Home is where the Navy sends you...: Cork to Killarney

After breakfast, we went to load up the van. We, obviously, had to stop for a photo op with the concierge in the top hat.

Once that was done, we got in the van and headed back to Cove or Cobh (the Irish way of saying it). There we went to the Cobh Heritage Center/Emigration Museum. After my great-great grandmother died, my great-great grandfather packed up his stuff and his 5 kids (one of them being by great-grandfather), walked the 61 miles from their village to Cobh to get on a ship bound for America. So to be standing in the place where they stood 125 years ago was a pretty cool experience.

Dad & I with some belongings

The Museum walks you through the experience/daily life people would've had on the ships that crossed the Atlantic. Basically, it sucked. That's pretty much what I got out of it. It was either really hot or really cold, the seas where rough, people were sick, there were rats and not enough food. Says something about the home country if you're willing to go through all of that just to not be there anymore. The ships were actually called "Coffin Ships" because there were very little survivors when they finally reached their destination.

Me, and my friends, ready to go to America

Reading about the crappy conditions on the ships

After you walk through the first part, it takes you into Titanic stuff. Cobh was Titanic's last stop before that fateful collision with the iceberg. The experience walks you through the building of the Titanic, the living quarters (first class where living the life, third class not so much), etc.

About to get on board the Titanic...

Haha, my mom is crazy :)

After the Titanic portion, it then walks you through Lusitania disaster. It was torpedoed by a German submarine. It happened about 10 minutes off the coast of Cobh, over 1,000 people were killed and just over 700 were rescued. The survivors went to Cobh afterwards.

An old wheelchair, I tried to sit in it. Mom yelled at me...some things never change.

Posing on a bench from the 1st class Library

Mom, pretending to buy a ticket from the creepy mannequin

Side story: in our family it's a running joke that no matter where we go, my dad knows someone. We were walking out of the museum and my dad goes "Hey, I know him!" It happened to be Conor, his driver from the last time he went to Ireland in 2008. Conor recognized him & asked about my Uncle Gavin (who he also drove around). So another example to add to my theory of my dad knows everyone.

After touring the museum, we got back in the van to start our trip to Killarney. Our first stop along the way was Kinsale. It's a quaint little fishing town. We stopped long enough for a photo op and then to grab some "to-go" fish and chips, which were absolutely awesome.

With Kinsale in the background

After grabbing lunch, we continued to make the drive through the Irish countryside. After this trip, I have seen enough sheep to last me a lifetime. But here's a close up of one, the farmers spray paint them as a way to designate which sheep are who's.

Family picture with the Irish countryside

So, Mel shared with us little Irish folklore/traditions along the way. Did you know that if a bush or tree is growing by itself in the middle of a field, no one will touch it? The farmer will plant around it, they even built a highway around one instead of taking it down. It's said to be a "meeting place of the little people" meaning fairies or leprechaun's and cutting it down will bring the person bad luck. It makes me feel better about my superstitions about wearing a lucky jersey...

Leprechaun Crossing

We stopped in Kenmare for a cup of tea, and to walk around the shops there. They are known for their "woolen mills" where you can get Irish linen as well as sweaters.

After our shopping excursion, we got back in the car and headed to Torc Waterfall. It was beautiful and peaceful.