After a two year delay because of COVID, we finally made it to Ireland. We flew into Dublin and went to Darkey Kelly's pub where we got to see some locals playing Irish trad music and of course enjoyed some Irish beer as well. On day two, we started off at the Kilmainham Gaol (Prison) where we took a guided tour and got a little history lesson as well. After the tour of the prison we stopped by the Guiness brewery where we tasted some samples and got the Guiness stoutie experience where we ordered a beer that they laser etched our picture on the head of the bear. Next stop and one of my favorites... the Jameson Distillery. We did a tasting and then I got to pour my own bottle of Jameson Black Barrel straight from the barrell at a cask strength of 121 proof :-). Day three we started off going to Giant's Causeway to check out some of the most beautiful geological formations I have ever seen! Also while we were touring that day we stopped by "King's Road" where they filmed parts of Game of Thrones. That night we stayed in the Ballymascanlon House Hotel where we got to see the Proleek Portal Tomb that dates back to 3,000 BC. Day four - We began at Newgrange which is Ireland’s most famous prehistoric monument, located in the Boyne Valley, County Meath. Built around 3,200 BC, it is a massive Neolithic passage tomb that is older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.. After that we stopped by Seans Bar, which the locals claim is the oldest Pub in Ireland then on to Galway to stay for the night. Day Five - While traveling from one place to another you never knew when you would pass the remains of another old castle. Next, on to the Cliffs of Moher where we took a ferry over to the the Aran Island of Inisheer where we rode e-bikes around the island then to Cork. Day Six - Originally we weren't even sure we would make it but we ended up going to Blarney Castle which was built in the 15th century by the MacCarthy of Muskerry dynasty. This was my favorite part of the trip. The castle ruins were in much better shape than any of the other castles we saw. There was an amazing spiral staircase that led to the top of the castle where we kissed the Blarney Stone "The Stone of Eloquence" After that we got to meet up with Zack and see where he was studying abroad at the University College Cork and had a lot of fun letting him show us around town! Our last full day on our way back to Dublin, we stopped to see the Rock of Cashel, a massive limestone outcrop topped with a cluster of medieval buildings that served as the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for centuries. That night we stayed at the castle in Clontarf, which was originally built as a fortress in 1172 by Hugh de Lacy to protect Dublin, the castle has a long and storied history. It was once a stronghold for the Knights Templar and later the Knights Hospitaller.
Irish Trad Music
Straight From The Cask
Giants Causeway
Aran Island
Blarney Castle
October 2022 - Slide Show
Derek is getting married! In October, we took a road trip up to Ohio for Derek's wedding. On the way we drove through Kentucky to do our own bourbon tour and some site seeing as well. Once we made it to Kentucky, we started off at the Maker's Mark distillery. I have been an ambassador since 2015 and earned a VIP tour of the facility. The grounds were absolutely beautiful and we were treated to a complimentary cocktail called a Gold Rush. We also got to see where they made the mash and toured the rickhouses too. At the end I got my own personalized bottle of Maker's Mark with my name on the label. After that we stopped by Heaven Hill, Willett and a micro distillery called Glenns Creek. The next day we took another tour at the Castle and Key distillery, then last but not least my personal favorite, Buffalow Trace. The following day Amber took me to see where she went to undergraduate school at Miami of Ohio University then to Skyline to get one of their famous Chilli dogs. Finally we made it to the Wedding. It was western themed and Amber and I played the part well :-). On our way home, we went to do some hiking that included Cumberland Falls in Kentucky. At night you can see a moonbow, a "rainbow" from the moonlight passing through the mist from the waterfall. It was an amazing experience and I'm really glad we got to see it. All in all another great trip planned by Amber because you know, she never disappoints!!
