Day 5 (Tuesday)

Today we took a rather long bus ride to Galway in order to take the ferry to Inishmore, the largest of the three Aran Islands. It is the first day we had rain and the boat ride was very rocky - which some of us enjoyed but several looked a pale and seasick. Even Therese, our director, found the trip to be the bumpiest she has ever encountered, and she travels there with many tours a year!

Martin (pronounced Marteen) was our driver on the island - he took us to what is considered the smallest church in Europe (only 8X5 feet), a hostel for lunch, and Dun Aengus. Dun Aengus is the most famous of several prehistoric forts on the Aran Islands and an important archaeological site that also offers a spectacular view. It was built during the Bronze Age and dates from 1,000 B.C. or before.

We were expecting the return ferry at 4 pm, however the 4 pm was canceled! We shopped an extra hour and several of us found great Aran Islands sweaters, so it was worth the delay. The ferry left at 5 pm and was less adventurous than the ride over (although they prepped us for the worst), then a long bus ride back and a late but delicious dinner.

Day 4 (Monday)

Today we went to Bunratty Castle, which was built around 1425. During the 16th and 17th centuries it was an important stronghold for the O'Briens. Bunratty was renovated when Viscount Lord Gort purchased it in 1954. The extensive restoration work began in 1945 with the help of the Office of Public Works, the Irish Tourist Board and Shannon Development. It was then opened to the public in 1960 as a National Monument and is open to visitors year round. It is the most complete and authentically restored and furnished castle in Ireland. My favorite room was the South Solar room, which is composed of guest apartments, but it reminds me of a great library room.

Day 3 (Sunday)

Every morning we have breakfast at O'Brien's Restaurant in the hotel, which includes a buffet of fruits, cold cereals, croissants and scones. Then we have a choice of hot breakfasts - porridge (oatmeal), traditional Irish breakfast of eggs, sausage and bacon (heart attack on a plate), pancakes (really crepes) or plaice (fish - no one has ordered this yet!).

Today we went to the Burren in the morning and had lunch at the Burren House on Galway Bay. We have been lucky enough to have sun every day so far.

This afternoon we went to the Cliffs of Moher and in the evening we met three locals who answered questions about their lives in Ireland.

Tonight after dinner, several of us went to the pub (The Poet's Corner) for a rousing game of scrabble and live Irish music.

Day 2 (Saturday)

Today we had a guest speaker, Sean Spellissy, on the history of Ireland which included the impact of Celts, Romans, Vikings, Anglo-Normans, and British on the country. Sean Spellissy is a local historian and author.

We went to the Craggaunowen Project, a chronology of recreated Irish settlements, including a unique crannóg, or lake dwelling and the replica of St. Brendan's leather boat that was used by Tim Severin in 1976 to reenact the monk's sixth-century Atlantic crossing. This included a weaving demo and demo of a lathe to make furniture.

We returned to Ennis for a walking tour which included a visit to the remains of the Franciscan Friary. We were left to our own devices for dinner and the large majority of the group had dinner at Brogan's Pub or Cruise's Pub in the Queen's Abbey Hotel. Cruise's had great live Irish music. A few went pub crawling and several choose to have drinks and dessert back at the hotel lobby.

Day 1 - Welcome to Ireland Reception and Dinner

Our welcome reception was held Friday evening at the Old Ground Hotel in the O'Brien restaurant after introductions and a wine reception. A young woman played the harp during our cocktail hour.

Bert and Joanne Womack (left) and Marty ('74) and Meg Schoenemann (right)

Mary and John Muller (left) and Frank and Sherry Woods (right)
(Clockwise starting with blue chair) Barbara Scriver, Jean Brigham, Linda Sullivan, Beverly Sowerby, Krol Paltsios, Claira Monier, Kay Paltsios and Sarah Maeck
Sharon Tortola ('00), Michele Laffert ('89), Cathy LaFortune('89/G'98), Christine ('99) and Mike Pollender and Bonnie Morrison.
Therese Cunningham (Alumni AbraodCampus Director), Roger O'Donnell (Alumni Abroad Driver) and Jim Fairleigh

Day 1 (Friday)

We are here! We had breakfast this morning at the Knappogue Castle, greeted by an Irish piper. The musician's name was Michael and he has played since age sixteen and wears the tartan of his parish. (He did tell us the pipes are an outside instrument - very loud in the castle!).



Sleep-deprived and free for the afternoon to sleep or wander, several of us skipped the nap and investigated the town of Ennis - more on that later. This evening we had a welcome reception and met the remainder of the travelers in our group. There are 23 of us from Texas, Arizona, Colorada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts. Western New England College has the largest representation. Good night!

Travel Day

Many thanks to Kristina Oleksak, Associate Director of Advancement Events at Western New England College, for getting us to the airport safely and on time!!

Hi Michelle! Have a great trip!

Count down!

Just a couple of days before we fly out and I have not started packing yet (except in my head, over and over again!). From what I understand, seven out of 30 of us on the trip are with Western New England College, and the funny thing is I know them all...five of us met on the Alumni Association trip to Italy in 2006, and another friend emailed last week to tell me her sister and brother in-law are the other two travelers.