Limerick with Maeghan

I know this blog is two weeks late, but I took so many pictures over the last vacation that it was daunting to go through them and choose blog pictures! 

I had a wonderful time in Ireland. Despite the rainy, cold weather (standard for Ireland I find) I loved my week I spent there. Limerick was my first stop on my journey. That is where my lovely friend Maeghan lives and studies Irish traditional music. We became friends long ago in string band before I was even old enough to sign up for credit! Our adventures together, musical and not, are many and varied and I was thrilled to spend the weekend with her! 

Of course the first thing I ate in Ireland had to be brown bread, butter, honey and tea. What a perfect late night snack that has Ireland written all over it. 

I was tired from my 12 hour trip to get there, but we still talked for several hours before bed.

The next day we went to Bunratty castle, which is only a short bus ride away. It poured all morning and then we finally decided to brave the rain and leave and the sky cleared up right away for us! It didn't rain the whole time we were exploring the castle and they even gave us half price for the visit because it was late in the afternoon. There was an old man, though that started trying to clear us out a full half-hour before their "closing time". That seems to be standard here in Europe. Back home closing time is when you have to leave, but here closing time is when the workers leave. Therefore, they chase you out well in advance of "closing".

It was definitely right up my alley with old thatched buildings with actors inside dressed in period dress! 

One of the houses was run by an actress who was stuffy and rude to us. She did, however, have a plate of griddle bread that was to die for...we may have taken a few more pieces than we should have.

We stopped afterwards in a pub next door.

Irish ciders in Ireland.

That night, we met Sally who came over from Cardiff.  While rummaging around in a vintage clothing shop, she found this sweatshirt from the "South Buffalo Irish Connection". What are the chances?

Maeghan took us for a walking tour of Limerick around the old quarter and the fortress.

There are the girls next to the Shannon...and that was my weekend in Limerick. Next edition is in Galway!