Ireland / Éire - The southern part

The tourplan:
Courtbrack hostel (Limerick) - Mount Brandon Hostel (Cloghane, 2 nights) - Kinlay House (Cork) - Kilkenny Tourist Hostel (Kilkenny) - Ashfield House (Dublin) - summer cottage (Doolin, 3 nights)
my changes: hiking in Cloghane (Mt. Brandon, 1 night) and in Connamara (Maumturk Mts, 2 nights)

This time we - 5 friends of mine - and I visited Ireland. After a short stay in Cork in september 2006 (Nano2Life scientific meeting) it was my second time in Ireland. We rented a van and cruised from Shannon over Limmerick - Cloghane - Cork - Kilkenny - Dublin - Doolin back to Shannon. Almost every night a different city and different pubs. I liked the pubs in Cork best. But the others were also very nice, especially when there was live music.
I also used the chance to go hiking while we were in Cloghane and Doolin. Instead of the Ireland trip I was planning a hiking trip for a longer period of time this summer. But to make a roadtrip with your friends is unique. So I went at least three nights in total outside and left the windless hostels behind.

Here are the pictures (Fuji Finepix 6500fd) [got a new camera. Thanks to my old Nikon 885, I loved you!]:

The first challange! We missed a train in Düsseldorf. Corinna and Barbara checking the flight schedual again.
Finally at the airport Weeze. Barbara, Thomas, Kristina Henrik and Corinna in the line for the check-in.
Sunset on the patio at the airport.
Our van. Big enough to carry six people with their luggange.
In Limerick we started the sightseeing. Here St. Mary´s Cathedral.

King John’s Castle in Limerick.
Much nicer than Limerick. A small typical town we went through on the way to Cloghane. Everywhere colorful houses and nice litte stores.
In the late afternoon we arrived in Cloghane. This is the view north standing behind our hostel.
Low tide!
Relaxing!
Art!
Thanks to the girls who served this delicious dinner!
In the pub next to the hostel.

Brakfast before the group slitted. The girls made a rode trip on the peninsula. The guys went hiking to Mt. Brandon (952 m)- second highest Peak in Ireland. (highest: Carrauntoghill (1041 m ) on the Iveragh Peninsula).
A little bit downstream of Torc Falls.
The Torc Falls self.
At a lake in Killarney National Park. Henrik jumps for joy.
Thomas joking around at Ladies View.

Group picture at Ladies View in the county Kerry.
Myself in the Jameson Destillery. Before I became an Irish Whiskey tester!
The Caher Castle with Corinna, Henrik and Thomas waiting on the castle wall.
Babara exploring the castle.
Rock of Cashel.

Celtic crosses in front of the old cathedral remians.
The ruins of the cathedral at Rock of Cashel.
Again, the remains of the cathedral.
69!
Rushhour in Dublin. Busses everywhere.
For the last three nights we rented a summer cottage near Doolin. Awesome! This day I came back from a hike in Connemara. More awesome!!!
Sunset over Aran Islands.
The Cliffs of Moher.
At Shannon airport awaiting the check-in. Everybody was tired at this point...
... but Henrik!