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A poem -“The Merry Dingle Soles” 9.15.25
We started in Dublin With lots of things “happenin” Including Temple Bar And singing on Grafton We journeyed to Tralee To start The Dingle Way A 110-mile excursion With feats each day We walked Tralee to Camp Where streams ran strong With views of Tralee Bay Where we met MAGA John To Annascaul we marched On a wet Day two As we swam in the sea Dining at South Pole Pub too From Annascaul to Dingle We trudged through the “mud” Not wanting to know What was in that Crud In Dingle we played And had a great time Dining on Oysters With Guinness and wine On to Dunquin Around…
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Ireland 2025 – Day 6 of Hike
Day 9 of our trip would be Day 6 of our hike on the Dingle Way. The 13-mile hike to Cloghane is one of the most remote and dramatic sections of the DINGLE WAY, and the most challenging as we reached the highest point. The trail offered a combination of history and breathtaking views. We crossed the shoulder of Mount Brandon, one of Ireland’s highest mountains and passed by groups of standing stones. This was by far the coldest day of the hike due to the elevation. We were literally hiking in the clouds. The descent down the mountain was steep, but we were rewarded by spotting a hut where…
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Ireland 2025 – Day 5 of hike
Day 8 of our Ireland Trip kicked off the second half of our hike. On my last post I mentioned that Day 5 (today) on the Dingle Way should be much easier than Day 4 because it would be slightly shorter and much flatter. Day 5 of our hike started out pleasant and sunny. It would not end that way. Today we would be completing a 13.5 mile hike from Dunquin to Feohanagh. Along the way we enjoyed outstanding views of the wild Atlantic Ocean and a few secluded beaches. Early in the hike we stopped at the workshop of renowned Irish potter Louis Mulcahy at Clothar and had coffee…
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Ireland 2025 – Days 6 and 7 – 3rd and 4th legs of Hike
After a great evening at the South Pole Inn Pub, the next morning we started out on the third day of our hike. As we left Annascaul for our 14-mile hike to Dingle, we headed west, along meandering country roads with views of the Iveragh Peninsula, the fourth of the five peninsulas in Southwest Ireland. By the time we reached Minard Castle, we were drenched, but very much enjoying the hike. Minard Castle, located in a small sandy cove, was built in the 16th century. The castle was partly destroyed by Cromwell’s men in 1650. We then walked some scenic and quiet roads that took us inland through farmland. This…
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Ireland 2025 – September 8&9 – Days 4&5
Today is Tuesday, Day 5 of our trip and Day 2 of our hike. We started Day 1 of our hike yesterday in Tralee, the official start of The Dingle Way. As the capital of County Kerry in Ireland, Tralee is known for its International Rose Festival, which occurs every August. Years ago, our son Davis spent quite a bit of time in this town for a class he was taking in College. The Dingle Way is one of over 30 Irish long-distance walking trails located throughout Ireland. Situated in the south-west of Ireland, the walk completes a circuit of the Dingle Peninsula, starting and finishing in Tralee. The trail…
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Ireland 2025 – Days 2 & 3 – Saturday September 6th and 7th –Dublin Days
I write this on our bus ride to Tralee. We were originally scheduled to take the 1pm Train from Dublin Heuston train station to Mallow (then connect to Tralee), arriving at 5 pm. However, Irish Rail in its infinite wisdom decided on short notice to do rail work for the next couple weeks. So trains for this day had partially been cancelled and were replaced by a bus service and all seat reservations were voided. Luckily our fearless leaders the Hoffmanns, after consulting with some of our fellow travellers, decided not to take this chance but to scramble and find different means of transportation from Dublin to Tralee and on the return…
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Ireland 2025 – Day 1 – Friday September 5th – Travel Day
Today, before leaving for Ireland I spent much of the afternoon outdoors at our Lake house swimming in the lake and soaking up the late summer sun. I sometimes forget how wonderful this time of year can be in Virginia. I soaked it in because this will be the last day I will see this much sun until I return to Virginia. You do not go to Ireland for sunshine. The weather in Ireland is all over the place. As one of our backroad leaders on my last trip to Ireland said, “Ireland has one season all year, but you can get all four seasons in one day.” He should know…
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Ireland 2025 – Pre-trip Reflections – Thursday, September 4th
Elizabeth and I leave tomorrow, September 5th for a 112-mile hiking trip in Ireland. This will be my third trip to “The Emerald Isle”. The first trip occurred 15 years ago when our youngest son Carter wanted to go to Ireland for his senior year spring break. The second trip occurred 6 years ago when my friend Pete wanted to celebrate his 60th birthday with a cycling trip in Ireland. On the first trip we drove throughout central and southwest Ireland. We started in Dublin, and then spent time in County Clare, before hugging the Irish Coast known as the “Wild Atlantic Way” all the way from the Cliffs of Moher to the “Ring…
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A Tribute to Rooney 8.30.25
A tribute to a family member who recently passed away
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How did we get here? August 2, 2025
A post about Celebrations and Marriage