Cobh & Ardmore

This Sunday morning found us walking 2 blocks to a Methodist church we'd been past several times. Roy really wanted to go to church while we are here in Ireland. As we walked into the foyer of this 100 year old church we saw regular folding chairs, a computer with all the trappings of a Power Point presentation! My first comment was " This is not where we want to be!" We ventured on in and to our dismay the service was a sing-along to words on the screen with several chapters/verses from the Bible. All of 10 people were in attendance (I counted!)  So not what we were wanting.  We were very disappointed. Went back to our B&B where Mike/Peggy were ready to roll. We loaded up and headed toward Ardmore, our next home for 2 nights. Along the way we veered off the route Lady Garmin had for us and found ourselves in Blarney. We drove to the Blarney Castle home of the Blarney Stone. As we were standing in line for our ticket (felt like an amusement park when we first arrived) Roy announced that he didn't come all the way to Ireland and not kiss the Blarney Stone so we purchased our ticket and away we trekked up the hill into the castle, up 100 spiraling steps to the very top and by golly Roy Turner has officially kissed the Blarney Stone!! No small feat for a man that's deathly afraid of heights!!  I was the official photographer...had no interest in laying on my back while someone shoves me forward to kiss a stone a million other people have put their lips on!! One official Turner is enough.

Mike/Peggy went up to the top but thought better of kissing when they saw how you had to contort your body. Mike wasn't game to carry Peggy down the 100 spiral steps when her back decided to spasm!! 

Left the Blarney and drove to the wonderful seaside village of Cobh (pronounced "cove").  We ate lunch near the water and strolled down to the Heritage Center where we read about and took pictures of Annie Moore. She along with her brothers were the first immigrants to enter Ellis Island after it opened in the late 1800s...I can't recall the details and my info is packed. Cobh was the last stop for the Titanic before its doomed Atlantic crossing in 1912. St. Coleman's Cathedral was by far the most beautiful cathedral we've seen thus far. Have included a couple of pictures. As Roy and I walked out of the cathedral, a man stopped me and asked if I liked music to which I said yes...he invited us to a concert the choir was performing this evening from 7-8!! It is the same music they will be performing at the Vatican next Sunday(which just so happens to be my birthday!) ...I digress!! Roy and I went back in and what a treat....more than made up for the morning's disappointment. What are the chances of that happening?? AND..we were treated to a Carillon concert earlier in the afternoon as we walked around . It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Oh, did I mention we strolled to an ice cream spot and of course we thoroughly enjoyed yet another cone!! Peggy and I decided we are coming home fat and tan!! Beautiful sunny weather and lots of ice cream cones.

I have to apologize for the grammatical errors in last night's blog..I read it aloud to Mike and Roy this morning!! Good Grief...MIke said I could blame it on drinking too much but I don't drink so I'm just plain goofy!! Please look over my mistakes and just enjoy the ride.

We've arrived at our new B&B in Ardmore. A lovely spot near the ocean. Wish we could stay here 5 nights rather than2.