County Kerry, Ireland ~ Part 2

There is a common tread throughout the entire Emerald Isle...

Quality is #1...

Quantity comes in a close 2nd...

Beer gardens and babies...

Tim Connelly look-a-likes...

...and breathalyzers...

...and on any given country road, an old abandoned castle can be found...

One of our most anticipated days was to drive The Ring of Kerry. This is were I was supposed to capture such obligatory shots of sheep crossing the road, kelly green grasses and Caribbean blue waters crashing against rocky cliffs and more rainbows and leprechauns dancing in fields of clover, but the only one I got was this rained out shot of a Charlie Chaplin statue. Guess he spent some time here and this lousey one of a fabulous woolie sweater that I bought, instead...

This being one of the single rainiest days that this side of the country has seen in a long time. We did not see a thing. Here are two before and after shots of the river directly below our hotel room. We left our room around 9am (before) and I believe we got back around 4pm (after)...

before

after

before

after

The old cemetery down the road proved to be interesting enough...

Scenic and old...

There was a mass burial plot from the Potato Famine. This area was hit the hardest. What I don't get is that Ireland is an island. This whole country is surrounded by water. When the potato crops started drying up, why not fish? Don't get me wrong, not too crazy about seafood either, much like the rest of the Irish race, but come famine... There are also seals populating the shores. The Eskimos eat the blubber off those things like it ain't no thang. I'm just saying, I like a good home fry now and again, but come on, do you think this whole mass burial/famine thing could have been avoided???

It is a popular myth that the Celtic Christian cross was introduced by Saint Patrick. I wonder if the Irish celebrate St. Patrick's Day???

Lucky's photo shoot of mom with the beast of a 9 passenger travel wagon...

...and Grandpa Gene...

He's got an eye for the perfect photo op...

(Lucky's lens)

Lucky was just thrilled when he walked upon a golf ball vending machine. He immediately thought of his neighborhood bff and just had to spend one of his shiney euros on one...

We owe you a golf ball, T-man. I am sure it was left rolling around in the van...

Much more Celtic fun to follow...