The Holmes Family Blog: IRELAND

Meanwhile back at Camp Dameron...

Okay, now back to the action!

Our next stop is Ross Castle. There we found out that most of the Irish 'castles' we were seeing were in fact tower houses. This one dates back to the 1400's

"Is it true that leprechauns hide in the lakes of killarney?" Mom and Caitlin scoping out the water

THIS IS MY CASTLE!

BELLY PIC of the Queen and the Prince

Back at the bus, Mom has taken over the tour and will be blasting the fight song while waiving her ND flag from the window!

After Ross Castle, we took a stop by a waterfall in Killarney for a quick photo op

A short drive down the road we found ourselves in beautiful Kinsale. This is the old fort overlooking the harbor

Mom has decided to start her own tour, and is trying to coax some followers

No town tour is EVER complete without a stop at the local bakery for a pregnancy snack. This time... Chocolate Hazlenut Tarts!

satisfied!

some stores are best left to the women. Chris and Dad hold down the fort

The small crystal shop where Patrick and Ashley FINALLY found the crystal Christmas ornament they had been hoping to find in Ireland

PREGNANCY HUNGER STRIKES AGAIN! Time to stop in the local chocolate shop this time

CHOCOLATE SHOTS!

Mom busy getting CHOCOLATE WASTED!

While on our extensive tour, there were several destinations that we would rarely pass without stopping.... These include: Distilleries....Breweries....Bakeries...Chocolate Shops....Crystal Shops...Wool Shops... AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST: BATHROOMS!

Just make sure that you know whether or not you are a FIR or a MNA

Kinsale

After Kinsale we ventured on to Cork... Here's some pics from our visit to the English market

Ireland's idea of bacon

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

Patrick and Ashley get a look at the Hake they have been eating all week. I'd rather find it on my plate than in the water with teeth like those!

It's always important to locate the nearest place to have our dentures fixed

Kinsale to Cork, Cork to Cashel....

A quick stop at the Rock of Cashel to see the stomping grounds of Ireland's most famed Saint, Patrick

Little girls dont pick flowers.... they pick SHAMROCKS!

Before we knew it the scenic portion of our trip was over and it was time to get to business... Bring on the ND... Bring on the football!

always great to see classic traditional Irish pubs in the heart of Dublin flying my alma mater's flag!

Ashley FINALLY getting to try Patrick's most missed food from Dublin: ABRAKEBABRA!

Guinness for your health

Ha'penny bridge

Patrick's old classroom building in Trinity College

After touring the city, it was time for the pep rally.... Patrick was excited, Ashley was excited, but most of all our little man was REALLY excited. He got to hear live for the very first time the song which will definitely be one of his 2 favorite fight songs!

Ashley says he was kicking.... Patrick swears he was doing Irish Jigs and doing pep rally cheers!

Baby's first pep rally

GAME DAY!!!!!

Off to Dublin Castle for a Mass of Thanksgiving where thousands of Irish fans went to mass to pray for a HUGE IRISH VICTORY!

Mom being photo bombed by band geeks

Mom getting more courageous and moving outside the fence for some close interaction with the band

Mom starstruck with Dr. Ken Dye the director of the oldest band in the land

Mom and her body guards. She is holding her hands together to make sure she doesn't check to see what they are wearing under the kilts!

Fans lining up after mass to parade behind the band down the main streets of dublin on the way to the tailgate

closing down the streets of dublin

All good pregnant wives come to tailgates with fine irish whiskey for their men!

Tailgate wine anyone?

We didn't make it to the blarney stone, so instead Patrick kissed the only bump he could find for good luck!

During pictures Dad assumes the role of portable coat tree

BUMP OFF!

GAME TIME!!!!!!! We were so lucky to get a chance to see a game in the incredible AVIVA stadium.... here's some game-time pics

Forget Soccer hooligans.... we have football hooligans!

Our tax dollars at work

Guinness on tap at football games? I could get used to this!

in Ireland men with pitchforks come out during breaks to tend to the grass

Final Score!

AVIVA STADIUM

After our glorious victory, Patrick and Ashley spent one last day in Dublin taking in as much of the culture as they could...


Even the swans drink guinness here.... check out their guinness coloring	!

Patrick sampling Dingle Sea Salt and Brown bread icecream

Patrick Approves! It had to be one of the tastiest ice cream combinations we have ever tried!!!

When you live in a state without bubble tea (AHEM... South Carolina) you have to go to extremes to resolve your cravings.... This does not exclude traveling thousands of miles to ireland for a little taste of asia

I know what you're thinking... they have FINALLY had enough sweet stuff... They can't possibly want any more

security footage from "Queen of Tarts" PREGNANT WOMAN SEEN EYEBALLING DESERTS AND STEALING SAMPLES FROM THE PLATE IN FRONT OF HER!

any excuse to drink more guinness... a new irish holiday celebrating the birthday of the creator of guinness

Who has 2 thumbs and likes guinness???? THIS GIRL RIGHT HERE!

This was NOT the leprechaun mom was hoping to catch in Ireland

Even the deserts here look like guinness

Rumor had it that there was one master brewer in the Guinness factory who could famously put a shamrock in the head of the beer..... Mom searched far and wide before finding her hero....