Kilfenora, Ireland - Smithstown Castle

One thing is checked off the bucket list.  Actually, a few things.  I wanted to stay in a castle in Ireland.  I wanted go to Dublin.  I wanted to see where my family name came from in Wales.  I wanted to see Manchester United play in a Premiership League match.  I wanted to tour Old Trafford.  All done.  It was a lot of what I expected and some things were a surprise.  As I sit here typing in a pub near the airport having what will most likely not be my last Guinness of the evening, I am very grateful for the experiences I have had and the ability to experience them with my family.  Although everybody is ready to go home (and spring Sparky from the kennel), we aren't tired of each other's company.  For that, I feel incredibly blessed.

We spent our last day at the castle touring our touring our small town of Kilfenora.  Kilfenora is the home of the Burren Centre and like most small towns on the west coast of Ireland, home of relics.  The Celtic Crosses in the pictures date back to the 1200s.

Kaitlyn's Gangsta Look

Brotherly love

Practice on an Irish Pitch

With a tournament coming up next weekend, Jake and I had to get some practice in on a wet pitch in Kilfenora, Ireland.  Jake had to knock a little rust off his shot as we practiced in drizzle.  The countryside is amazing and the pitch is beautiful even it was raining.  Enjoy.

Really good form.  I wish I could get him to have the same form with his left.

Trying a cut move.

Again, good form.  Head down.  He didn't lock his ankle, but there is no teaching the power he has for a guy his size.

A nice cider for relaxation after practice.

The coach has his own relaxing drink.

Lahinch, Ireland - Surf Town

Lahinch is supposed to be the biggest surf town in Ireland.  I had to check this out.  While I am glad to see surfing is catching on, I am shocked at what the Irish call surf.  I guess you can surf it.   I guess you can surf Mission Bay in San Diego if there is enough boat traffic as well.  The town was a very nice beach town and the beach was pretty nice (when it wasn't raining).  The guy at the local surf shop told me the waves get huge in the winter, but the summer it is pretty much a pond. 

Galway, Ireland

We drove through the Burren to Galway yesterday.  So far, it has been the biggest town we have seen on the west coast of Ireland.  It has a great downtown area full of shops and music.  There was not as much history as I would have liked, but still saw some interesting sites.  For the most part, the weather held up with only a brief shower in the middle of the day.  Enjoy the pictures:

Pretty much the mantra of the Irish

The old City Wall of Galway.  They built a mall around it.

Spanish Arch

River that pours into Galway Bay

Galway shopping district

Don't know where he got the sand.

Valley with the Burren on both sides

Back at Smithstown Castle

Day 2 at the Castle

Here are some miscellaneous pictures from Day 2 at the Smithstown Castle.  I forgot that I raised such suburbanite children that they are fascinated by cows and sheep.

Kaitlyn does not want to leave her Princess bed.

Jake filming a cow. 

Cliff of Moher

Cliffs of Moher have been featured in several movies.  The one of note lately is "Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince".  Kaitlyn could tell you just what it was.  Then again, when we were at the London Train Station, she wanted to visit platform 9 3/4 so she could try to run through the column to catch the train to Hogwarts.  Cliffs of Moher was always a spot we wanted to hit when we planned this trip.  Hope you enjoy the pictures:

First Day at the Castle

We finally got to the Smithstown Castle about 8:30 PM last night.  We traveled from Manchester to Kilfenora, Ireland over 11 hours.  That included, two rental cars, a cab ride and a very bump ferry across the Irish Sea.  The castle is spectacular.  Unfortunately we can't get on the roof, but you still have some good views from the pictures.  Enjoy:

Smithstown Castle at sunset

Jake in his Manchester United robe standing by a gargoyle.

Kaitlyn in a window above the kitchen

Perfect knight suit for Jake

Dining Room

Family room

Spiral staircase.  How you get throughout the castle's many levels