Yes, to pick up on what vaweqs said about the Irish and 9/11. We departed about the time you arrived, and by that time things had settled down from panic in the U.S. The Irish indeed were most compassionate. Getting a postage stamp, for instance, the postal clerk said, "I want you to know how sorry we are." There were many expressions of sympathy and we went to some memorial services. Passing a chapel on our way to Cliffs of Moher we saw that it was packed for such a service on a Friday.
I'll always remember that day in Dublin midway in our tour when we heard about the disaster.
Ozarks Bill

Carrowkeel Passage Tombs...

(http://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/carr...arrowkeel.html)

Check my site for reviews and more about what to visit and where to eat in Ireland.

www.mcdougalladventures.com

If you want more information, post a comment on my site and I will get back to you.

I have so enjoyed reading everyone's post. We will be starting our trip in 19 days, flying into Shannon.

Thanks for getting back to us Catcurtain. We are going to look for Hungry Hill.

Can't remember where we were but I was out early one morning and enjoyed watching a husband and wife working in the local bakery. Husband was doing the baking and wife was selling the goods. Many of the locals hurried in and out buying the fresh loaves. I very much envy cultures that get to enjoy the freshest life has to offer. In a Walmart world we could use more small, family owned bakeries.

Hey Marlie, we are visiting in the SW, flying from Boston on the 12th--maybe we will cross paths. You received a lot of good information here.

STLDon,
We are going to Doolin, Inish Mohr, Connemara, Dingle and the Beara Peninsula. Maybe if our schedules are the same we can meet for dinner someplace.

Robbyn

We may cross paths. We start in Galway/Connemara, then Lisdoonvarna, Dingle and Kenmare

The first time I went to Ireland, I was travelling alone for the first time, a single 20-something female in Europe for the first time. Very exhilirating!

I rented a car and drove north of Dublin to go visit the Hill of Tara. As I am fascinated by all history, but Celtic history in particular, this was a must (as well as Newgrange, later on down the road).

I arrived early, around 9:30am. There was no one around, so I walked up to the hill and earthworks. I could see what looked like the whole of Ireland spread out before me, like a giant bowl of patchwork green farms. It was a cool 60 degrees (it was August), bright and clear.

Warning: here is where I go hippie and mystical!

I could feel the power of the land coursing through me, like I was a conduit for the lightning of the island traveling into the sky. It was incredible!

I went back later with the official tour group, around 11am, and it just wasn't the same.

It is definitely a magical place.

The second trip I took is posted here, with pictures and travelogue... we stayed in Kilkenny and used that as a base of operations.

http://members.fortunecity.com/green...e/ireland.html