Newgrange
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Blarney CastleBlarney Castle was a major stop on our Essence of Ireland Tour with David McGuffin's Exploring Europe. We explored the Blarney Castle, trekked up the treacherous stair case to the Blarney stone and kissed the Blarney stone. WOW! Terrifying, but worth it. We also explored the caves and gardens on the castle grounds.
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Cliff's of MoherI haven't seen anything like the Cliff's of Moher. It is mother nature at her finest. It's important to heed the advice of the safety signs and stay on the paths provided by the Cliff's of Moher Visitor Centre. However, if you're adventurer at heart you can stray away and risk it all for some amazing photos. This is certainly a year of adventure moment.
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Kylemore Abbey was an interesting place to visit. I didn't think I would like it as much as did. It was quiet and magnificently beautiful. You should take advantage of the free "mini" tours provided by the Abbey. It provides a great deal of information that gives you more appreciation of the beauty. I also recommend purchasing the chocolate sheep from the gift shop. It is delicious!
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Carrick-a-rede Rope BridgeCarrick-a-rede Rope Bridge was certainly a last minute decision for me. I just kept my eyes forward and crossed the bridge at a slow and steady pace. If you speed up, the bridge bounces more. It was scary but qualifies for a year of adventure moment. The scenery was breath taking which is an added bonus.
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Giant's Causeway is another wonderful stop on the Essence of Ireland Tour with David McGuffin's Exploring Europe. We did some strenuous walking on this day. We did take the RED route, which is one of the more strenuous paths. If you are in a bit of a time crunch, you can take a bus right to the Giant's Causeway in less than 5 minutes. The picture to your right is me sitting in the giant's boot but until we got to a map I thought I was in the wishing chair (hahaha fun times).
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Food of Ireland
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The thing I miss the most of Ireland is all of the delicious and fresh food. The Irish Breakfast was my favorite! We sampled the classic fish and chips from a local pub and had various other items from other pubs across Ireland. On a few nights we had a bit fancier meals with our friend and tour guide David McGuffin. It was truly a trip of a life time and perfect for the Year of Adventure 2017.
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