The Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet - Day 5

The day started off a little drizzly but cleared up as we drove through a lot of little towns making our way to the Atlantic Coast again. We passed old beautiful cemeteries and churches, and fun iconic pieces of Irish culture.

Brittany and I were in the very front seat behind Pat so we were able to see quite a bit of good scenery.  We were in County Clare on the east coast of the island.  We stopped on the south side of River Shannon before crossing it on the ferry.  It was quite interesting to load the bus onto the ferry.  It was windy and cold but there was the slightest chance to see a school of dolphins that swim in the river so I had to try and catch glimpse of that, I mean come on, Irish dolphins?!  Unfortunatley I didn't see them but I did manage to see few lighthouses instead.

The Tarbert-Killimer ferry on the River Shannon

Once across the river we drove off the ferry and made our way to the absolutely beautiful and majestic Cliffs of Moher - these cliffs soar as high as 650 feet up!  We had to hold onto one another because the wind gusts were probably at least 70 mph, it was crazy!  None the less it didn't stop me from climbing up for the view.  

It was something to see even with the wind spraying from the Atlantic up over the cliffs. I opened my backpack to put my camera away and take the iPad out for some pics and my postcard to Grandma blew into the cliffs so I bought her one there and sent that instead! 

Gram's postcard in the Cliffs of Moher

The pictures of the Cliff's might be a little blurry because I could literally not stay still.  There were exhibits inside the visitors center but by the time I had lunch and got some souvenirs, it was time to board the coach again.

We drove into the town of Bunratty, just a small little town, where we stayed at the Bunratty Castle Hotel. It was a really stunning hotel with an old, super cool looking, cemetery right behind it.
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Cemetery behind Bunratty Castle Hotel

Needless to say I had to go traipse through in search of a Flynn but didn't find one.  I went to the lobby to try to get on wifi because I really hadn't had good connections in anyplace we'd been and quite frankly I was having Words With Friends withdrawal. No, I mean I needed to try and Skype with my husband :)  No luck at this one either so why not join some of the Boston crew for Irish coffees in the bar, which was about the only way I could get Jameson down :). There was a small shopping center in town but I did not need to go there so Morgan and I walked over to Durty Nelly's, the Original Nelly's, where we were looking for her birthday boyfriend. Dirty 30 at Durty Nelly's for Michael seemed pretty appropriate! 

After a pint of Kilkenny I needed to get back to the Hotel to catch the coach because we were going to the Bunratty Castle for a medieval banquet dinner show which was a lot of fun, right in the Great Hall of the castle and it was quite medieval!

Bunratty Castle

The banquet started with a reception where we enjoyed Bunratty Mead-delicious Honey wine-and listened as the Butler told the history of Bunratty and the Lords and Lady's were a'singin.
 

There were a number of performers who were also our waitstaff.  We had bread and wine, delicious spiced parsnip soup without spoons, super salty spare ribs and really good chicken with apple mead sauce and vegetables without silverware. They did give us spoons for the rastin dessert which was a mousse with a biscuit base and really good. 

After dinner most of us headed back to Durty Nelly's.  I was just thankful to get out and get fresh air, I practically stripped down at the banquet because it was so unseasonable warm in February in Ireland.  My sweaters and boots were just too much because I was so seriously warm all the time and I can only take so much off.  I stood at the door of Nelly's trying to ask for a cover charge from everyone but all I really wanted was the air, which I got, but no money. :)  It was just such a fun time though, meeting such great people from all over and different ages. I didn't really know what to expect, just like we didn't know what to expect on our Christmastime Cruise.  Everyone on this trip was American, I was the only one that didn't actually live there.  There were honeymooners (Ray and Leah who were specially picked at the banquet to sit in "high seats" at the long table and have a little participation!), kids with their parents and grandparents, teenagers, 20 somethings, 30 somethings, 40 and so on and then there was Mary - the leader of the Boston group- and at 84 years young is more of a spitfire than most of us.  And of course Pops, gotta love Pops.  Larry, Larry Jr., and Larry III were quite the comical crew.  Pops is in his 80's as well and obviously he's joined by his son and grandson.  Irish boys from Yonkers, they were great.  Pops dancing at Nelly's may have been the highlight of my night but it was also pretty fun when Mary grabbed me for an Irish jig too!  Another night of a few hours of sleep but so what, I was in pubs in Ireland with people that were strangers 5 days prior but now felt like family, I loved this trip and I love Ireland!