We didn't get much of a chance to post views of our trip this past Spring. Returning home, the summer has been filled with house building, and not much chance for anything else. But with the end in sight, and essentially only painting to finish a couple of rooms, we're almost done.
Time for some 'catch up'.
Ireland has been beckoning for some time now, and although it was a very wet spring in most of the UK and Eire, we seemed to strike it lucky, and had only a couple of days with rain. Temperatures were cool to cold, I guess expected for that time of year, but the sunshine allowed for a lot of picture taking. It didn't seem to matter where you point a camera, the views are spectacular.
Our first few days were spent in Belfast, catching up with friends and taking advantage of some of the really excellent restaurants.
A visit to Belfast Botanical Gardens was ideal on a wet day. Certainly not crowded!
Leaving Belfast behind, and onwards to the north coast, Co. Antrim and the rightly well-know town of Bushmills. Off peak, and a luxuary stay at the Bushmills Inn, just down the road from the distillery.
We were fortunate to hit the coast in the wake of an Atlantic storm, the little harbour of Dunseverick offering a spectacular display of the power of water . . .
Surely Ireland must have some of the best beaches in the world . . . . Whitepark Bay. If only is were warmer . . .
Ballintoy is another small, picturesque harbour just up the coast. Lots of history, but now a tourist attraction.
This time of year . . . no tourists . . . just us!
Lots of castles, or what remains. Dunseverick Castle, very medieval.
. . .and you can't leave Antrim withot a visit to the Giants Causeway . . .
Further along the coast . . .and another castle - Dunluce!
But it's the ocean that dominates. You can easily imagine how the men of the Spanish Armada must have felt when they were swept around the west and north coast of Ireland, storms destroying them against the rocks . . .
Farewell Bushmills. A friendly place . . .even the postmaster wanted to get in the picture . . .
Springtime in Co. Mayo. What would spring be without wild primrose, golden gorse, lambs (mmm - yummy!) and beautiful vistas.
Who needs beaches in Spain, with this at your doorstep?
. . .and who needs a restaurant, when you can picnic like this -
. . with a view like this!
If you're a fisherman, well, rivers like the Bundorragha, and many like them, offer good sport.
Our final stop - Dublin - a great B&B, and a tour of the City, before heading back to Belfast, and flight home!
