Galway

Monday, September 10  Londonderry/Transfer to Galway

Millie, Luci & Bob on bus

 

After breakfast we transfer by bus to Galway on Ireland's west coast.  En route we stopped at Belleek Pottery in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, a world-famous pottery works that has been producing fine china since 1857. We took a 25-minute tour of the factory, and I think even the guys liked it.  We got to see how they made the pottery from start to finish.

Gary watching tour at Belleek

 

We learn some interesting facts.  The red hand of Ulster is a symbol of the Celts claiming Ireland.  The first hand to reach Ireland claimed it.  The person coming in 2^nd cut his hand off and tossed it on the Island. Thus the red (bloody) hand symbol on the flag.  Galway is the City of Tribes.  We crossed over to the county of Donegal which is in the Republic of Ireland and the colors changed to green and yellow.  We also switched to the Metric System. The license plates on the cars make common sense.  The first two numbers are the year of the car!!  The others are something else that makes sense, but can't remember what Denis said.   St. Patrick’s Day is called P&P (Parade and Pub).  Ireland is the size of Indiana-  Ireland is 32,000 sq. miles and Indiana is 36,000 sq. miles. 

Carolyn by Celtic Cross

 

We had a lunch stop there was a very old Celtic Cross which was displayed in a graveyard and also where the poet Yeats was buried.  A graveyard is always located by a church and a cemetery is not near a church.  We ate at the local café there and were able to view Yeats grave.  We had one more stop before we reached Galway at the Knock Shrine which is a sighting (vision with 15 witnesses) of Mary, a lamb, John the Baptist (many years ago) and on this site they built a shrine. 

dinner in hotel

Gary, Vicki, Carollyn, Roy

with Denis, Jerry and Eleanor in background

 

We arrived in Galway late afternoon at the Pillo Hotel Galway.  We all met at 5:00 to have a walk-around and then met for dinner on our own with the group.  Here we said good bye to our driver Jerry. 

rainbow over GCT bus

 

We get to “lie in” tomorrow because we don’t leave for a city tour until 10:30, 

 

Tuesday, September 11, Galway

Phil & Diane arriving

 

Our group of 21 grew to 38 today.  The last of our group (Phil and Diane) arrived this morning.  We now know how Mary and Charlie, our long-time traveling companions, felt when they greeted us at our various destinations over the years.  Mary and Charlie would go a day early to get acclimated and greet us when we arrived.  They are not with us this time because they are awaiting (patiently) a liver transplant for Charlie in Iowa (they live in Sacramento) and we are praying every day with them that it arrives soon so they can join us again as we travel the world. 

In Galway

 

Shopping

Roy, Nancy, Rose, Carolyn

 

 

Boys at the bar

Steve, Richie, Mike, Bob

 

 

The bus drove us to the beautiful city of Galway.  We stayed downtown for about 4 hours, and the weather was simply wonderful.  The rain has let up.  We shopped a little, and the guys mostly sat at the pubs and drank Smithicks while we shopped. 

Gary's new hat

 

Richie the native Irishman

 

Steve the Godfather

 

 

Back at the hotel, we met the rest of our group around 3:30 with a welcome glass of wine.  Then on to a dinner in the hotel.  Many walked after dinner and others retired.  Tomorrow, we will be doing more site-seeing.

 

Irish wolfhoud and buddies

 

Our fearless guide Denis

 

 

Wednesday, September 12, Galway, Walking tour/ Optional dinner and Ceili tour

Bob kicking the wall at Salthill

 

Diane, Steve, Luci by the Seaside

 

 

Today we all boarded the bus at 9:00 to drive to the sea to kick the wall at Salthill.  Salthill is a traditional seaside resort that is a suburb of Galway.  In the early years, the ladies would walk the promenade and when they got to the end of the wall, they would kick it and then turn around and walk back.   After kicking the wall, we drove to the cathedral in Galway that was built in 1965 by Cardinal Cushing.  There is a memorial in this cathedral for John Kennedy.  It only cost $1 million to build the church—all paid for by England.

 

 Galway Cathedral

Cardinal Cushing on left, JFK on right

 

We walked across the street from the cathedral to visit the statue of the lading emerging from the stone--which symbolized equality emerging.  We then went to the marble factory in Connemara.  The marble there is only found in Ireland.  After the tour, we were able to buy some of the jewelry and other items made of the marble.  The last large contract for this company was the cathedral that we visited earlier.  They now only use the marble for small projects and jewelry.  After this tour, we went across the street to visit their welcome center.  In this center were some pieces of blue willow—but not for sale!!  The bus then took us to Galway were we had lunch.  We ate at the Kingshead Restaurant for lunch and then did some more shopping. 

Emerging Equality

Connemara Marble factory tour

Lunch at Kingshead

Bob, Nancy, Rose, Diane, Phil

 

 

Things we learned today--Good Morning or God Bless is Dia Guit (God Bless).  The car windshields are called windscreens.  Cars are 1/3 higher in Ireland that in the US because of Irish taxes.  Realtors are called Auctioneers in Ireland.  Instead of going to Google, you go out to "paddy".

We joined the rest of the people at 2:30 in Eyre’s square and did a walking tour with Denis through the city.  The city is a medley of narrow lanes, wood and stone shop fronts, and bustling restaurants and pubs.  Originally presided over by the local O'Flahertys, Galway was taken over by Anglo-Normans and became a thriving center of trade and commerce by the 14th century.  European galleons were a regular sight in the city, which was even home to the Spanish Armada during its western voyages.  Galway declined after being damaged in battle with the forces of Oliver Cromwell in the mid-17th century but regained its prosperity and vitality in modern times.  Today Galway remains a merchant town, but it is also a burgeoning center for technology and a lively bohemian mecca.  We returned to the hotel around 4:00 tired, but ready to embark later for the city for dinner.

Steve enjoying watching the river

 

While the others ate around the hotel, a group of people left for the optional Irish ceili, a celebration of the harvest that included a hearty meal followed by song, stories, and dance. Mike Coughlin was picked to join the dancers and they watched the sun go down on Galway Bay.  This was a three course dinner.

Eleanor in front of restaurant awaiting the entertainment

 

Mike kicking up his heels