Lá Fhéile Pádraig

Croagh Patrick. Photo taken in October 2002.
- Croagh Patrick is well-known for its yearly pilgrimage in honor of Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint. It was on the summit of the mountain that Saint Patrick fasted for forty days in 441 AD and the custom has been handed down from generation to generation.

On our last three trips to Ireland we traveled with Eric Newby's book called The Wonders of Ireland. The book is Mr. Newby's personal choice of 484 remarkable, beautiful and interesting sites in Ireland. Most are antiquities such as ruins of castles, abbeys, friaries and monastic settlements along with breathtaking natural wonders such as mountains, scenic gaps and magnificent seascapes. We planned our itinerary so that we would see several "Wonders" each day. So without regard to to the weather conditions we traveled through Ireland on some of the smallest roads you can imagine, we climbed fences that were signposted "no trespassing" and/or "beware of bull", we walked across many cow and sheep pastures dodging dung, we walked through beautiful gaps where you might not see another soul for miles only grazing sheep. On this St. Patrick’s Day I wanted to remind everyone who has been to Ireland how beautiful the country is and for those who have not traveled to Ireland you will just have to take my word for it. It's grand! Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Here is the list of "Wonders" we have visited:
Cliffs of Moher
Intrinsic Bay
St Fachtnan's Cathedral
Druids Altar
Cahermacnaghten
Spectacle Bridge
Doonmore Castle
Leamaneh
Dysert O Dea
Crab Island
Anghinish
Roscam
Menlough Castle
Ballynalackan Castle
Corcomroe Abbey
Dungory Castle
Gleninagh Castle
Gulf of Aille
Lough Nafooey
Aghagower
Mweelrea
Murrisk
Croagh Patrick
Aasleagh Waterfall
Kilgeever Church
Doonflin Monument
Moyne Friary
Rosserk Friary
Lough Achree
Cruckancornia
St Farannan's Cliff
Fionn Mac Cumhail's Fingerstone
Dolmen of The Four Maols
Carrowmore Megaliths
Creevykeel Cairn
Cairns Hill
Drumcliff
Ardtermon Castle
Park's Castle
Boa Island Figures
Inver
Classiebawn Castle
Donegal Friary
Reilig at Bruckless
Killaghtee Church
Pass of Glengesh
Kilclooney Dolmens
Slieve League
Bawan
Glencolumbkille
Croaghmuckros Coast Road
Errigal Mountain
St Columcille's Oratory
Doon Rock and Holy Well
Teampall Douglas
Cloch Cheannfaoladh
Cashelmore Bell Tower
Ray Church
Horn Head
Killydonnell Friary
Grianan of Aileach
Doe Castle
Burt Castle
Arboe Cross
Barnes Gap
Tullaghoge Fort
Beaghmore Stone Circles
Dungiven Priory
Bovevagh Church
Dungiven-Draperstown Mountain Road
Giant's Causeway
Dunluce Castle
Torr Head
Bonamargy Friary
Carrick-a-Rede Island
Glenariff
Layde Church
Ossian's Grave
Dundrum Castle
Loughinisland Churches
Ballynoe Stone Circle
Ballydugan Flour Mill
Maghera Church and Round Tower
Struel Wells
Inch Abbey
Proleek Dolmen
Kilfeaghan Dolmen
Monasterboice
Trim
Slane Hill
Bective Abbey
Donaghmore Round Tower and Church
Mellifont Abbey
Newgrange
Kilsaran Church
Ben of Howth
Kilmallock Friary
Lough Gur
Monasteranenagh Abbey
Adare Manor
Cratloe Wood
Astronomical Telescope
Beal Boru
Devil's Bit
Burncourt House
Rock of Cashel
Timoney Stones
Grubb's Grave
Swiss Cottage
Ardmore Monastic Settlement
Rostellan Dolmen
Riverstown House
St Colman's Cathedral
Clonmel Churchyard
Belvelly Castle
Blackrock Castle
Kinsale Museum
Carrigaline Church and Drake's Pool
Shippool Castle
Ballycatteen Ring Fort
Timoleague Abbey
Templebryan
Old Head of Kinsale
Lough Hyne
Drombeg Stone Circle
Coppinger's Court
Castletownshend
Mizen Head
Bantry House
Garinish Island
Ballycrovane Ogham Stone
Healy Pass
Gougane Barra
Reenagoppul Stone Circle
Muckross Abbey
Gap of Dunloe
Ardfert Cathedral
Lislaughtin Abbey
Carrigafoyle Castle
Rattoo
Little Ark
Cuchullainn's Leap
Carrigaholt Castle
Bridges of Ross
Danganbrack
Magh Adhair
Skelligs
Staigue Fort
Browne's Hill Dolmen
Kilmacduagh
Dun Aengus
Connor Pass
Gallarus Oratory
Wicklow Gap
St Brendan's Oratory
Piper's Stones
Coole Park
Glendalough
Portumna Castle
Rossbeigh Strand
Jerpoint Abbey
Ballghbeama Gap
Aran Islands
Baltinglass Abbey and Hill Fort
Clonmacnoise
Castleruddery Stone Circle
Dunbeg
Meeting of the Waters
Clonfert Cathedral
Kanturk Castle

r.m.