The 'Wow' factor !

Choosing overall photos from hundreds and hundreds we took, between hubby and I, was a mammoth task!!!! So have picked a few that really made me go ...


.... WOW ..... to the grass which is the greenest of greens ...

... the trees .... scattered in parks like this at Blarney Castle, Co. Cork ..

.... and forests with autumn colours ...

... the mountains, reminiscent of our Cape mountains, mirrored lakes - in the Connemara National Park, Co. Galway

... the barren, rocky landscape of The Burren, Co. Clare which extended for miles and miles ...

... the exquisite beauty of the original Waterford Crystal ...

.. which showroom is filled with sparkling works of art like this beautiful huge vase ....

(sadly, it's only the showroom left with a few people manning it as the entire factory closed down due to the recession and has relocated to Poland. There are still some items - genuine Waterford, made in Ireland - left for sale .... hubby bought me the most beautiful bud vase which has the Waterford stamp on the base! Exquisite !! Shall have to take a photo of it !! )

... and this magnificent chandelier which sparkles with the light shining through the large window ..

... to the centuries old buildings ... like this Round Tower reaching 30 mtrs which stands at the 6th century monastic site established by St Stephen in Glendalough, Co. Wicklow .. (first thoughts that came to mind was ... "Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair ...")

... and another centuries-old rocky stronghold which "rises dramatically out of the Tipperary plains". It dates back to the 4th/5th Century. The museum houses treasures including The St Patrick's Cross - St Patrick visited Cashel in 450. In future posts, I will show more of this magnificent medievial complex.

... to the colour of the calm sea at Mizen Head, Co. Cork - the furthest south-westerly point of Ireland ...

... and I was there ....

... to the majestic Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare, which rise to a height of 200 mtrs above the sea and stretch for 8 kms ... a little hazy on the day we went

.. but it was breathtaking .... we walked from that castle perched on top .. to the brownish area above that huge cave in the photo above

.. to the misty plains and castles ...

... and the hundreds of statues .... this one being one of my favourites ... she stands at Rosses Point, Co. Sligo 'watching and waiting for loved ones to return from the sea'

... and then of course there were all the churches and abbeys with magnificent ceilings, interiors and stained glass windows ... this reflection of the beautiful colours caught my eye in the Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin which is the oldest church in Ireland ..

... not forgetting all the pubs including this one simply called The Bank ... as it was a bank! (We both had a very good meal whilst sipping my French wine and hubby drinking his Guinness!)

... and then ... of course .... you can't visit Ireland without kissing the Blarney Stone ... !!!

... and visiting the Guinness Storehouse and having a Guinness ... cheers !!