May 8, 2013   Day Two...Part Two

This afternoon our event planner, Jerry, is taking us to Clonakilty. 


Touring about this day in Clonakilty, awarded the "Tidiest Town Award" in Cork. All the shops and pub fronts are very picture friendly indeed. It is wonderful how the citizens are so proud of their community and have taken great strides to maintain their towns. You won't see any shopping centers or shopping malls here. You want to purchase meat, well go to the town Butcher. Here's one in Clonakilty...Edward Twomey, Butcher

O'Donovan's Bar where I experienced the best "Irish Coffee" ever. The barkeep actually whipped the cream by hand, in a festive manner, one I certainly could not repeat without whip cream all over the place.  He topped this warm and tasty treat with a whipped cream shamrock. 

The year 2013 Clonakilty celebrated the 400th anniversary of the town charter.  Jerry and Olga were there for the celebration.  A commemoration ceremony took place in O'Donovan's Hotel/Bar.

 


Next stop down the street, Mr. Simms Olde Sweet Shoppe. 

 

 

 

Of course we went in here.  Every Grandma has to come in here so she can tell her Grandchildren about this "candy wonderland" and surely every Granddad has to come in here to purchase himself chocolate and some licorice for Joanie.   You see folks...every day around 3:00 p.m., Wayne has two pieces of Hershey's Milk Chocolate Nuggets.  Well with no Hersheys nuggets here, Cadbury will be the chocolate of choice.  I also purchased some Shamrock lollipops for St. Patty's Day 2014.  The expiration date said 2015 so we'll keep our fingers crossed for freshness.  The grandkids will love them!

 

 

Another reason for our Clonakilty trip today is to purchase a phone.  Wayne thought it best to leave our cell phones home and purchase a phone. Entering the Vodaphone Store, I leave Wayne to make his purchase for I'm helping Jerry enter some numbers on his cell.  No we're not robbing the place...we're just sporting our "Irish Rain Attire."



 

Leaving the phone store, I look up at the sky...it's stopped raining, and while looking up I see a magnificent church steeple across the street.  That's our next stop.

 "Eaglais Chaitliceach" Roman Catholic Church built in 1880.

During the reign of Henry VIII, the Catholic Church, became secondary to the Church of Ireland (Episcopal faith).  This remained the case until the division of Ireland.  When the majority of Ireland became a free republic, the Catholic Church once again, became the heart of the Irish people, and folks could attend "freely" without hiding.  Few Protestant churches function in the Free Republic. (The Protestant Church in Clonakilty now houses the Post Office.)
Today the Church of Ireland services 40 percent of Irish citizens in the Republic and 60 percent of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland.



A beautiful stained-glassed window adorns the high wall, situated over top of the choir loft.

Walking down the street we come across a statute of Michael Collins.  If you've ever seen the movie  Michael Collins, starring Liam Neeson, well in Woodfield, Clonakilty, is where his story began. A true hero of the Irish Republic, Clonakilty is proud to place his statute here and refers to him as the Republic's Founding Father.

Statue of Michael Collins

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  Olga and Wayne at the Clonakilty 400th Celebration Statute






It's beginning to rain, but before leaving this charming town I've got to check out the General Store.  I promised our dairy friend back home, Patty, to check out the dairy products and prices.  



  Milk and butter, cream, sour cream and yogurts...

 

Cheese...my favorite....So many to choose from!

 

Olga waves to us from across the street as we leave the store...time to make our way back to O'Donovan's Bar.  You see...just as Wayne has a 3:00 internal clock call for chocolate, Jerry's is for Guinness.  Enjoying our stop at the bar, we warm up by the fireplace inside the bar. 

 

Next stop...Timoleague and the Friary.

 

 



We stop at Timoleague on the way home. St. Molaga was said to have brought beekeeping/honey to Ireland. Touring the old Abbey, founded in 1240. Blows my mind that we are seeing sites from the years of 1300 and older.

 

The sign below warns against grave digging.  Honestly...last thing on our mind was digging up a grave from the 1300's.

 Friars remained in the Abbey until the year 1629.

 

English soldier smashed all the stained glass windows in 1612

 

 



A swan graces the waters on one side of the Abbey.

May 8, 2013      Exploring our Clonakilty Beach, Clonakilty, Timoleague Abbey and Courtmacsherry

Part One

 

 

Surprisingly, I wake up by 8:00 a.m. and I'm in awe of the breathtaking site I see from my bedroom window.  Just who gets to wake up and see this every day??  Today and for the next several days, I'm happy to say "that would be me!" 

Off to my right, I can see our dairy neighbor's Fresian herd, also known as Holstein cattle, on top of the hills.  I'm guessing the herd has already been milked and turned back out to pasture to graze.  Notice how the fields are divided.  Each field is sectioned off with a row of stone walls.  From the airplane looking down on the fields, they looked like a "patchwork quilt."

