Aussie Visitors -The Merriels!!

Hi peeps! long time, no blog. Those quickblogs sort of worked but i never finished the job properly and am now way out of date again...

So, here we are way back in september, after our sunny spanish holiday.... and doesn't that seem a world away now with the freezing temperatures in Dublin now! Today a cool 9 degrees, tomorrow a top of 7 ! and it's still only autumn, but that's just a technicality..

But back in September now ... well that was warm and sunny and suprisingly un-rainy... or at least it was the week that the Merriels were in the country....they kindly brought the sunny stable weather with them and departed with it again.. sadly true.

Our Friendly family of 4 (the most numerous troupe we have yet accommodated (very successfully we hope) stayed in Dublin with us for a few days as part of their Grand Tour of Europe's finest cities: London, Paris & ......Dublin.

L-R: Rob, Karen and us in St Stephen's Green ...

and Annie and Eleanor being top class tourists in Grafton street.

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L-R: Outside Stag's Head... Notice Ivan's new air-mattress pump, to ensure our guests were well catered for that night... mmm.... so organised.

Rob and Ivan enjoy a baby guinness at The Stag's Head

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L-R: Rob at Stag's Head

Annie and Eleanor checking out the Liffey River, with Ha'penny bridge in background... very very iconic... and...Just look at that Blue Sky!! (not that iconic, but nice just the same)

After Dublin-day, the gang then left to go exploring the south-west of Ireland...
Here is a small selection of photos from their combined cameras.... (all 4 of em)...

Not sure what all these places are excatly... but think Cork, Kerry and Clare.

L-R Possibly a view from the dingle peninsula in Kerry??, or somewhere on the Cork coast?

Magnificent Bantry House in Cork (still to see for us) and it's amazing vews

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L-R Some gorgeous Corkish view?

and... could be anywhere really, but pretty cute

This one I do know:

L-R: Unmistakably the Cliffs of Moher in co. Clare. (Annie & Eleanor and Rob)

This is definitely Eleanor at the dingle Peninsula... beautiful spot.

and that weather!

Ivan and I met up with the travelling family in Galway for the last weekend of their holiday...

and together, we all embarked on a boat (much bigger than what i first imagined) and headed for InisMor (InishMore) one of the Aran Islands (off the coast of Galway)... which proved much further than i had imagined and altogether much windier than anyone could ever have thought possible..

Now, these islands are something else...

Inis Mor is Irish for 'Big Island', to distinguish it from Inis Maan (middle island) and Inis Oirr (East Island)....

They are the rockiest, windiest spots in Ireland, and the competition is firce!

And one of the great sites on InishMore is the fort of Dun Aengus, which sits overlooking a 100 metre sheer cliff..... (and is thought to have been built in the 2nd century BC!)

Here she is:
L-R: Dun Aengus Fort

L-R Cliff edge snaps for everyone

Elsewhere on Inish More...taking a nap
L-R: Group photo with Island tour bus.

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On the boat back home...

We slowly made our way to Dublin the next day via Galway City, had a super night of cards and our friends were off the next morning... to continue their tour... next stop: London!