STAY AWAKE!! Part 1

This was the mantra for our first day in Ireland.  I took it upon myself to try to keep a group of 10 on the move and awake to combat the evil forces of jet lag.  It was a challenge... let me tell you.

We left the airport and went to the Oakwood Arms hotel for a buffet breakfast.  It was a lovely place and the restaurant was really gorgeous.  My nephew, Cole, is a picky eater beyond belief.  We were all a bit worried about him and his eating, but he gave it the old college try and didn't starve to death on the trip!  We then headed out to our Bed and Breakfast, the Avarest, to just drop of our luggage.  Frank, the husband, was there to greet us and they had already cleaned our rooms!  They had given us a whole floor of rooms so we all settled in.  I tried to keep our stop there as brief as possible, but the next thing I knew, McKenzie was asleep on top of her bed.   Cole and Cristy were buried under covers/shades drawn asleep.  Joe told me they were all going to just "take a little nap".  I knew I needed to keep Jemma up so we went outside and we just kept moving.  I let them "nap" for about an hour and then I suggested that everyone start to get up.  I finally got them moving by saying that we were going to go on to Bunratty Folk Park and they could meet us there.  That got them going and we all loaded up and headed to Bunratty.

The Avarest B&B was wonderful!

Cole's little nap

Bunratty Folk Park is a wonderful village that has been set up so you can see what life was like in a 19th century Irish village.  There are homes and cottages that would belong to all different classes of people.  Peat fires burning and apple pies baking.  It truly gives you a an insight into Irish life in the 1800's.  Our first stop there was the castle.  The first settlement here was a Viking trading camp in 970 and through the years was built up, razed, and rebuilt.  The present structure was built in 1425 by the McNamara's and the castle changed hands many time.  In 1804, the castle and lands went to the Studdart family who allowed it to fall into disrepair while they moved into the more comfortable Bunratty House.  The move all happened due to family arguments of the son marrying a first cousin.  Oh my...   The house and the castle were open to the public at this time.  In the mid 1800's, the castle was used as a barrack for the Royal Irish Constablry.  In 1954 the castle was purchased and restored by the 7th Viscount Gort.  The history in this castle is amazing!  The castle is famous now for the medieval banquets that are held here every night.  We attended in 2001 when my MIL came to visit us.  We weren't able to get tickets that night so we made reservations to go to the Traditional Irish Nights banquet in the village.

Mom looks really awake here, but I caught her dozing just a few minutes later!!!

German chandelier

I have a picture of me, the BHW and his mom in front of this fireplace when we were all there before!  Now we have the Jemster with us!

The antlers are from the extinct Irish elk.  All the castles and big homes were decorated with antlers.  I thought of Kim from Savvy Southern Style every time I saw them!

Loved the detail on the legs of this table

View from the top one of the towers

Blurry pictures, but the fireplace was i the middle of the floor to keep the room warm

Look at those celings!

Right at home!

 We headed into the park to check out the village and main street.  So much to see!  We had a light lunch of parsnip soup and apple pie in the little cafe.  The parsnip soup was excellent!  Jemma took a small nap in my lap during lunch.  She is 5 so I figured she could get away with it!

Little photo shoot in the park

Cole had hit McKenzie with a stick.  She then chased him down and beat him into the ground as you can see here.

Jemma made them hug it out!

All the girls in front of the Rose Cottage

School's in session, but the BHW shouldn't be there.  This was the girls side!  The boys had a side and the girls had a side.  

This is O'Neills where Mom bought the cutest Staffordshire dogs on our last visit.  I love them and am always threatening to steal them.  We went in to get some for me and they didn't have any and didn't make them anymore!  After  we talked for a bit to Mrs. O'Neill, she called her brother to see if he would make some for me and he agreed to!  I should be getting them anytime now.  Mom got them for me for my birthday!  Thank you!!!!

Hanging out in front of the pub

We could shop until our hearts were content with green and shamrocks!

A bridal party was having photo shoot at the church as we went by

Then they all came down for  a pint

Jemma and I ran (I really do mean ran) through the park at closing time because she wanted to show me her castle!

This sweet gentleman was bringing peat into one of the houses to burn in the fireplace.  Sure made the homes smoky!

Gorgeous flowers everywhere!



As we left the village at closing time, we had some time to kill before the banquet.  We went across the street to the woolen mills, but they were closed so we drove back over to hang out in the parking lot for a bit.  Guess what people were doing... sleeping!!!!  I figured they were on their own by now so I gave up!

Stayed tuned for the evening adventures in STAY AWAKE Part 2!