2008.07 Ireland: Bill and Jean Woolley and Bill, Judy, and Rob Neill

Bill worked for months planning an itinerary and making lodging arrangements for a week-long trip to Ireland with our neighbors, Bill and Judy Neill and their son Rob, who grew up with our kids and now lives in New York. We flew to Dublin, spent a couple of days there, and then went to Brussels for a week with Pamela and Henry. We met the Neills on Saturday, July 19, and took off for the countryside on Sunday. We rented a car at the Dublin airport. Bill Woolley did the navigating and Bill Neill drove, and both did brilliantly despite some of the “interesting” roads and signage. Our stops included Dublin and Wicklow (Bill and Jean only), Letterkenny, Grianan Ailligh fortress (homeland of the ancient O’Neills), Derry (well-preserved wall), Ardara (weaving demonstration and purchase of wool garments), Glencolumbkille (historic folk village), Slieve League (high cliffs and a great hike), Killybegs (seaside town), Donegal (great B&B and shopping), Beleek (pottery), Lough Derg (prilgrimage site linked to St. Patrick), Carrow Keel (prehistoric passage tombs), Tulsk (active archeological dig), Kinvara (fishing village—delicious fresh oysters), Kilmachdaugh (ruins of monastic community), the Burren (portal tomb, rock formations, and wild flowers), the Cliffs of Moher (spectacular views), Caggaunowen (castle and Iron Age educational center with artifacts and model village), Limmerick (museum), Cashel (castle—Rock of Cashel and bar where the first Guinness was served), and Kilkenny (fantastic reconstructed castle; homeland of the Butlers—Jean’s grandfather’s family name).

Bill Woolley climbing round tower of St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny

Rob, Bill, and Bill...well qualified after this trip

The Burren

Portal Tomb on the Burren

We saw many sacks of cut peat on the bogs and often saw it being burned.

Rob hiked in Glencolumbkille while the rest of us went to the historic folk village. He had the beach and trails to himself.

After we saw MichaelMolloy hand weaving wool cloth, Judy and I bought jackets made from the cloth by a tailor who works with Triona Designs, Molloys' shop.

Father and Son: Sean, 13, was the 2006 Irish fiddle champion. He is also an accomplished penny whistle player.

Prehistoric passage tombs dot the hillsides overlooking Lough Arrow. The drive up the narrow, steep dirt road to get to the trail head parking lot took a great deal of courage. The Bills were undaunted, and when we reached our destination the beauty and tranquility of the place was awesome.

Dooey Cottage (1700 AD) at the An Clachan FolkVillage at Glencolumbkille

MagazineGate, Guildhall, and TowerMuseum in Derry Wall

Cliffs of Moher

St. John the Baptist Church, Cathedral, and Round Tower at Kilmacduagh monastic community

Kilkenny Castle

Christ Church, Dublin
Lake Tae, Wicklow

Slieve League

Trinity College, Dublin

2008.07 Brussels

We spent a week with Pamela and Henry from 12 to 19 July 2008, combining the visit with a trip to Ireland with our neighbors Bill and Judy Neill and their son Rob, who grew up with our kids and now lives in New York. While in Brussels we spent some time in museums we hadn’t previously visited, did some city walking, worked in the garden, and walked to and from Henry’s “stage” with him. A stage is like a day camp and there are all kinds of them operating in Brussels during school holidays. Henry’s done stages on everything from Don Quixote to sports to music. The week we were there he was doing China. We also enjoyed some late night visits with Pamela, who worked during the day but always found time for us in the evenings. We had a lovely Sunday afternoon picnic with good friends of Pamela’s and a little friend of Henry’s at the Solvay Chateau in La Hulpe where bronze statues by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon are placed along walks throughout the grounds. Henry had visited the park on a school field trip in June, so he enjoyed the return visit with his friend Nicolas.

Many of the Jean-Michel Folon sculptures at the Solvay Chateau feature the man with the hat. The second picture is a clay version Henry made from memory after his school field trip.

Parc du Cinquantenaire, which houses several museums

A building in the EU area, with a banner welcoming Slovakia to the Euro

Grandson Henry as the dragon in the play put on by his China stage