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Some Drives around Ireland

1994 to 1997


The route of our drives around Ireland

In May 1994 we got the ferry from Hollyhead to Dun Laoghaire near Dublin and drove to the south-west, via Rathdrum County Wicklow, Waterford, Cashel Co Tipperary, Cork, Blarney Castle, Kinsale, the Ring of Kerry, Castle Cove, Kenmare, Killarney, Slea Head on the Dingle peninsula, Tralee, Limerick, Kilkenny and Kells Co Kilkenny.

In May 1996 we drove to Dublin and Bray then round the 'midlands', to Trim Co Meath, Battstown Co Westmeath, Cartroncard and Tully Co Longford, Westport and Lough Doo Co Mayo, Clonbar, Kylemore Abbey, Ballynahinch Castle, Galway, Aughnanure Castle, Athenry, Gort and Kinvara Co Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Lehinch, Kilfenora, Ennis, Quin and Bunratty Co Clare, Limerick, Friarstown Co Limerick, Modreeny, Ballynavin and Springfield Co Tipperary, Roscrea, Knockarly, Ballybritt and Summerhill Co Offaly, Birr, Roscrea again, Borris in Ossory and Ballybrophy Co Laois and Celbridge Co Kildare.

In June 1997 via Dublin we drove north to Kilbride Co Longford, Iniskillen Co Fermanagh, Letterkenny Co Donegal, the Giant's Causeway and Bushmills Co Antrim, Springhill Co Derry, Moy Co Tyrone, the Argory and Portadown Co Armagh, Loughbrickland and Strangford Co Down, Glendalough Co Wicklow and back to Dublin.

Also, back in July 1969 (the 'orange' route on the map) we went by ferry from Stranraer to Larne and drove to Donegal, Sligo, Tobercurry County Sligo, Boyle County Roscommon and back through the Moutains of Morne.

Perhaps most amazingly, we had perfect weather every time.


Dublin, May-June 1994


A former English pillarbox painted green, on the corner of Palace Street and Dame Street, Dublin.

A pillar box at Palace Street and Dame Street, Dublin

Bewley's coffee shop, Grafton Street, the site of Samuel Whyte's Academy.

Bewley's coffee shop, once Samuel Whyte's academy, Grafton Street, Dublin


Counties Tipperary, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Kilkenny, May 1994.


In the ruined cathedral on the Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary.

Ruined cathedral on the Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary

A second-hand shop in Cork.

A second-hand shop in Cork, Ireland

Blarney Castle, Co Cork. The Blarney Stone is up in one of those overhangs.

Blarney Castle in County Cork, Ireland

Bustling Main Street in Kinsale, County Cork.

Main Street in Kinsale, Co Cork, Ireland

The shop that could not be ignored! Kenmare, County Kerry.

Linen shop in Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland

The Skelligs from Valentia Island at the far end of the Ring of Kerry.

The Skelligs from the Ring of Kerry, Ireland

King John's castle at the city of Limerick.

King John's castle at Limerick, Ireland

Ruins of the medieval city of Kells, County Kilkenny.

The ruins of Kells, County Kilkenny, Ireland


Counties Mayo, Galway and Clare, May 1996


In Westport County Mayo.

In Westport, County Mayo, Ireland

The Bundorragh river below Lough Doo, County Mayo.

Bundorragh river below Lough Doo, County Mayo, Ireland

Thoor Ballylee, a 14th century fortified Norman tower, summer home of WB Yeats, near Gort, County Galway.

Thor Ballylee, WB Yeats' home near Gort, Co Galway, Ireland

Kinvarra, County Galway.

Kinvarra in County Galway, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare.

The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare, Ireland

In the 12th century cathedral at Kilfenora, County Clare.

12th century cathedral at Kilfenora, County Clare, Ireland

Leamaneh castle near Kilfenora. The left-hand house was built about 1640 onto the right-hand 15th century O'Brien fortified tower house.

Leamaneh castle near Kilfenora, County Clare, Ireland

The village street at Bunratty Folk Park, in the grounds of Bunratty Castle, County Clare.

The village street at Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare, Ireland

A donkey-powered roller at Bunratty Folk Park.

A donkey-powered roller at Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare, Ireland

Gypsy caravans at Bunratty Folk Park.

Gypsy caravans at Bunratty Folk Park, County Clare, Ireland

A home for those gypsy caravans! Between Laragh and Rathdrum, County Wicklow.

A caravan-shaped doorway in County Wicklow, Ireland


Counties Antrim, Down and Wicklow, June 1997


The Giant's Causeway, County Antrim.

The Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Ireland

On top of the Giant's Causeway.

On the Giant's Causeway in County Antrim, Ireland

Strangford, County Down.

Strangford, County Down, Ireland

The church at St Kevin's seventh-century monastery at Glendalough, County Wicklow.

St Kevin's monastery at Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland


Dublin again, June 1997


Ships in the clouds at Hanover Quay, Dublin.

Ships in the clouds at Hanover Quay, Dublin


If you would like to see more of our travels just click the map.