Adare and Killarney on chauffeurdriven tour of the Wild Atlantic with Dave Hogan - REPOST OCT 1 2016

---

To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.

Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd

Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th

Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan

---

Adare and Killarney on chauffeurdriven tour of the Wild Atlantic - REPOST OCT 1 2016

On our way to Killarney today we passed the Adare Golf Club, and had laugh with this group of men who were teeing off on the first hole. They were in great form, and I hope that they were equally happy on the 18th hole.

Adare is a really beautiful town, and high on the list of Ireland's most beautiful towns. The old Trinitarian Abbey in the center of the town, is very special, and a place you must visit. It dates back to the 13th century, and is extremely popular for wedding services. Here we have, from the left, Dick, Jane, Annette, and Joe posing, in front of the Abbey.

We just had time to have a look inside the church, as they was to be a wedding today, and here we have Jane and Annette, posing in front of the main Isle, beautifully decorated with lace and flowers.

Another lovely picture of the ladies outside the main entrance to the church.

My full group, pictured together on the main street in Adare, with the old thatched cottages in the background.

Joe, Jane, and Dick, pictured at the top of the main stairway in the Plaza Hotel, after checking in today.

The Plaza is a really nice hotel,with a location second to none in this great town.

Cliffs of Moher on Chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 29 2016

---
To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.
Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd
Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th
Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan
---

Cliffs of Moher on Chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 29 2016

Today we were off to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren of County Clare. Our first stop was at the 13th century Cistercian Abbey of Corcomroe in the Burren near the town of Kinvara. Contrary to weather forecasts, the sun was shining, and the day was really nice. Here we have, from the left, Joe, Annette, Jane, and Dick.

Our next stop was in the town of Lisdoonvara, that town best known for its Matchmaking, where in the month of September, people who were looking for a husband or a wife, would come to the matchmaking festival, and the professional matchmakers would help them to find a suitable partner. That festival continues today, as you can see from this billboard above.

The Matchmaker Bar in the center of the town is one of the meeting places in the town, and here we have the ladies, Annette and Jane, having a giggle about the whole thing. Note the man in the background, he was looking for a wife.

After inviting the ladies to share a drink with him in a local bar, he headed off ahead to his local, but I am afraid that he was to be disappointed, as we made a hasty retreat for the cliffs.

We were blessed to have this lovely fresh day for our visit to the Cliffs, and here are my pals, wrapped up against the strong winds, enjoying this wonderful place.

 Another view of the Cliffs, with the wild Atlantic below.

 Another view of the Cliffs, and the ocean from the parking lot at the Doolin harbour.

This old deserted ruined cottage beside the sea, overlooking the Aran Islands, at the entrance to Galway Bay. This small cottage would have been typical of many normal family homes, and there could be up to 10 or 15 children in the family. Hard to imagine nowadays, when we have homes with 6 bedrooms, and maybe one child. Where have we gone to.
This was another lovely day with a really nice group of new friends, and I hope that they are enjoying themselves as much as I am.

We had a really nice lunch in Gus O'Connor's Bar in Doolin, where the Irish Guinness beef stew is delicious. I would highly recommend this place and their great stew.

Knock Shrine and Ashford Castle on Chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 28 2016

---
To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.
Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd
Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th
Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan
---

Knock Shrine and Ashford Castle on Chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 28 2016

Look what they have done to me. They have fitted me out with a Canadian baseball cap and threatened to write terrible things about me on Facebook if i did not wear it. Not only wear it, but pose for a photo for my Blog while wearing it. Well i do claim to go to any lengths to keep my clients happy, so i suppose i have only myself to blame for it. I wonder what all of my Clients from the USA will think.

 This morning we were off to county Mayo and the Holy Shrine at Knock. Our first stop was at this old abbey in Claregalway en route.

All smiling together and posing in front of the enclosed shrine chapel, with the marble statues depicting the apparition, as it actually appeared, with the figures of St Joseph, Mary, and John the baptist, alongside the altar, with the lamb and cross, and the half circle of angels. Knock is a famous healing shrine with many miracles attributed to it.

My friends,pictured together on the lawns, in front of the the world renowned Ashford castle, in Cong county Mayo. This castle is now a wonderful five star hotel, and recognised as being one of the world's top hotels. They checked with regard to possible vacancies, but as the Presidential suite was occupied, they decided to move on.
Ashford and Cong were the center for the movie "The Quiet Man", and it was here that all of the main people involved in that movie stayed during their time in Cong.

We did have a break in Peacock's pub and restaurant in Maam Cross, where we had a delicious chowder, with lovely home made brown bread. Here we have, from the left, Dick, Annette, and Joe, seated in front of a lovely turf fire (peat), an experience in itself. You will notice that Jane is missing. Dick went looking for her, but he was too late, as she had been in the shop here, and the damage was done. Jane was happy though.
Today was a great day, despite the fact that the weather was not the best, misty and dull, but this party are just happy to be here, and all was well.

Tomorrow we are off the the awesome Cliffs of Moher. Make sure to come along...

Wild Atlantic Way chauffeurdriven tour with Dovechauffeurdrive - REPOST SEP 27 2016

---
To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.
Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd
Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th
Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan
---

Wild Atlantic Way chauffeurdriven tour with Dovechauffeurdrive - REPOST SEP 27 2016

A beautiful Irish sky this morning, as i waited for my latest touring party to arrive, all the way from Canada after a long and quiet eventful journey. As a result of a delayed departure on the first leg of their journey, they finally arrived at Shannon airport roughly 8 hours late, and without their luggage. We are hoping that that will arrive later today, or early tomorrow.

