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“The "King of Ulster" got really drunk and fell off the stage, it was funny as hell. He was hitting the wine pretty hard!” |
Our flight arrived in Shannon airport about 10:00 a.m. We collected our luggage and found the CIE tour desk. We were told to wait until our driver came and more people from the tour arrived. We waited for about 20 minutes.
We met our driver/guide named Tony O'Callaghan. He was a very nice guy. He loaded our luggage onto the bus and we drove 15 min until we got to Bunratty. The group was staying in the Bunratty Castle Hotel right across the street from the actual castle.
We checked in and were able to get right into our rooms. We dropped off our luggage and went out. We decided to go look in the Blarney Woolen Mills and the Bunratty Folk Park.
I saw some High Crosses in a cemetary behind our hotel so we went to look around and take some pictures of the old crosses. We went into the Blarney Woolen Mills store and it was so hot in there! There really was alot of things to buy in that store. We ended up getting some postcards and bookmarks.
After shopping we went back to the hotel to go to sleep and shower. After awhile we went downstairs to Kathleen's Irish Pub which was in our hotel. The pub was decorated in a medieval theme with thrones and knight statues. It was very cute.
The entire tour group was meeting in the pub for a welcome drink. Tony our guide welcomed everyone and talked about what our trip was going to be like.
We then went to Knappogue Castle for a medieval banquet and show. The drive from Bunratty to the castle took about 15 minutes. The castle was very nice, it had alot of old furniture and banners on the walls.
We were welcomed with drinks of Mead while two women played the harp and fiddle for us. There was a big fire place which was burning peat which smelled wonderful. The fireplace was nice because it was cold in the castle.
People from each tour group were picked to be the "Kings and Queens" of the four provinces of Ireland. Those people had to do some acting in the show and got to sit at a special table.
Our meal was brought out in courses. First was Fresh Salmon or Melon Compote, The 2nd course was a delicious Tomato Soup, the third course was Chicken or Fish in a White Wine Sauce with Potatoes and Carrots and Turnips. The fourth course was a peach cobbler or a cheese cake type dessert. All of the food was fantastic. There was also Mead, and Red and White Wine and Water available on the tables as well as a selection of brown, white and soda bread.
While you were eating a woman played the harp and sang. After everyone was finished eating the actual show started. There were people in period costume singing old Irish ballads and playing the harp and fiddle. There were Irish dancers and a bard who told stories. The "King of Ulster" got really drunk and fell off the stage, it was funny as hell. He was hitting the wine pretty hard! The show was really great. All of the actors and dancers sang and performed so well.
On the way back to the hotel our guide Tony got everyone singing "Molly Malone" and the "Wild Colonial Boy". After we got back we decided to go to Durty Nelly's for the night. It was so crowded in there we had to go in through the back door to get to the bar!
There was an old guy playing the piano and another guy playing the banjo having a session. There was an old lady in the pub who was really drunk. She kept grabbing all the young local guys to dance with them. She was funny as hell. She kept grabbing their asses and insisting that she was only drinking water. We had a few pints before heading back to the hotel for the night.
previous travel blog entry
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