Harn on Irish tour with Dovechauffeurdrive and Dave Hogan

Mike and Liz Harn arrived  at Shannon airport on Wednesday morning to begin their tour of the West and South west of Ireland with me. They were worn out after a series of flights which included a nine hour stop-over in Atlanta. We made our way directly to the lovely town of Kinvara, a harbour town situated on the shores of Galway Bay, and a really lovely place for a restful first day in Ireland. They loved it from the word go, and were delighted at the prospect of having two nights here.

Mike and Liz, pictured on arrival in Kinvara yesterday, with the ancient Dun Guaire Castle in the background

 Today was our day touring the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.

 The Poulnabrone Dolmen, a prehistoric tomb, is well worth a visit,and is located in the Burren of county Clare.If you are visiting the Cliffs of Moher you can include a visit here, as it is not far from the cliffs. Here we have Mike and Liz, happy together, after a great night's rest last night.

 This region in the Burren was once upon a time the ocean floor, and later completely covered by ice during the ice-age. The boulder in the background, is just one of the many huge boulders carried along, embedded in the ice, as it moved over the land. When the ice finally melted, they were left just standing where the ice had transported them to.

 The town of Lisdoonvarna is famous for its matchmakers, and here they celebrate the annual matchmaking festival every September. If you want a wife or a husband, now is the time to present yourselves to the matchmakers in Lisdoonvarna, and let them find that man or woman of your dreams for you.

 Willie Daly is probably the most famous of the matchmakers, and he can be found in the center of the town, where he sets up office during the festival. Do not worry, he is very easy to find. But get there quick, the best may be gone, if you leave it too long.

 Here we are, at the wonderful cliffs, and in glorious sunshine. Don't they look well?

 Another lovely picture of my pals, gazing across Galway Bay at the Aran Islands, and the coast of Connemara, on the far side of the bay.

 A Norman tower, overlooking the town of Doolin down below, and the Aran Islands on the horizon.

 This carving at the Cliffs, has caught Liz's eye and we just had to get a picture of her, enjoying the moment.

This was a most enjoyable day, and rounded off with a great Irish stew in Gus O'Connor's bar in Doolin. Unmissable is the best description for that stew. Tomorrow we are off to Killarney, and a whole lot more fun and excitement. 
You are welcome to follow along. 
Mike and Liz send their regards to family and friends back home. 
 
 

Another successful tour comes to an end.

On Monday morning we left Killarney for Shannon airport where my latest party were to catch their plane for their trip to London for the second part of their vacation. This had been a really nice tour and i was sad to see them go, but i know that they had a great time and were most complimentary about my service. It it always nice to know that you have made new friends, and i know that i have with, Gary, Joan, Les, and Cher.

My happy gang. They kept me happy also. Thank you all for a lovely time.

Schumacher at Ladies View in Killarney with Dovechauffeurdrive

Today, being my pals final day in Killarney, we stayed local, taking in Torc Waterfall, Ladies View and Muckross House. The weather was really nice, overcast, but warm and dry.

Torc Waterfall is one of the many lovely sites in the National Forest Park in Killarney, and here we are with the waterfall in the background.

Gary wanted a special one for himself as he wants to frame it, and give it to Joan as a special birthday present. What a nice idea.

 Les and Cher, still together as they begin their 29th year of married life together today.

A really nice picture of this happy couple at Ladies View, with the lakes of Killarney in the valley below.

The full team together at Ladies View.

 Gary was very annoyed when we arrived at Ladies View when i told him that is was actually a beautiful scenic place and not a place full where you viewed gorgeous women.

Finally we arrived at Muckross House, where they took  time to view the Muckross stately home and the wonderful gardens.

 This was a more relaxed kind of day, as this was to be their final day in Ireland before departing from Shannon airport tomorrow morning, as they travel on to London. I wonder will they miss me?

I will certainly miss them. Thank you guys and gals, you were wonderful. And thank you Mike and Julie O'Malley for sending them to me. I miss you guys also.

