Our Travelers' Diaries
Writers, Myths, and Legends - A Journey to Ireland
Submitted by Lois

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We drove southwest to Derry, or Londonderry, to stay 2 nights. Derry is a walled city and some of our group walked the entire length of the wall around the city, only about a mile. The walls were built 1614-1619 to control local Irish rebels (whoever they were!)
http://www.visitderry.com/walls.htm

The city was closed during the battle between Protestant William of Orange and Catholic-supported King James II.
http://www.ulsterloyal.freeservers.com/thesiegeofderry.html

We then visited St. Columb's Cathedral. Built in 1633, it is the oldest building in the city. It has a little museum-like room that holds the original keys to the walls of the city. Each person has their own hand-stitched kneeler.
http://www.stcolumbscathedral.org/History.htm

St. Columb's Cathedral
St. Columb's Cathedral St. Columb's Cathedral

We then visited the Amelia Earhart Centre. Did you know that she landed in Ireland? She did, on May 21, 1932, right in a field near this centre in a park in Derry. It was her first attempt at flying solo across the Atlantic Ocean from New York. She was trying to reach Paris, but didn't quite make it this time. She stayed overnight and was quite a sensation for the local folks, all over the world.

We drove on to County Donegal and visited Glenveagh Castle, Gardens, Lake, and park.
http://www.ireland-now.com/castles/glenveagh.html

Glenveagh Castle Glenveagh Castle
Glenveagh Castle

At the castle, we enjoyed storytelling by Breezy. In the group picture, she is the 4th from the left, with red hair and a light green sweater on. She told us tales of Finn MacCool (of Giants Causeway fame), and of Irishmen found all over the world. She gave us little natural gifts, including shells and sprigs of heather to keep evil spirits away.

Glenveagh Castle, Group

Here is a map showing our travels: Derry, to Letterkenny, to Donegal. A full day!
http://www.12travel.com/goto/map.html?map=1C

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