After we spent a few days in and around Killarney, and visiting "The Blarney Castle" where I might add I kissed the "blarney stone," which if you have been there, you are aware that it is no small feat. You almost have to stand on your head, and of course need assistance to accomplish this. I had made reservations for us to go horseback riding through the "Gap of Dunloe." It was a beautiful ride, but it took over 4 hrs. which I am sure you can imagine, became rather uncomfortable. It was absolutely lovely, and eventually our saddle sores faded. We then started North West to "Dingle Peninsula," it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and we were very fortunate to see the Peninsula when it was relatively virgin land. In 1970 while Lee was in Viet Nam, a movie called "Ryan's Daughter" was filmed there on the Peninsula. After I saw that movie I promised myself I would one day go to Ireland to see this beautiful landscape. Since we first visited the Peninsula there have been many houses built there, the land was purchased by residents of Germany, France, and U.S. citizens as well, for summer homes, and it has changed the personality of the once wide open spaces, and beautiful, breath taking views. We stopped in Tralee along the way which is a lovely, typical Irish town. While we were there I noticed a flyer which advertised Irish dancing, admission was by donation. It was a lot of fun, and really "show cased" some of their traditions. After the dancing, various residents of the town stepped up after their talents were requested, and sang familiar Irish songs. Our journey continued towards Galway which is a lovely more rugged area, with a rocky coast. This is also the area where the beautiful Connemara Pony originated, we were fortunate to see many of these beautiful animals while driving through the area. As we traveled up the west coast of Ireland and north of Galway, Lee asked me if I really wanted to go to the North of Ireland to visit the young couple we met on the ferry. I was elated, and reaffirmed my interest in visiting our new found friends. We crossed from the south into the north without incident. The British soldiers waved us through just as Clive told us they would. It was rather intimidating however, since the soldiers who were stationed along the border were armed with automatic weapons. We just kept our eyes straight ahead and drove right through. We had a lovely meal with Hazel & Clive, and there was no lack of conversation. Hazel is a math teacher, she is very educated and interested in everything. Clive worked for a company called John Player which sells tobacco products. At that time they both were very heavy smokers.
Hazel told me later that her mother was quite upset with her to bring strangers in to their home, and Americans at that. It did not take long for us to win her over, and we have laughed about it over the years. While we were at Hazel's our girls became friends with some of the neighborhood teenagers. On the day we left Northern Ireland one of the boys gave our oldest daughter the flag of Northern Ireland which is the orange flag. The Orange flag is associated with the Protestants. At that time the conflict between the IRA and the British was still going on, the year was 1979. About a week after we left Northern Ireland the young boy was shot and killed in an incident with the British. Our daughter still has that flag, over thirty years later. We headed south towards Dublin, our vacation drawing to a close. Ireland is a beautiful country. This was the first of many visits to this place, this place of my forefathers. When we first arrived in Ireland I was impressed with how much the people resembled some of my own relatives, it was uncanny. As we boarded the ferry bound from Dublin to England, It was like I had taken a walk back in time, I felt like I belonged, and I knew I'd be back again.
Goodnight Carol
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