Hello from Limerick, Ireland. Though a little reluctant to leave Cork, we are enjoying seeing more of the country. We had to do a little puzzle-solving to get all of our luggage and gear into the coach (bus), but we managed. And we were off for Blarney, home of the Blarney Stone.
In Blarney
It seems that most of the choir went to climb to see the stone, and some even hung over backwards to kiss it—but the ones who did probably didn’t need the extra eloquence it promised. Others of us walked around a bit, perhaps tried some Irish stew, and checked out the shops and stores with their woolens and Belleek china and Waterford and other beautiful crystal. Our luck has left us for at least a day, and it was a chilly and drizzly—sorry—soft day.
Back on the bus to drive to Adare, a quaint village with some medieval abbey ruins, a world-class golf course built around those ruins, and a working abbey from “only” the fifteenth century. It’s all in the year in which you started counting your country’s history.
Entrance to Adare
Medieval church still in use
Inside church
Thatched roofs
On to Limerick, a town of about 53,000. It also is a mix of very old and fairly recent.
Row of Georgian townhomes
A Limerick street
We are in a Travelodge in this city, which afforded us the opportunity to travel en masse to a pub for dinner. For the satisfaction of those of you back home who might think your loved one has been neglected, here are all of us at our various pub tables.
With Emily Savage's parents, Mark & Marianne Egan
I’ve let the photos do most of the talking in this blog, so I hope they have helped give a feeling for our day. There is a little different feel to the days now as we have left the festival and begun our “real” tour of changing cities more frequently, and a concert almost every night. The choir is looking forward to singing a complete concert tomorrow night.
9 comments
Love that beautiful green countryside and the history that goes with it. Thanks, Sandefur!
I love the pictures of the old and the new, and I love the people pictures!
I think I need to visit Ireland someday! It is so beautiful and all that history. Belleek, Waterford and Irish wool – nice shopping!
Emily Workman,
I am so jealous that you are in Ireland without me! It looks like you all are having the best time. Great picures. I love the blog. Enjoy every second. Ireland is the BEST! tell the Irish Saints in Dublin hello. Make sure you take a lot of pictures for me. Congrats on the win in Cork!!
Thanks so much for keeping us updated on the wonderful experience of tour! I love sitting down and reading what my sister is up to, since I can’t call and ask her ;). Best of luck with the touring & city switching!
I can almost smell the flowers!
Congratulations on a fantastic result at the competition! I’m honored that I was ever associated with such an amazing musical heritage!
Ireland is rapidly working its way up my list of places to visit. Thanks for working so hard on the blog, Sandefur. I love seeing all the people pictures, too!
There once was a choir called Singers,
The songs that they sang were all zingers.
They flew o’er to Eire,
Their spirits ne’er higher,
That loverly choir called Singers.
I can’t believe nobody has written any Limericks yet! Maybe there are some in the tour jounal?
This is Sarah Scow- Chrissy Bishop’s li’l pug sister wishing her a very belated birthday on the blog for the public to witness 🙂 I love you! (and I did try and leave a message…) These pictures are great by the way! Thank you!