Ireland2005

Ireland 20

John Sommers, Mack Bailey & Kevin Brooks

Musical Memories with Mack, Kevin and John

Mack Bailey

Ireland

See Photos from Mack's 2004 Trip

to Ireland

March 15-22, 2005

Wanted: More Trip Photos!

Note to All Trip Participants: Please remember that we are seeking your best photos of our activities as well as those wonderful Limericks. E-mail to Mack (mack@mackbailey.com) and/or webmaster Karen (penguins51@aol.com) - for website. Your better photos will supplement and replace some already posted here - we like variety and diversity! Thanks!

For Mack's version of the song "Danny Boy" click on this: "Danny Boy" MP3

The whole Ireland Trip Gang, except Mark Miller, who took the photo.

Itinerary & Photos:

Key to Photographers:

AT - Al Tupek

JG - Jim Grim

KG - Kathy Grim

KT - Karen Tupek

MB - Mack Bailey

MM - May McCabe

RL - Rachel Levy

Day One – 3/15/05 Depart US

Overnight flight to Dublin Airport.

Jim Grim and Mack - getting in the spirit before departure - KT

Day Two – 3/16/05 Dublin

We started with a drive around Dublin’s city center, an ancient settlement, founded by the Vikings in the 9^th century. We saw the main thoroughfares of O’Connell Street and Nassau Street, the shopping streets and some of Dublin’s lovely parks. It included a walking tour of Dublin Castle, founded in the 13^th century; we saw State Apartments where many state functions are held in the richly decorated chambers. A highlight was a visit the Guinness Storehouse to see exhibits; we finished in the rooftop bar, Gravity, overlooking the city center sampling a draft Guinness

In the evening, we drove to Rathfarnham and to Taylor’s Three Rock, for dinner and a lively show of Irish folk songs and dances.

Dinner – Overnight: Burlington Hotel, Dublin

Our wee leprechaun arrives in Dublin - KG	The Throne Room Dublin Castle - KT	Reception Hall Dublin Castle - RL	The Grande Ballroom at Dublin Castle - KT	Grande Ballroom ceiling - RL
Taylor's Three Rock Dinner - AT	Mack and Seth Jason - very happy guys - RL	Rachel Levy and May McCabe enjoying the Guiness - MB	Overlooking Dublin from Gravity, the bar atop the Guiness Brewery - KT	Jan and Kevin - MB

Day Three – 3/17/05 St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Most of our group headed to O’Connell Street and joinedall the locals to watch the bands, many from the U. S. A. and the decorated floats. Some visited the Trinity College and saw the Book of Kells, while others walked around downtown enjoying local pubs. The guys had an informal rehearsal in the hotel pub.

Burlington Hotel, Dublin

Crowds in Dublin heading for the Parade - KT	Mack heading through crowds to the parade - RL	Al and Karen Tupek, Harriet and Rick Ressegger- Unk	St. Patrick's Day parade - KT	St. Patrick's Day parade - KT
St. Patrick's Day parade in Dublin - RL	The Brazen Head Pub - oldest in Ireland - KT	A Wee rehearsal - KG	The guys rehearsing - AT	- KT

Day Four – 3/18/05 Glendalough & Waterford Crystal

We saw the delightful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains, with a stop at the Glendalough Visitor Center where we learned about St. Kevin’s 6^th century monastery with its round tower, church ruins and Celtic crosses. We then continued on to Waterford, home of the renowned hand cut crystal, where we saw skilled craftspeople blowing, cutting and polishing the crystal. Mack, Kevin & John presented their first concert!

