Mom is happy, before the flight.
Molly is happy, before the flight.
Aer Lingus, they hold their engines together with scones and butter.
The Abberley Court Hotel - large as life - but don't ask any of the townsfolk as none of them know where it is.
The courtyard, beware the gypsies, gangs and pick-pocketers.
The street where our hotel was.
One of the four bars in our hotel.
View from our hotel room window.
The city-centre of Dublin, that big thing in the middle is a big pointy thing with a light at the top and it cost 3.2 million dollars!
Paddy Power - We thought it was some cool Irish bookstore, but it's actually a "bookmaker" - a booky.
St. Patrick's statue on the Hill of Tara - he drove the snakes (Druids) out of Ireland. However, the Catholic Church never canonized him, so he's not a true saint.
We thought these mounds were important, they're not. Some idiot thought that the Ark of the Covenant was buried here because Tara sounds too close to Torrah. So they dug up quite a bit of the hill and it left all these garrish mounds and the farmers are too busy to bulldoze it in.
This is one of the tombs or burial places. This one is on the Hill of Tara.
That tower across the fields is where St. Patrick lit a fire to anger the High King of Ireland. St. Patrick converted the eldest Druid and further infuriated the High King of Ireland. Later on, every person converted.
The Stone of Destiny. The kings of old would run their chariots by the stone, if the stone rang out, they could become king, but if it didn't, then... oh well.
Sheep on the Hill of Tara - seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Yes, we dodged sheep crap on the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.
A structure was here.
Just a tombstone on the Hill of Tara - dated 1798.
A little church on the Hill of Tara, no longer in use.
Boyne Valley
The Magical River Boyne.
Newgrange!!
View from the top of the Newgrange hill - many of these pagan sites were located on the tops of hills. The yellow fields were everywhere, we still don't know what crop it is, though.
The front of Newgrange, inside is a burial/ritual chamber that was built about 8,000 years ago. It was the only thing on this hill that stayed intact. When you go inside, it's a tiny room made out of stone.
A small stone henge outside of Newgrange. There were 37 of these tombs in the Boyne Valley, only a few of them have been excavated.
Designs carved by the Ancients, what they are is anyone's guess. Circle of Life, Passing of the seasons, Sun-Moon relationship, Cool Swirly Designs.
We saw these swirly designs throughout our travels. We even saw them on the Book of Kells later on in our trip.
The "head box" - on the Winter Solstice, at the crack of dawn, the sun shines rays of light into this box and it travels down a path, into the burial chamber where it lights up the entire room. The room is about the size of my kitchen (very small). They have a lottery to see who will be able to view this spectacular sight each December 21.
This three swirly design is reminiscent of the celtic knot, and also possibly the Christians like it for the trinity or the symbology of the three-in-one. What the ancients were really trying to depict, no one knows.
Danielle O'Connoll. Molly's great-grandmother's uncle.
Three generations of seagulls crapping on the head of Daniel O'Connell.
The first pub we ate in. It looks cool, but it was filthy and the food was terrible.
Mom may look drunk, but this is actually her very first beer in Ireland.
First day in the Basketball Arena.
The teacher and her students.
These dresses really stood out among all the others. And there were many, many others.
Marielle.
Jimmy.
Katie.
Mallory.
Molly.
Mallory winning a medal.
Ah, the Luas, our best friend! We had many adventures on the Luas, and of course, getting off at the wrong stops.
The kids first night together in Dublin.
Marielle wins a medal.
Some of the pretty dresses.
Old windmill, near Guiness Factory.
Two heads are better than one.
We're now in Guiness Country.
Alleyway in Guiness land.
Dr. Tadley, the pied piper of Dublin. We followed him everywhere, he seemed to be the only one of us who knew where he was going.
Kevin stayed here about 30 years ago. It looked very seedy.
Christ Church.
O'Neills, the best dinner we had in Ireland. Irish Beef Stew with Guiness and Corned Beef and Cabbage - YUM!
The moms.
The kids on the Haypenny bridge. Don't forget the Irish custom of walking backwards for luck. Thanks, Tommy!
This is the river that divides Dublin.
Mrs. McGlynn, who are your friends there?
Street painting.
Trinity College!!
Trinity College courtyard.
The Book of Kells!!
Street performer playing the bohdrahn beside the statue of Molly Malone.
Malahide Castle!!
Behind Malahide castle.
Ruined church next to Malahide.
Row houses of Dublin.
Another pub! There's one on every corner, and I mean every corner!
Who knew the Great Gatsby was a barber? Molly was reading this book every chance she got.
Irish Dancer memorial.
The park near the Basketball Arena.
The site of a castle. Isn't it beautiful?
Toms and Jerry.
The last day - that's the American Spirit, girls and boy.
St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Christ Church on a different day. This church was unbelievable.
A ruin of an old church outside of Christ Church.
That channel running on the side of the church is an elaborate gutter system.
Trying to "hang."
A street performer playing a diggerydoo.
Another church!!
The mansion.
St. Stephen's Green entrance.
The whole gang, the last day.
Molly trying to absorb some culture.
