Arrived in Ennis, Ireland

September 20, 2010

We left Birmingham at 6:30 AM on our drive to Atlanta for our 12:05 PM flight on Continental Flight 84 to Newark, NJ.  With a 10:00 AM arrival at the remote parking lot, we had plenty of time for the check-in, which went very quickly with hardly anyone in the security line.  There was a slight delay with the flight, because the first officer’s window had to be replaced.  Fortunately, that was only a 20 minute delay and we arrived in Newark with only a 4-1/2 hr layover.  That gave us sufficient time to grab a late lunch and relax over a glass of wine.  We boarded Continental Flight 24 at 6:45 PM and departed right on schedule for our 5-1/2 hr flight to Shannon airport.  We only experienced a slight “chop” a few times along the route, but had a great flight.  I did manage to get a couple hours of sleep.  Beverley said she didn’t really sleep, but dozed off a couple of times.

September 21, 2010

Our flight arrived at Shannon airport at 6:30 AM; 25 minutes ahead of schedule.  After getting our checked bag, we walked through customs and met five others who are on our bike trip.  Tony, who served as the VBT greeter, met us and transported the group in the Ground Hotel in the heart of Ennis.  Ennis is a town of 20,000 and the county seat of Clare.  It grew around the castle that O’Brien built along the River Fergus in the 13^th century.  A Franciscan Abbey was built there and it served as a seat of learning until Henry VIII abolished all monasteries.

After checking into the hotel and resting a little, we explored Ennis.  Turning right out of the hotel, we walked down O’Connell Street, which is narrow and lined with colorful shops and hanging baskets of flowers.  We stopped for coffee to energize us for the day.  At the O’Connell Statue, we turned onto Abbey Rd, which took us to the Abbey that is being reconstructed.  The tower stands, but much of the remainder of the abbey is in ruins and blocked from visitors.  After a late lunch, we visited the Clare Museum that featured exhibits on the life and inhabitants of this region of Western Ireland from 4,000 BCE to recent history. There is a rich history with a lot of conflict and conquest occurring from the 12^th century onward. 

The day was cloudy and cool with a high of 64^oF.  We really are enjoying the much cooler temperatures than we had been experiencing in Birmingham.   Tonight we are had dinner at the Poet’s Corner, an Irish Pub -- Salmon with crab sauce, mashed root vegetables, and brocolli.  Naturally I had a couple Guinness!