Granville Hotel, Waterford

Entry to monastery - KT

Glendalough - KT

Graveyard w/ church ruins in background - KT

- RL

Cemetery & tower - KT

- KG

- RL

John, Mack and Kevin - RL

- RL

Waterford - KT

Exquisite Crystal - KT

Blowing the glass - KT

Cutting the distinctive patterns - KT

Tour of Waterford Crystal - KT

- RL

Waterford Crystal display - KT

- RL

Mack posing with group from Annapolis Chorale - KT

Thank God, I'm a Country Boy - KT

First concert: Kevin, John and Mack - KT

Set List

Day Five - 3/19/05 Jamison Whiskey Tour and Cobh Heritage Center

We traveled along the south coast to Midleton where we toured the Jameson Heritage Center, learning about the distillation of Irish whiskey and saw the old mills, stillhouses, warehouses and kilns. And we sampled some whiskey. Then it was on to Cobh where we toured a museum at the Cobh Heritage Center, located in the former train station where passengers embarked for the United States. The exhibition traces the history of emigration from the age of the sailing “coffin ships” during the Famine years of the 1840s to the advent of steamships. In the afternoon, we visited the Blarney Castle and the outlet stores, where many people spent some Euros. Next we continued on to Cork where we took a drive around the city center.

Imperial Hotel, Cork

Jameson Whiskey distillery - KT	Jameson visitors center - KT	Distillery - RL	- RL	Mack surveys the whiskey stock - RL
Brian and Jamie sacrificed themselves to taste all the whiskeys to critique them for the rest of us. - RL	Capt. Brian Murphy, Jamie, and Rick Ressegger (right, with back to camera) sampled ALL the offerings) - - MM	Mack and Tim enjoying it, too. - RL	The Irish point towards the new land in America; and the Cobh Heritage Center - RL	Mack checks out the new technology at the Cobh Heritage Center. - KT
Mack kisses the Blarney stone, ensuring great oratory eloquency ("blarney") for 7 years. - RL	Leaping for joy at his re-newed gift of "blarney" for the next 7 years. - RL	Castle in the distance - - RL	Countryside views - - RL	Looking out from Blarney Castle at adjacent tower - KG
		KG	Katherine Hilton and Seth Jason - KG

Day Six-3/20/05 Kinsale Walking Tour & Cork

We drove south to Kinsale and took a short walking tour around this delightful town with narrow sloping Georgian streets! We also visited the Kinsale Brewing Company, enjoying a sample of the finished product at the end of the tour. Dubbed the “Gourmet Capital of Ireland” everyone headed for the pubs and restaurants. Some joined in a local parade to the hotel with local Irish song and dance. In the evening, we had another great show by Mack, Kevin & John, joined briefly by Captain Brian Murphy and Aspen's Don Ford.

Imperial Hotel, Cork

Fortress protecting Kinsale - KT

- RL

"Kinsale when it rains" - KT

Medieval town - RL

the Kinsale Brewery - RL

Waiting to sample the brew - RL.

Our group touring the brewery. - RL

Kevin playing darts in the brewery pub. - RL

Karen sampled all the brews - burp! - MM

Kevin, Mack and John - a sweet triple treat! - RL

Touring the narrow streets - RL

The parade begins - RL

Beautiful Irish children - RL

Rains forced parade and danced inside. - RL

Local musicians - KG

Local lasses dancing in lovely costumes - KG

- RL

Beautiful children in beautiful costumes - RL

Traditional dancing. - RL

Second concert in Cork - KT

- RL

Kevin with Brian in the rear. - RL

The guys are joined by Captain Brian Murphy on harmonica - KT

Second Concert

Dan Forde sang two wonderful songs. - RL

Dan Forde, fulfilling a dream of singing in Ireland - KT

Our talented guys - John, Mack and Kevin - KT

Set List

Day Seven-3/21/05 Rock Of Cashel & Medieval Banquet at Bunratty Castle

Leaving Cork, we headed north, stopping at the Rock of Cashel for a guided tour of these majestic church ruins which are clustered high on a limestone outcrop overlooking the surrounding countryside. After a tour and lunch, we passed through the outskirts of Limerick and crossed the River Shannon to the village of Bunratty, where we shopped and visited The Creamery and Durty Nellie's Pubs. In the evening we enjoyed the fun and feasting at Bunratty Castle. Mack served as The King during our medieval-style banquet in the Great Hall of the 15^th century castle during which the lords and ladies of the castle transported us in spirit to the Middle Ages with their songs and stories. Mack, Kevin and John had an informal sing-along in the hotel's pub until the wee hours of the morn.

Bunratty Castle Hotel, Bunratty