Ireland 2025: Day Six

 

Most of yesterday was spent on the road, crossing over to the eastern side of Ireland north of Dublin.

Some of the route included new country for us as we passed through the agriculturally rich midlands.  

Lots of prosperous farms. Lots of cows and, of course, sheep.  Big tractors coming and going and beautiful farm homes, any of which could suit my desires. 

Our GPS women sent us on numerous lanes and definitely off the beaten path. 

Eventually, however, we arrived at Dundalk.  The kids had driven ahead of us, and by the time we arrived, Annie and Debbie had dropped Willie off at the recreation center (very nice, btw). 

Willie met the basketball team and staff, and soon the coach and Willie worked with groups of girls. 

"I'll take the forwards; you take the guards,"  Coach Fu announced.  So, they worked in their respective units for about an hour.  

After dropping our stuff at the beautiful townhouse where we are staying, Bill, Annie, Debbie and I did some grocery shopping and then went to pick up Willie. 

He was still busy with the team, handing out a few Sandpoint basketball long-sleeved T's and creating big smiles on the faces of the appreciative recipients.

We had some time to talk with some parents and players and finally said good bye's.  The coach seemed quite pleased with Willie's interaction with his girls. 

Then, it was dinner time, with emphasis on the "birthday boy."  Second time for us and first for Willie, Debbie and Annie at Windsor Bar and Restaurant in downtown Dundalk. 

Bill and I dined there two years ago not long after President Joe Biden had paid a visit to the establishment in the community of some of his ancestors.  

The entourage left behind some wonderful photos of the experience with the American President. 

Dinner was tasty and artful, especially Bill's dessert. Several staff members came to sing the birthday song to Bill. I doubt that the man who never forgets all the details of virtually every place we have stayed or traveled will forget his 75th birthday party. 

Today our agenda includes a visit to Belfast, which will be the first for Willie and Debbie. 

Once more, as we look outside to the skies and see nothing but blue and generous sunshine, we can predict that it's gonna be a really good day.  

Bill and I have stopped at this abbey in Adair, Ireland, many times.  I like to light candles for friends and family.  It's a nice tradition and a beautiful and holy spot.  

Bill making a mean pose (for Bill anyway) with Willie's new sunglasses and the hat Annie gave him for his birthday.  

Below:  a rather lovely dessert for celebrating 75 years on this earth. 

Our friend Vince on his way to work yesterday at P.F. McCarthy's in Kenmare.  

Vince and his wife Mary used to own the Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast in Kenmare.  

Nowadays, Mary works in real estate while Vince continues his craft as a fine chef.  I can vouch that his desserts are divine. 

Always great to see Vince and Mary. 

Mama was teaching a basic lesson for lambs and humans:  look both ways before crossing the street.

 

Dundalk Ravens and their visiting coach.

 

The national chip of Ireland:  Taytos. 

Nice display of President Joe Biden's visit to Windsor Bar and Restaurant. 

My dinner last night.  

Thanks to help from over-the-counter gut medicine, I've been doing my best to eat tasty dishes on this trip. 

It's been delicious and abundant.

  

Ireland 2025: Bill's Milestone

 

Selfie taken on the Cliffs of Kilkee in West Ireland a few years ago. 

Happy Birthday, Bill Love.  

You've done well in your 75 years.  

Forester, fisherman, friend, kind, generous and thoughtful soul, father, brother, husband, uncle, dog lover and all that good stuff about being a human.

And, here's something to think about.  You always say that your twin sister Margaret has been the boss because she's a tad older than you. 

Well, on this morning, you've caught up and passed her chronologically. 

After all, you are in Ireland where it's April 2, and she's in California where it's still April 1.  

So, it took 75 years, but you are officially older than your sister---for a few hours at least. 

Happy early Birthday, Margaret.  Hope when you turn 75, it's a great day and many more years to come. 

And, for you, Bill, we'll try to make it a nice day of celebration as we travel through the midlands of Ireland on our way to Dundalk. 

It looks like another gorgeous day ahead.  The Irish birthday gods have been good to the two William's in this family. 

And, now for some images of another spectacular day in Ireland.

We drove to Dingle and stopped at one of our favorite walking areas, Inch Strand (Beach).  It was relatively quiet compared to past visits, probably because it was a week day.  

We also stopped at the convenience store near Inch Strand where the owner told Bill a few years ago about the wonderful connection between the Irish and the Choctaw Indians, a continuing relationship which was forged during the Irish famine when the tribe donated $170 to help the starving Irish.  

Bill had never heard the story until that convenience store stop, so yesterday, he was thrilled to tell the owner how the story had impacted him since that first visit. 

Our trip started out with some local intrigue.  A man from west of Kenmare has been missing for a week, and there appear to be suspicious circumstances. So, as we drove through Moll's Gap, we saw a large search party assembling at a farm below the road. 

Later, we encountered a car which had caught on fire in Killarney National Park.  Apparently, no one was hurt, and the owner was obviously distraught. It was a spectacular sight to see the blaze and feel its heat as we drove past. 

We enjoyed a stop at Muckross House and its beautiful grounds. It's a place where Britain's Queen Victoria visited, near Killarney. 

Later, Bill requested that his birthday lunch for today be included along with Willie's birthday lunch at Murphy's in Dingle.  It's one of his favorite spots to enjoy fish and chips. 

So, we enjoyed a festive lunch at the pub where a gentleman walked in with an impressive camera. I finally asked if he was a professional photographer, to which he said his hobby had evolved into a profession after his retirement from Intel.

Daniel O'Neill is not only a photographer but a very sweet man.  He told us that he LOVES horses and once participated in show jumping.  Nowadays, he takes the pictures of the beautiful jumpers and of hurling matches and teams. 

https://www.facebook.com/photographycreatedbydaniel/

Daniel was nice enough to snap a photo or two of our family (seen above).  I look forward to following him and his award-winning photography.  

On the rest of our road trip, we took in spectacular ocean scenes and made a stop or two to capture some photos of baby lambs. 

Twas a great day, and we're looking forward to another today as we celebrate Bill. 

Happy Wednesday. Enjoy the photos.