A Whirlwind Tour of Ireland

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A Whirlwind Tour of Ireland

• Beth Larssen
• LIBR 500 Foundations of Information Technology
• September 2004
• elizabeth.larssen_at_gmail.com

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In the beginning

• In May of 2003, I realized a lifelong dream of
  traveling to Ireland, land of my ancestors.
• I flew from Vancouver to London, where the
  adventure began.

There I am!
3
The Arrival - London

• When I got to London, I had one day for a quick
  tour. Because I had been to London several times
  before, I decided to visit the one tourist
  attraction I had not seen yet
• The London Eye

Beth on the London Eye
London Eye
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Meet The Australians
Travel Companions

• Once I met up with my group, I learned that the
  vast majority of my travel companions were from
  Australia.
• Together, we drove through scenic Wales until we
  reached the ferry terminal.

By Country of Origin
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The Ferry Pembroke to Rosslare

• Things To Do on an Irish Ferry
• Shop for souvenirs
• Drink at the pub
• Eat at one of many restaurants
• Play arcade games
• Watch television
• Sleep
• (Thanks to the anti-seasickness pills!)

Irish Ferries
From Rosslare, we drove to Waterford, County
Waterford
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Waterford, County Waterford

• We toured the famous Waterford Crystal Factory
  and spent a lot of money.
• We stayed at a traditional Bed Breakfast, where
  I had the most restful sleep of the journey.

Beth with the owner of the BB
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County Cork and County Kerry

• We visited the fabled Blarney Castle to kiss the
  Blarney Stone.
• Blarney Castle
• We drove on the spectacular Ring of Kerry.
• Ring of Kerry

The view from Blarney Castle
The Ring of Kerry
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Unfortunately, I only saw a small portion of the
Ring of Kerry.
Why?
The bus was too large for the narrow roads!
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County Clare

• After leaving County Kerry for County Clare, we
  visited my favourite place on the entire tour

The Cliffs of Moher
Braving the high winds at the Cliffs of Moher
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The Burren, County Clare
Photo courtesy of Bill Schubert
The Burren

• Its desolate, landscape is made up of split
  limestone, giving it a lunar appearance.
• Although superficially barren, many types of
  wildflowers grow there.
• It is the site of important archaeological and
  ecclesiastical ruins.

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Galway, County Galway

• Galway is now a university town, but is also
  known for

• The Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas
• The Claddagh Ring
• The Aran Sweater
• The Galway Hookers
• (Theyre boats!)

Leaving Galway, we made our way to the capital
city, Dublin
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Dublin, County Dublin
Live View of Dublin

• Its original name is Dubh Linn which means Black
  Pool.
• Numerous bridges cross the River Liffey, many of
  them pedestrian only.
• The exterior of the General Post Office still has
  the bullet holes left from the Easter Uprising of
  1916.
• There are many statues of political figures and
  writers scattered throughout the city.

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Dublin Sightseeing

• While in Dublin, I saw

• Trinity College
• St. Stephens Green
• The Writers Museum
• Many statues of Joyce
• Guinness Brewery
• Jameson Distillery
• More pubs than I can name
• (Hmm .. A theme?)

Guide to Dublin's Pubs
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The Last Night in Dublin

• We went to Johnnie Foxs, located in the Wicklow
  Mountains.
• It is famous for being the highest pub in
  Ireland, which makes it a popular tourist haunt.
• (Apparently Bill Clinton paid them a visit
  when he came to Ireland!)
• After dinner, entertainment included lively
  traditional music and Irish dancers.

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Things I Learned From My Trip

• Ireland is as beautiful as I imagined it.
• Guinness does taste better in Ireland.
• In the distant future, I want to retire to County
  Clare.
• Australians certainly can drink!

Beth with the Australians
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The End