Achill Island

Achill Island in County Mayo is the largest island in the Country and is accessible from the mainland by bridge. The colourful landscapes of Achill have inspired both writers and artists alike and, despite the buzz of people who flock to this island every year, it can also be a place of retreat for anybody looking for peace and solitude.  It has a population of 2,700 and is 57 square miles.  We were fortunate to be there when all the wild rhododendrons were in full bloom.  Pink blossoms as far as the eye could see, often with bright yellow grouse mixed in! 

 My dear friend Terry flew over from London to spend a few days with us.  It turns out that his family came from Achill Island so we had lots of fun exploring the old cemeteries and finding lots of relatives!

 Sheep are everywhere and I mean everywhere!

 Perfect beaches!  I had to stick my feet in the water and while it was very cold it was so clear and the sand was so soft!  Perfect combination!

 Roads were a bit hairy!  No guardrails and the drop off was quite serious!

Cliffs of Moher

June 2013 found me back in Ireland but this time I focused the trip on the West Coast of Ireland in County Mayo and a bit in Galway.  My goal was not only to show my mother, aunt and cousin the sights but also to try to find more information about my ancestors on my father's side.  Our first stop on our way north from Shannon airport was to the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.

The Cliffs of Moher are Ireland's most visited natural attraction.  They stand 702 feet at their highest point and stretch for 5 miles along the Atlantic coast.  On a clear day, which we had, you can see the Aran Islands and Galway Bay.  O'Brien's Tower is at the highest point and serves as the viewing point.

Arlington National Cemetery

on 30 April 2013 my dad was honored at Arlington National Cemetery with a Full Honors Ceremony.  It was quite extraordinary and we were blessed to have many family, friends and colleagues be with us to honor him.  

Love you Dad

Dublin's pubs

Ireland is so beautiful in the fall, the city is literally dripping with flowers baskets and color.  The weather is mild and quite pleasant!  No visit to Dublin is complete without a visit to the Guinness factory and some of the more historic pubs!  Here we go: