Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!!

We usually make our own St. Patrick's Day cards, but that isn't really an economical thing to do from Ecuador, the postage is $2.00 to the US, and delivery can be several weeks, sometimes months before it gets delivered to the States.  So we are sending some pics of Ireland taken during our trips there.  The quality of some of the pic's aren't great, most are scans I did on our home scanner.  They aren't really in any order, but I wanted to start with this one.  My Mom took it of my Grandmother on our first family trip to Ireland in 1972, it was the first time my Grandmother had seen her brother Brian in many, many years.

Brigid King and Her Brother Brian O'Malley

Me at age 11, my Mom and my Grandmother standing on my Grandmother's land on Clare Ireland, 1971.

My brother Michael helping to bring in the hay on my Father's family farm, 1978

                             
                                 The Free Derry Square, Derry City, Co. Derry Northern Ireland

Dunluce Castle at Sunset, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

                                                          My Mom sitting in front of Dunluce Castle

                                     
                                                Customs House, Dublin, Ireland

A road leading into Connemara, desolute beauty.

County Galway, Ireland

                            Drombeg Stone Circle, County Clare. 

This site has been Carbon dated to 945-830, B.C.  It is similar to Newgrange in the fact that the recumbent stone is placed to align with the rising sun on the Winter Solstice. 

Glendalough, County Wicklow, a mystical place. It dates back to the 12th century.

Flowers growing in the mist in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.

 A view from the Skelligs, County Kerry, Ireland. 

This monastic settlement dates back to the 7th century.

                                            Poulnabrone Dolmen, County Clare.  Also known as Druid's Altars, this

                                            one is believed to have been constructed anytime time between 4200 B.C.

                                            and 2900 B.C.

                                            Monasterboice Round Tower and High Crosses, County Louth, Ireland. 

               The complex dates back to the early 6th century

                                 My sister Kathleen and the caretaker at the top of the Round Tower.
 

                                           
                                             Our view from the Round Tower, once in lifetime chance!

                                    The Children of Lir Sculpture in the Garden of Rememberance,  it depicts the legend of the King of Lir and his children turning into swans. 

 Dublin, Ireland.

                                      

                                            Grace O'Malley's Castle, Clare Island, County Mayo, Ireland.

My Grandmother, Brigid O'Malley- King,and my father's Family, The Murray's all lived on this Island.  The "castle" dates to the 16th century.

The Clare Island Lighthouse, County Mayo, Ireland

                                    

                             Monument to Michael Collins, this is the place on the road where he was ambushed and  murdered.  County Cork, Ireland

                          
                                             Famine Memorial along the River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.
                                                                    Extremely moving.

Close-up of the Famine Memorial In Dublin.  Such Sorrow.

This is a close-up of the gates to a Famine Cemetery on the outskirts of Sligo Town, County Sligo, Ireland. 

  
                                                  Michael hanging on the roadside on Clare Ireland.

         
                                       Trees like this are sometimes called famine trees, because they
                                    grow and flourish in harsh condions. Unknown location, Ireland

                                     
                                                       Glendalough, Co. Wicklow, Ireland

Lady of the Lakes, Killarney, Co, Killarney, Ireland

                                             The Rock of Cashel at dusk, County Cahsel, Ireland

The Rock of Cashel, Co. Cashel, Ireland

Red Boat on Killarney Lake, Co. Killarney, Ireland.

Statue on the O'Connell Street Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.

The Infamous Prison in Dublin Ireland

The interior of the prison where the patriots were housed before being executed in the yard area. 

It was also the setting of the movie in the Name of the Father, Daniel Day-Lewis was the star f the film.

                                           A view from Dunluce Castle, County Antrim, Ireland

Carrying in the Curraugh, Aran Islands, Co. Galway, Ireland

A view of The Giant's Causeway.

 

A Flower Window Box on the island of Inishbofin, County Galway, Ireland.

Newgrange, a passage tomb. 

It pre-dates The Giza Pyramids by 600 years, and Stonehenge by 1000 years.  The interior illuminates on the winter solstice.  Some say it was the inspiration for the scene in the first Indiana Jones movie when he places his staff in the receptacle in the tomb.

I cannot even begin to give you the history of it.  It is by far the most incredible ancient structure we have ever seen.  Google it, you will be amazed.
County Meath, Ireland.

We hope you enjoyed our little tour of Ireland.  Happy St. Patrick's Day.