That's how we named our tour with a group of customers loyal to Oasis Travel. The group members were so eager to join this tour we had to close registration several months ago. Our first stop was Edinburgh of Scottland for only an overnight though including a wonderful three-hour tour on foot with the most knlowdgeable local guide Stewart (84) who gave information in depth about his lovely city. Our Welcome Dinner was a real festive offering selection of mouth watering starters and a choice of main courses prepared by the local chef of famous Howies Restaurant.
Next morning we headed to Ireland's Ulster region by an Easyjet flight landing at Belfast's 'George Best' airport and met our driver-guide Joe O'Reilley who would have been leading us in Ireland for the rest of our tour. Our first day in Northern Ireland crowened by a scenic drive along Antrim coast. Our first stop was in small Bushmill town where the famous Bushmill Whiskey distillery located. Sipping our first Irish Whiskey here spirited us to get ready for visiting a geological phenonomen called ' Giant's Causeway' Witnessing milliıons years of rock formations as if crafted by nature's skill hands, had really awestrucked each one of us. Then we all thrilled by the loneliness and romantic setting of 15th.century Dunluce Castle. Northenr Ireland, without a Black Taxi tour in Belfast would have never been completed. Half of the group splitted in Black Taxis to go on a heartbreaking tour visiting the sites of 'Troubled Times' in Ireland from 1965 till 1998 guided by the local taxi drivers who had witnessed the troubles in a politically & religiously segregated city.
Leaving behind the 'Sad City' Belfast which was once proud of huge shipyards including the Harland & Wolf where infamous Titanic had been built, we headed to Armagh, deserving the title of 'Religious Capital of Ireland' by having the oldest cathedral of the Catholics founded by St.Patric, the patron saint of the country and relatively newer one for the Protestants facing each-other as the country's placid fact.
Arriving in Dublin was to ease our enthusiasm longing for such an exciting city since the start of our tour. After unloading ourselves from the coach we all hurried to walk after Joe who took us straight to Trinity College strolling through the Temple Bar streets. Visiting the Book of Kells and the Long Room of the College was the climax of our joy for witnessing ages-old hand-written and painted testaments of the four evangelists and a library welcoming the visitors with an ecstacy of antique volumes. Founded by Elisabeth I as a Protestant boys college just for the elite circles of the country in 1598, The Trinity College has evolved gradually after the independence by loosing religious and political dominance of the ruling elite and now is sharing the pride of being one of the leading universities of the world along with the Cambridge and the Oxford by co-educational programs. Our orientation of the city continued by strolling through the famous Grafton Street and the Stephen's Green where we witnessed the exact spots of fighting during the Easter Rebellion of 1916. Day came to an end by finding ourselves in one of the pubs to feast our mood with a Guinnes and fish & chips
Next day we left Dublin driving towards the West to Connacht region. Today, the highlight of the tour was Cliffs of Moher, another natural heritage of Ireland. The weather until that day was exceptionally sunny and mild but once we arrived at the Atlantic Ocean, it suddenly turned into a rain and mist as if to remind us we were nowhere but Ireland. Anyhow, the view was still awesome in spite of the rain and misty weather. More than 2,5 Km long strip along the steep cliffs over 250 meters height like a wall by the ocean, we walked along a trail under the rain. Once we sheltered into the visitors' center, there was a movie showing the fauna and flora of the region as well as a drone shot views of the impressive rocks. After we are done with the Cliffs, Joe drove us along a very narrow coastal road along the ocean with an impressive view of the shoreline and rocky hills of Burren National Park which was once a glacier before the island had splitted from the main Island Brittania. Just before reaching at Galway, we stopped by the Dungaire Castle which was standing intact dating back to 16th century on the ruins of a 7th century local kingdom fortress in the town of Kinvarra. Overnight in Galway city had made us all feel in a real Irish town by all means including its pubs, live music, friendly folks and wool shops.
Next morning we drove back to Dublin via Athlone and Tullamore. We could not miss to stop by Sean's Bar which was the oldest pub dating back to 12th century in Athlone. Having a sip of Irish coffee and whiskey had evoked our spirits for the rest of the day. Our next stop was Birr Castle in Oflay County which has been existing since the 12th century; first under the O'Carrolls of Rosse Earl then after handed to Parsons family who still ownes the castle. We had a peacful walk in its gardens and impressed by the huge telescope dating back to the middle 19th century. The Parsons had great family members who had initiated many innovative scientific projects. Tullamore, on the other hand was another point of interest since it had a disttlery named after itself. Back to Dublin city was so exciting because there were still many things to do in this vivid metropole.
Our last day of the trip was towards the south west of the country where we stopped by the Glendalough Natinal Park for a leisure walk along the ruins of an 6th century abbey of St.Kevin. His name was also given to the mountain road over the Wiclow mountains where driving was real fiesta with thousands shades of the Green, sheep and calf hurdes. Then we headed down to Kilkeny another cultural heritage town with its very-well renovated castle by the Irish Government after purchasing from its former owner for only fifty pounds. Strange isn't it? Sometimes the aristocrats get penny-pinching after loosing their heyday wealth. We had a fun walk along the narrow streets and alleys of the town after having a quick lunch at the Left Bank Bistro. We even came across with a local choir who were performing in the town center to raise funds for their trip to join a competition in the U.S.A. Then we headed back to Dublin for our last overnight. Our farewell dinner, no wonder was the highlight of our gastronomic experience of Irish Cuisine . Dinner served in the Quays Irish Restaurant offering delicious seafood chowder and beef stew followed by a cheesecake. Each one of us confessed that none of us was expecting such a gastronomic feast in such a touristic spot in the Temple Bar area. Our last night came to an end with a joyful live music at an ordinary pub with an ordinary crowed cheering up with songs of an ordinary singer.
Next morning we went on a leisure walk to James Joice Center to pay a tribute to the most famous writer who had confused the minds of his readers by his masterpiece 'Ullysses'. Then Joe took us on a short orientation drive to say farewell to Dublin before leaving for the airport. Once the plane took off all our minds and hearts left behind in this lovely country.
Goidfidh mé uaim thú* ( Gwi-fee may oo-im hoo )
*we will miss you
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