 

Houses are tucked in amongst the green, hilly scenery.  What a view!!

I smell coffee, following the smell leads me downstairs where I find Wayne.  He has finished breakfast of scrambled eggs, toast and coffee.  Yep...not even in Ireland does the man change his breakfast choice.  As I enjoy my coffee, this is my view from the kitchen window. 

Wayne is ready to explore, so off we go.  Our first steps lead us to pass our other neighbors, "The Germans."  They were away on sabbatical so we didn't get to meet them.  Anyways...their home is very neat and tidy, very quaint, and we continue down the path towards the beach.
 

 

 A wire cage encloses rock which is the

retaining wall to shore the earth.  This job looks hand done...lots of work there.  Looking up the hill from our beach view...another view of
"Do No More."

While we are exploring the beach, Jerry is up at "Do No More" taking pics of us.  Sure is a chilly morning this 8th day of May, but the sun is shining.  It is interesting how the outgoing surf, leaves little pools of water with all kinds of unique little sea creatures.    Lots of moss and seaweed cover the rocks.

 

 

Wayne and I attempt

to pry one of the white shells from the

rocks.  I'm thinking they are Irish Clams/Muscles, and they are stuck like glue.

 

Spoke too soon about the sun, it is beginning to rain. One last photo of Wayne,  before heading back up to the house.

 

May 6, 2013, depart Dulles Airport Flight UA126 10:00 p.m.
May 7, 2013, arrive Dublin, Ireland Airport at 10:25 a.m.

Dublin Airport

The flight over was a bit long, but really I was so excited and filled with such anticipation, that, forgive the pun...time flew.  The seats are a little snug, especially when the person in front of you decides to lay their seat back, but hey…we’re on our way to Ireland…it’s all good!  Dinner was served at 10:30 or so,  and breakfast at 7:30 a.m.  I honestly can't remember what we ate, so it must have been edible.  The third person on our row was a young college gal who was travelling with her brother and his friend.  They intend to backpack through Ireland, staying at “Hostels” and what was interesting was they have no reservations anywhere.  They’ll just wing it….she is really delightful and Wayne and I enjoyed our short time spent with her. 

Landing is very smooth and I was surprised how easily we were able to exit the plane. A quick glance around and we make our way through the airport to collect our luggage and then try to figure out where to catch the bus to Cork.  The plan is to meet Jerry and Olga who will be parked at the Quay Car Park across from Bus Eireann Station.   Bus Eireann is the bus we intended to take, but getting a little turned around at the airport, we purchase bus tickets for Air Coach.  This bus will take us in the same general area,  over the river and just about a block away. 
 Wayne finds a phone to contact Jerry of our bus change and...

Speaking of change, we haven't changed our US dollars to Euros yet, so I keep watch over the baggage while Wayne dashes over to the Airport Exchange.  Need some Euros for the bus and the phone. The exchange rate is 1.30 Euro for 1.00 US dollars. He's back fairly quick and good thing because the bus is departing at 10:45 a.m.  Got to hustle now and we make it down the ramp, catch the bus and at 10:49 a.m., we depart the bus station enroute to Cork.  Our bus ticket for the two adult tickets, on the Dublin Airport to Cork Express is 36 Euros.

Shew we...after a long flight didn't think I'd want to sit for a bit, but I'm glad to settle in for a ride…a three hour ride, that's ok though, the seats are quite comfy and we have considerably more leg room than on the plane.  Dublin appears to be a major city, we'll check it out before returning to the US.  Entering the highway, I'd guess it's as big as our interstates.  Once out of the city,  the view of the countryside is beautiful...a hilly little island we have come to.

Air Coach Bus
 

The highway sign says "Cork" so we're here and yep...I see him...out the window I spy Jerry, standing in the rain.  Because of course, we’re in Ireland, and it’s always raining.  

 Next we are greeted by Olga, who welcomes us to Ireland, handing me a bouquet of flowers.  She’s so thoughtful!!  We begin our block and a half walk to the car park, stow our baggage in their car, a cute lil’ buggy they picked up in France.  Off we head to find the Old Oak Pub and…no such luck.

Hey…that’s ok, we duck into the “Guiness Pub” and enjoy a toast of friendship,  as the four of us  begin our awesome adventure in Ireland. 

 As we walk out of the Guiness Pub, Jerry sees the Old Oak Pub, so we take the time to dash in for another “brew” before heading back to the car park.  

 

What a beautiful, rainy drive from Cork to Clonakilty.

Making our way through the small villages, we arrive out in the country, pass a dairy farm (our neighbors) and here we are...our Irish home called "Do No More."  The most beautiful site, a lovely home perched on a cliff overlooking the Celtic Sea, Clonakilty Bay. 

"Do No More" is the name
 on the plaque