Review: Luxury Ireland Tour, Dublin, Killarney, Kilkenny, Garnish Island, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle Peninsula, National Library

Each day was a new adventure filled with beauty and learning.  Highlights for us included:

a walking tour of Dublin, the W,. B. Yeats exhibit at the National Library of Ireland, the Da Vinci  sketches from the Queen's collection at the National Gallery, and performances at the Gate and the Abbey Theater; 

PowersCourt House and Gardens, Kilkenny Castle, the stone circle of Dromberg, lunch overlooking the Bantry Bay, the view from our room overlooking the Sheen Falls; the ring of Beara (where it was not raining!); a ferry ride to the island of Garnish, Ross castle and a wonderful boat tour of Lough Learne; an amazing meal at a seafood restaurant in Dingle; the church of Kilfenora, the Poulnabrone Portal tomb, the Burren perfumery and a sheepdog exhibition at Caherconnell; the beauty of the Ballynahinch Castle; our driver showing us how we were seeing Killary Harbour just as Paul Henry had in his painting in the foyer of the hotel!; Kylemore Abbey and its beautiful and moving miniature cathedral; our tour of a museum honoring the people of the Blasket Islands and their lore; seeing the cliffs of Moher before they were covered in clouds; the Harry Clarke stained glass windows at St. Mary's Church; the fabulous Carrowmore Megalothic Tombs----14-30 stone cairns and circles and you can walk right up to them; the grave of WB Yeats and the church where his grandfather was rector; Glenveagh Castle and gardens; Castle Coole; and an informative and personal tour of the Belleek factory with one other couple.  We finished our tour of Ireland at Mellifont Abbey and seeing the amazing giant crosses at  Monasterboice.  It was all memorable!