Emerald Isle Bus Tour 2024

The new blog for our final week starting May 13 can be found at:   https://cycleboat2024.blogspot.com/   This morning there were scattered clouds, temperature was 14°C at 7 a,m, and an east wind at 5 km/hr. There was no rush to get moving since our airport shuttle reservation was for 11:50 a.m., to be sure we get to the airport with time to spare and we needed to check out of the hotel by their deadline. The suggestion for international flights is three hours before take-off and our plane was scheduled for 5:55 p.m. We had a leisurely buffet breakfast which included cappuccino from a self serve machine. There was fresh fruit, stewed prunes and canned fruit bowls, yogurt, dry cereal, bagels and bread to toast, pastries, fried eggs, sausages, baked beans, baked tomato halves, black pudding, scrambled eggs and fried eggs,   We charged our devises and packed our things. Then we caught up on the news from home on our app.      Our walk to the pickup stop was...

    This morning there was some high cloud before breakfast, but the sun got stronger during the morning stroll in Kilkenny. The temperature was 10°C and the wind was E 6 km/hr.      After breakfast we drove to the House of Waterford for a 45 minute tour of the facility. Waterford Crystal has been open since 1948 after about a 100 year closure. It’s best selling Lismore pattern was introduced in 1952.   The company is owned by the Finnish company Fiskers. There are several specialized departments. The tour started with an introduction in front of examples of Waterford Crystal objects including the New York City Millennium bowl, a blue jug, an apprentice bowl and a crystal clock. The apprentice bowl is the final step in an apprentice’s journey. He has a regular production day to complete it. First we saw the Blowing department where two men worked blowing the hot glass and using a wooden mould. The moulds are made from pear tree wood. The custom or top line ...

      Our luggage was out in the hall this morning and breakfast at 7:30 a.m. the sky had some cloud, but it was mostly sunny the whole day. Starting temperature was 12°C and by noon was 18°C with a bit of wind from the south. We were on the road to Blarney before 8:30 a.m. It took a little over an hour before the coach had parked in the Blarney Woollen Mills parking lot.      Many group members visited Blarney Castle and Gardens. The fee was €17 for seniors. We had been to the castle on our first visit, so we wandered around the town for over three kilometres. The stone Blarney Castle was completed in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster. Blarney Castle and 1401 acres were purchased in 1703 by Sir James Jefferyes Govern of nearby Cork and has remained in the family since then. His grandson, James St. John Jefferyes, brought commercial development to the village, building water mills to attract industry including linen bleaching, a paper mill, a flour m...