And so it begins....

All students have safely arrived at Days Hotel in Galway!  W Today we enjoyed a nice walking tour of Galway's City Center, then returned to the Days Hotel for a lovely dinner.  Then, it was finally time for some much needed sleep!

Today began with a nice breakfast at the hotel, followed by a trip back to Galway City Centre for an outdoor concert on Eyre Square.  A few drops of rain put a scare in us that it might be a rained shortened program, but it stopped for us to finish the show!  Then we were off to a boat trip on Lough Corrib (Lake Corrib).  What beautiful waters, and 365 islands.  Very Cool!  This evening will be another trip into the City Centre for dinner and shopping.

Today began with breakfast in the hotel again.  Then we were off to the Cathedral for Mass.  It is a beautiful facility built in 1965 (but you would never guess by the stone work-AMAZING).  Also, a pretty cool mosaic of John F Kennedy (that's right, the former President).  They love that guy over here!  Many are in the process of excursions to do Powerboating & Dinghy Sailing, Horsebacking Riding, Bicycling, Golfing, and the oh so popular shopping in CIty Centre.  Beautiful weather today.  Crazy windy, but sunny!  Finsihed the day with a lovely dinner at the hotel.  Early day tomorrow (gotta love that 6am wake up call!).  We are headed to the Cliffs of Moher tomorrow, ultimately ending up in Limerick.  Will try to update tomorrow, but we will have to see.......

We have arrived in Limerick.  It has been a very entertaining day of touring.  Had a nice drive through the beautiful countryside en route to the Cliffs of Moher, which was very windy and BEAUTIFUL (check pictures to see)!  We then headed to Bunratty Castle and Folk Village for a lunch with a traditional music and dance show.  Also, many had a chance for some shopping and a visit to Durty Nelly's.  Finished the day by checking into hotel and having a fantastic dinner.  More to come tomorrow as we tour on the way to our new hotel in Killarney.

Today we packed the 5 busses and left the town of Limmerick to travel to visit a Traditional Family Irish Farm.  Sheepdog and sheering of the sheep demenstrations were the highlight of the trip and we saw the biggest cow we have ever seen!!  (About as big as a horse just much fatter!)  After the farm and lunch we traveled to the town of Killarney where we checked into our new hotel for two nights.  The boys performed tonight as the guest choir at St. Mary's Cathedral for the 6:15 mass.  The mass had about 1,000 people attending (counting our 230) and performed a short concert afterwards.  Many good pictures from the day that will be posted as soon as we reach the next hotel!

Today we traveled to the Ring of Kerry!  Beautiful!  We are still in the town of Killarney for tonight.  The concert at the mall was great!  Fantastic crowd!!  Dinner was at the hotel!  After dinner, we had our own "irish cabaret" in the lobby with a Irish Band as accompanist!  Tomorrow we will be leaving for Cork (hopefully it will have internet to post some pictures!)

Today we left our hotel in Killarney!  The weather is beautiful today!  We headed into town and rode Jaunting Carts in the Killarney National Forest (Aw the smell of manure in the morning :)  We are now enjoying some time in Killarney doing what else, SHOPPING!  Off for Lunch and Blarney Castle this afternoon and ending up in Cork City for the night!!  Pictures will be posted soon!

We are headed to Cashel and Kilkenny for touring and then to Dubin for the Merry Ploughboys Dinner and Show.  After the show we will be checking into our final hotel of the trip, the city of Dublin!  May not have more pictures until Wednesday, due to traveling. 

Today began with guided city tours of Dublin, including Dublinia and Trinity College.  We then had some free time in the city center.  Many spent some time on Grafton Street (one of the two main shopping districts in Dublin).  We then went on to St. Patrick's Cathedral for an afternoon concert (what a beautiful building).  There was then some more time in town to check out the sites in town.  A few have taken a side trip to the horse track (and I'm sure they are winning thousands).  We had a lovely dinner in the Ballroom this evening.  Once again, we had amazing weather today (even the locals have commented on how fortunate we have been).

What a great final day.  We began the day by celebrating mass at the Pro Cathedral.  We then headed into City Center for lunch.  The afternoon was spent at the Guiness Storehouse with a concert in the atrium.  Then it was followed with a tour, ending in the Gravity Bar at the top of the Storehouse with a fantastic panoramic view of Dublin.  We finished the evening with a Farewell Dinner.  What a blast.  Each bus had an opportunity to "roast" their bus driver.  Many creative presentations were made, with some very entertaining "new" lyrics to traditional Irish tunes.  Well done folks!!!!!  Thanks to all who made the trip with us, as well as those of you who have followed our travels via the website.  Keep the prayers coming as we begin our travels home tomorrow morning (especially for those of us who have to load the bus at 5:30 am - OUCH!).  We look forward to getting home and back to our friends and family.  Again, much thanks for your support.