. Easier to check in, more comfortable and roomy. Plus a homemade breakfast!!