There is no doubt that they were very happy to have made it to Shannon, and here they are, all relieved and smiling outside the airport, in nice sunshine.
From the left, Joe, Annette, Jane, and Dick.

 We made our way to Galway city, where they are staying for their first night, in the Harbour Hotel, beside the docks in Galway. This is a nice hotel, and in a great location, right beside the city center. I took this picture beside the hotel, with the harbour entrance in the backgound.

 The famous Lynch's window, from where the chief magistrate of the city, hung his own son for the crime of murder, after everybody else had refused to carry out the execution. He was a well liked young man and people felt that he had been wronged, as the murdered man had seduced young Lynch's fiancee.

St Nicholas's Church, in the center of the city, is the oldest building in Galway. It was once a Catholic church, but was ransacked by Cromwell and his troops, and later, taken over by the Anglican church.
Mass was celebrated here for Christopher Columbus and his men, before they set sail, on the final leg of their voyage, on their way to discovering the New world
From the left again. Joe, Annette, Jane and Dick.

This was a lovely beginning to another tour, and the weather did not let us down in any way. I think that we are going to have a really nice time together, and hopefully many laughs along the way..

Chauffeurdriven tour of Wild Atlantic Way with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 22 2016

---
To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.
Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd
Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th
Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan
---

Chauffeurdriven tour of Wild Atlantic Way with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 22 2016

My latest tour with Barbara and Phil, ended today, when we parted company in Bunratty in county Clare, after what was another really lovely tour with a remarkable couple, Barbara who will be55 years married in December, and in this day and age that is something. Congrats to a lovely couple.

We had some great times together, from horse draw jaunting cars in the Gap of Dunloe in Killarney

to open boats on the lakes of Killarney.

Playing with a baby lamb in Dingle

to watching the sunrise over the south coast of Cork in Kinsale.

Tonight it all comes to an end, when they celebrate at a medieval banquet in the famous Bunratty castle. They will be staying close to the castle in the lovely Bunratty Villa, pictured above.

Tomorrow morning they fly out of Shannon airport, a lovely small, but high quality airport, and one i would recommend to anybody who wants to visit the west of Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. If you want to take in Dublin also, as many people do, then you can either fly into Dublin and cover Dublin first, and then fly out of Shannon after touring the Wild Atlantic Way.
I can only wish Phil and Barbara all the best on their way home.
Travel safely and God Speed, and thanks again for everything.

Wild Atlantic Way Chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 21 2016

---
To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.
Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd
Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th
Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan
---

Wild Atlantic way chauffeurdriven tour with Dave Hogan - REPOST SEP 21 2016

Today we made our way to Cove, the harbour at the mouth of the River Lee in Cork. This was the harbour from which the vast majority of our emigrants departed, and was also the last port of call for the doomed Titanic. In this picture we have Barbara and Phil seated, at the foot of the statues of Annie Moore and her two young brothers, the first people to register at Ellis Island in 1892.

The Cathedral in Cove, which stands proudly over the harbour, and the town of Cove. This is a beautiful church, and well worth a visit.

After leaving Cove, we made our way to the town of Middleton, and the world renowned Jameson's distillery. This is another special place to visit, and you do get to sample some of the whiskeys during what is a most educational tour.

Here we have my happy friends, in another pose in front of the distillery, with an old copper still on the lawn in the background.

Jim Edwards is one of my favourite pub restaurants, and that was where we ended up tonight, after celebrating a lovely time together over the past few days. Tonight's meal included, cauliflower soup to start, delicious Cod Mornay, with a lovely cheese and cream, and herb sauce, mixed veg, cauliflower, brocolli and courgettes, and carrots, chips (known as french fries by some), and garlic potatoes. What a feast that was, and we failed to clear all of the dishes.
Nobody left hungry.

Tomorrow we head for Bunratty where Phil and Barbara will be enjoying their medieval banquet tomorrow night, before flying out from Shannon airport on Friday morning. Phil and Barbara will be celebrating fifty five years of married life together in December, and after spending this special time with them, it is very easy for me to see why they have managed to accomplish that.

This has been a special tour for me, with two really lovely people. I have been so lucky this year, and would like to think that i have made many new friends. They will certainly be remembered by me.

Thank you all.

Chauffeurdriven tour to Blarney and Kinsale - Holidays in Ireland - REPOST SEP 21 2016

---

To my many followers, especially those involved in these particular three tours.

Due to a computer error, three of my recent tour Posts were deleted from the Blog, and I am now reposting them.

They were the Blog posts for the following tours:

Phil and Barbara Reichart - Sept 13th- Sept 23rd

Dick Shannon - Sept 27th- Oct 6th

Pat Scanlon - Oct 8th- Oct 13th

Please note the dates of these Posts, as they are not being posted on the actual dates that these tours occurred. 

Sincerely, Dave Hogan

---

Chauffeurdriven tour to Blarney and Kinsale - Holidays in Ireland - REPOST SEP 21 2016

Barbara and Phil in the grounds of the Blarney castle. Blarney is one of the most visited places in Ireland, not just by people who come to kiss that famous Blarney Stone, but by people who come to see the lovely gardens there, and also the town itself.

Kinsale was the scene of one of Ireland's most tragic battles, where they suffered a major defeat by the English. Charles Fort, which was erected after that battle, was one of two major forts, which were built to protect Kinsale harbour from invasion from the sea.

Another nice picture of Barbara and Phil, which i took on the hillside at Charles Fort with the harbour and town of Kinsale in the background.

A picture of the sun rising over Kinsale this morning. We stayed at the MacDonald Kinsale Hotel last night. This is a lovely hotel located on the outskirts of Kinsale in a nice quiet area. I took this picture from my hotel bedroom. I would recommend this hotel.