Schumacher in Dingle Aug 2017

 Today, Saturday, we were on our way to the Dingle peninsula. The day was lovely, mild, but warm and dry. Our first stop was at this lovely beach at Inch. The mountains in the background, partially hidden by the mist, are on the Iveragh peninsula, best known as the Ring of Kerry.

 A better view of the long beach at Inch.

 It was a special day for Les and Cher today, their 28th wedding anniversary, and what a lovely present Les bought for his lovely wife. He told me that he had obtained special permission from Aer Lingus to bring this lamb back home on their return flight, so he feels that all will be well. The lamb does seem to be very happy with Cher anyway.

This led to Joan wanting a lamb also, but Gary reminded her that it was not her anniversary. She will just have to get him back here again. I am not sure that it would be a good idea as Gary likes his food too much.

Now Les is getting to know Cher's lamb.

Dingle is famous for its Beehive huts, ancient stone dwellings, inhabited by the inhabitants of these areas many centuries ago.

 This is the home of the late Maire Houlihan, who lived here all her life with her family, until she died here a couple of years ago. The original house here was just a small cottage, later extended into this large family home. This house, and the Beehive hut site, and the place where you can get to hold a lamb, is very close to Slea Head, at the tip of the peninsula. In the picture above you can see Joan, to the left, then Gary, with Cher beside him, and Les, making their way back to the car.

 The scenery around Slea Head is spectacular and today it was at its very best.

 Another lovely view as we made our way back around to Dingle. The ladies had a really special time in Dingle, as we spent time in Brian DeStaic's jewellery factory, and they acquired some really beautiful pieces for themselves, and some presents to bring home also. I know that they cannot wait to show off their beautiful Claddagh rings, and shamrock earrings etc.

 Well we had to round off this special day with a nice meal, and we went to the Porterhouse in the heart of Killarney, where we all had beautiful rib eye steaks, Cher had medallions of fillet. As i am trying to control my weight, i just settled for a small Knickerbocker Glory to finish off, Joan was tempted to follow my advice and joined me for the same.None of my pals had ever heard of a Knickerbocker Glory before, but then they are a long behind us yet in the USA in  converting to healthy foods.

Outside the Porterhouse pub after finishing our meal. The guys look like they are putting on a little weight, but it might have a little to do with the vast amounts of beer they seem to be able to knock back. They seem to love everything Irish at this stage, and i suppose that our Irish beer and Guinness seem to help you to love everybody. I wonder is that why we are such friendly people? I am beginning to wonder if this group are going to go back home at all. If they do stay, i think that they will have no problem, as they will fit in very well here, they are fun,drink plenty, and we do love fun people.

The Gap of Dunloe on chauffeurdriven tour

Today my friends were bound for the wonderful Gap of Dunloe.

The ancient road through the mountains in Kerry was carved out by a giant glacier during the ice-age. This picture shows the horse drawn jaunting car making its way towards the Gap at the top.

The road is a very narrow winding one, and not at all suitable for cars, other than those of the local farmers living in the area. There are some ill advised tourists who still try to drive through, but they are not only a hazard to themselves, but also to the people using the jaunting cars.

The second part of the journey where the you can travel in open boats down through the lakes of Killarney, and back to Killarney, is spectacular, and heaven for anybody fond of their photos.

The boat approaching the historic Ross castle at the end of this magical journey.

Back on dry land once again, from the left, Cher, Les, Joan, and Gary.
This once again was a really great day one that was and enjoyed by all.

Later today Cher, Joan and Gary attended the wonderful Celtic Steps show in Killarney, a show featuring the best of traditional Irish dancing and music.The perfect end to another great day.

Killarney on the Wild Atlantic Way tour.

The day was mild, and dry, as we left Kinvara this morning, on our way south to Killarney. My pals had really enjoyed their night in Kinvara, and visited just about every pub in the town. They loved the experience, and mingled with the friendly locals, and thoroughly enjoyed the traditional Irish music. Kinvara is in the heart of an area noted for its traditional music, and the locals here, and in all of the west Clare area, love their music.

