Ireland

Our first five days in Ireland was amazing with Ronan as a excellent guide!

We went to the Guinness Storehouse, St. Vincent Centre for the Deaf, Blarney Castle, Cliffs of Moher and celebrated St. Patrick in Dublin.

Guinness was everywhere in Ireland, so we had to check out the 7-floor Storehouse where we learned about the origins of the drink, history and what Guinness was made with. When we got to the end of the tour, we were rewarded with a free pint with a 360 degree view of Dublin. We chatted and before we knew it, time flew as we spent over 3 hours there, some with two other travelers from New York - Daniella and Elana - we met. They asked Ronan about what they should see around Dublin, and he suggested a few places.

After the Guinness Storehouse, we decided to go see the Dublin Castle, and on the way there, we bumped into Daniella and Elana again! Such a small world eh?

We then crossed the penny bridge, and visited the St. Vincent Centre for the Deaf - and took a tour there. The centre was quiet, and the man at the front desk said that the centre was usually packed on Tuesdays/Wednesdays.

On March 15, we took a train to Cork, then a bus to Blarney Castle where we kissed a legend - the Blarney Stone then explored the garden and Rock Close. We returned to Cork, and caught a Manchester United - Marseilles football game at a local pub.

We got up at 6:30 the next day and caught the 7:30 bus to Doolin for a 3 1/2hour ride, then another hour-long bus ride to the Cliffs of Moher. It definitely was worth it as the view there was breathtaking! We were fortunate to go at the right time as it was usually foggy and rainy, but that day was a perfect sunshine!

We were glad to have Ronan along with us, because it was his first time at Blarney (He is FINALLY A TRUE IRISHMAN!) and his third time at Moher.

Yesterday, it was Saint Patrick Day, we tried to check out the parade on Dame Street, but the crowd was huge, we barely caught the sights, but the spirits were very high as people dressed in green, leprechaun beards (Joshua didn't need one) and hats, and shamrock sunglasses.

We then attended the party hosted by IDYA (Irish Deaf Youth Association) at Flannery's bar where we met countless Deaf people, saw some old faces (Tyler's friend Matthew Norman whose place we will stay in at London, and Rachel Mazique) and made new friends!

Next up for us is Belfast, then the United Kingdom!