The Emerald Isle // Countryside

After spending time in London and Dublin, we were so excited for the peace and quiet of the Irish countryside. Matt couldn't wait to drive a manual on the opposite side of the road and around the round-a-bouts. It was a little tedious the first half hour, but after we got the hang of the immediate left turns and taking far right turns, it seemed almost normal with the help of our travel GPS whom we named "Emily."

The Emerald Isle lives up to its name. There is such greenery, it's hard to believe it is real. The winding roads lined by hedges. Old ruins at every turn it seemed. Quaint villages. Rock fences. Daffodils in bloom. Sheep grazing in the fields and sometimes on the road. The countryside was absolutely gorgeous. This is a place we would love to return to someday, and if we ever get a chance to go back, we would likely fly into Shannon and spend more time exploring the western coast.

We spent Easter Sunday morning at the Rock of Cashel, the place where St. Patrick is said to have baptized King Aengus in ~450 A.D. According to mythology, the Rock of Cashel was originally in the Devil's Bit about 20 miles north of town, but when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave there, the rock landed in Cashel. Today, the 13th century Gothic cathedral and 12th century Romanesque chapel still stand on the hill. We enjoyed wandering the site, through the cemetery, and along the hillside.

1,000 years. 1,000 tongues. Are not enough to sing Your praise.

St. Patrick's Cross, the replica that now stands outside in the original's place.

St. Patrick's Cross, the original built in the 12th century and moved inside in the 1970s.

From Cashel, we drove the beautiful, winding country roads to the Dingle Peninsula which is part of the Gaeltacht, a region that the government subsidizes for the survival of the Irish language and culture.

At my husband's request on the way, we stopped at McDonalds for lunch (I know, I know a little pathetic!). In the town's center, surrounded by old, colorful buildings were the golden arches. It was quite interesting… But when I discovered they had a Cadbury Caramel McFlurry and curly fries, I didn't mind. That Cadbury McFlurry was SO good. 

We loved the Dingle Peninsula. This whole area was so beautiful and had a coastal, country feel to it. The beaches. Sheep grazing in the fields and walking down the road. Dingle town, a small, colorful town of 1,500 residents with a resident harbor dolphin named Fungi (seriously, I'm not even making that up!) The boats in the harbor. Slea Head Drive. Dunberg Promitory Fort. The beehive structures. Dun Choin Pier. Churches. Fish and chips. Staying in a bed and breakfast overlooking the harbor. It was what I had imagined Ireland to be like — relaxing and gorgeous with plenty of sheep friends.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd,

I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for His name's sake.

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering natures of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambitions when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea." // C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory

Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee.

But He knows where I am going, and when He tests me I will come out as pure gold. Job 23:10

From Dingle, we drove over Connor Pass, along the Wild Atlantic Way, caught the ferry in Tralee and drove the rest of the way to the Cliffs of Moher. It was a couple hours drive, but we didn't mind. It was so scenic every which way we looked. 

There are no words to describe the Cliffs of Moher. On our last day with my sister, we hiked the entire length of the main cliffs — both ways from the visitor center — and got sunburned, not exactly what we expected from a place that is usually pictured as rainy and misty. It was absolutely incredible. At one point, I even mentioned that this coastline gives the Na Pali coast on Kaua'i a good run for its money. Obviously both are completely different landscapes, but amazing all the same. At the end of the day, we had full hearts, a little extra color to our cheeks, and these images and memories imprinted in our minds. 

Cheers Ireland! We had a grand time and look forward to returning someday.