Exploring Ireland

I have just spent 9 days exploring the Republic of Ireland and visiting my family who live there.

We took the ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare. It was my first time on a really big ferry, I thought that it would hold 3 lorries but it was more like 100.

From Rosslare, we spent the first weekend visiting my cousins, once removed who live near Gorey in Wexford.

After Wexford we drove to New Ross, then spent the night in Dungarvan which is a very colourful village on the seaside. Whilst we were sitting on the slipway watching some crabs and a jellyfish a man came and launched his boat. It was funny to watch as he took his shoes off to enter the water and then the man driving the car didn’t realise and drove over them.

From Dungarvan we visited Kinsale, which was also incredibly colourful. I had lots of fun playing in the playground and fountain and made friends with an Irish girl.

Next we visited Cobh (pronounced Cove) and explored the city of Cork visiting Fitzgerald’s Park and crossing Daly’s Bridge (The Shakey Bridge).

From Cork we drove straight up the country through the counties of Tipperary, Laois and Kildare all the way to County Meath where more of my family live.

On the way we stopped for dinner in Cahir, Tipperary and visited the castle (separate post).

During our second weekend there was a big family reunion party. My grandad was born in Mullingar and he took us to see the old farmhouse where he was born. It’s very derelict now and doesn’t even have a roof. He told us some stories about what life was like when he was young. He is 88 years old so times have changed a lot, he didn’t even have his own phone and had 7 brothers and sisters.

We also visited my grandad’s brother, my great uncle Mickey who is 100 years old. I also met the youngest of my relations, Rosie, she is just 1 and is my 2nd cousins once removed.