Republic of Ireland

Ireland has been a whirlwind experience! We left Limerick and spent most of Saturday in Killarney Lakes National Park. The pony cart rides were bumpy but a lot of fun, and provided some spectacular views of the Gap of Dunloe.  We took a motorboat ride back across the lakes and landed at Muckross House, a manor that Queen Victoria visited during her trip to Ireland in the 1870's.  After a short tour of the traditional farming methods at Muckross Farms, we climbed back in the coach and headed south to Cahersiveen.

Our day in Cahersiveen was equally jam packed. We spent a couple of hours learning Gaelic Football from some champion footballers. It was challenging, but also a blast. We met up with a youth service group and went through a rotation of games with some Irish students.  After more sandwiches for lunch (lots and lots of sandwiches over here), the delegation headed out to the peat bogs. We each harvested a brick that will help to heat the homes of the elderly and turned over other bricks to help them dry.  Our local guide took us to a 9th century circle fort, and we practiced our Harlem Shake for the evening event.  A little more touring around town and a scavenger hunt rounded out the rest of the day.  Dinner and a Ceili with music by a talented group of girls wore everyone out, and we returned to the guesthouses ready to sleep.

Most of today was spent on the coach, winding up the coast and across the country to return to Dublin. We learned about the Easter Rebellion at the general post office, then got some time to shop for souvenirs.  We'll head to the Gaelic Football museum tomorrow morning before traveling north to Belfast and our fourth country.  As always, I'll update when I can!