Adare is renowned as one of Ireland's most beautiful towns, and famous for its thatched cottages. Here we have Gary and Joan, and Les and Cher, posing for me in Adare, with some of the lovely cottages in the background. They do look well, despite the hard night they had last night. I must try to get them off to bed early tonight. Could be a tough job.

The Trinitarian abbey is situated on the main street in Adare, and was founded there in 1230 AD. It is really a most beautiful church, and a must to visit if you are in Adare. It is in remarkable condition for such an old building, and is now a church in great demand for weddings.

 Posing in front of the monument, erected by Caroline, the Duchess of Dunraven, and wife of the Earl of Dunraven, who was the major landlord in Adare, and who lorded over all of the local tenants. She had this fountain and water trough, built for the locals, and travelers who passed the way, and who needed to water their horses.

Les and Cher, together in the lovely park in the town center. This park was also donated by the Dunraven family to the town and people of Adare.

 Gary and Joan, in another lovely picture in the Park. We are blessed with such an array of gorgeous flowers here in Ireland. Thank God for our rain, and our mild climate.

This little river flows through the park, and here we have  Cher, with a truly marvellous display of flowers in the background.

Joan has come to check out the scene, and they are obviously impressed by it all.

We traveled on to Killarney, where i finally got my marching orders, as the ladies wanted to head off to check out the local shops. I am not too sure what the guys got up to, but i have no doubt that i will be told in the morning.
This was another lovely day with lovely people and i have no doubt that they will find out where the action is this evening. More laughs for me in the morning, i am sure.

Cliffs of Moher on Wild Atlantic Way tour.

This morning i left Galway with my full party, Gary and Joan, and latecomers, Les and Cher, who had spent their first couple of days in Dublin. Les was most annoyed that his picture did not appear in my first Blog of their tour but he just was not there at Shannon when i pictured Gary and Joan. I hope that by putting his photo on first in my latest Blog that he will get over that.

Hiya Les. Nice to see you smiling again. Cher is pleased to see that also. Keep up the good work.

 Now there's a nice picture of  everybody together. Here we have, from the Gary, Joan, Cher, and a still smiling Les. The real Les is back.

A really nice picture of all of my pals, and don't they look happy.

I think that i really bring out the best in the ladies here in this picture. No wonder they look happy.

If you do get to the Cliffs, then Doolin is quiet close by, and Gus O'Connor's pub is a great place for a hearty lunch, and refreshments.

Joan went for the fresh fish and chips, and was delighted by the quality. If you cannot get fresh fish on the west coast of Ireland, then you cannot get it anywhere. We have the best.

I myself am on a diet at the moment, so i just went for the burger, and just a few trimmings. They say that the secret for not putting on weight, is to close your eyes while you are eating, and you trick your body into thinking that you have eaten nothing. I am trying that out at the moment, and i will let you know how i get on. Keep reading.

Everybody but Gary seems to be happy in this picture, but note how he is the only one in the picture who does not have a drink. Joan does keep a good eye on him.

Lisdoonvarna is the famous matchmaking town where in September thousands of people gather in the hope of finding a husband or wife. Here they meet up with the professional matchmakers, who put together their lists of available men and women, and try to pair them off with what they consider to be a suitable partner. I myself look like i am doing really well in the picture above.

Gary, Joan, Cher, and Les, are all making sure that nobody runs off with their already sworn for mates.

Gary is really putting on the charm here with Joan, as they dance in the town center square in Lisdoonvarna.

Not to be outdone, here we have Les and Cher. They really do look happy, and we did have a great day. We were also blessed with a lovely day weather wise, and they all really enjoyed the cliffs in all their glory.

Ireland is a magical place to visit, and if you need any information, or guidance, on how you can go about seeing it for yourself, just message me, or give me a call. I would love to help make your dreams come true.