We’ve been waiting for a good opportunity to go to Ireland for a few years – a “good opportunity” translating not only as when time permits, but more importantly as “it’s not likely to rain all the time.” And we struck lucky – nine dry days, just one with some morning drizzle. We missed out on what may prove to be the best weather days of the year in London, but never mind – the scenery and the people more than compensated.

When I clean up my diary I’ll post some thoughts here, but meantime, please enjoy my holiday snaps!

Temple Bar pub, Dublin
Trinity College Dublin
The historic library at Trinity College Dublin
St Stephens Cathedral Dublin
Former parliament (now a bank) Dublin
Dublin Castle
Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin
Bru na Boinne - ancient burial mound
Belfast City Hall
Belfast waterfront
The leaning tower of Belfast
Belfast Royal Mail building
Wall painting on the Unionist/Protestant side, Belfast
Belfast mural on the Republican side
Living in the shadow of the "peace wall" (and distrusting it so much as to install a cage over the back gardens)
Gates dividing two communities in Belfast, closed nightly at 7
Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, Northern Ireland
Derry city walls
Aughanure Castle
Westport
Kylemore Abbey
Discussing literature with the Wildes in Galway city
River
Ring of Kerry view
Torc waterfall, Killarney
Cliffs of Kerry
Ladies' View, Ring of Kerry
Sligo waterfront
Sligo Abbey
Baines Island viewpoint, Kerry
The English Market, Cork
Cork city memorial
Cork waterfront