Cork, Ireland

Welcome to Ireland

View from Deck 17 on the Royal Princess

This is the first family to arrive at Ellis Island

This is our first trip to Ireland. Cork, just inland from Ireland’s southwest coast, is a university city with its centre on an island in the River Lee, connected to the sea by Cork Harbour.  The castle like 1824 Cork City Gaol once held prisoners bound for Australia, and exhibitions relay the building’s history.  The hilltop steeple of 18th-century Shandon Church (officially the Church of Saint Anne) is a symbol of the city.

Today in Cork it’s 16C, cloudy and we are loving It because the heat in London/Southampton was unbelievable.  They are breaking records.  Cheryl, Dave and Lexie took the tour to the Blarney Castle.  I originally booked it but saw the wait could be over an hour, you had to lay on your back and put your head down a hole to kiss the Blarney Stone, I cancelled the tour.  We had a nice breakfast in the dining room with our Australian Trivia partner and his wife. 

The ship has docked right in front of an Irish Rail station.  We took the train into town and walked around.  We tried to get on the hop on hop off bus, but it was full.  The town is small and quite enjoyable.  We came back for a late lunch and the Jean wanted some fridge magnets, so we walked off the ship and went for a walk.  What a beautiful place.  Very green and so many gorgeous floral baskets

Trivia is soon, so it’s time to post my blog.  I was able to upload all my pictures at the train station.  Jean called Darren and I called Richard.  You have to love What’s app!

Dublin tomorrow!