Westport Ireland

 Europe-Ireland-Mayo-Westport  This is a very popular tourist town in the West of Ireland. I had been thought this area about twice before but never stayed. So stayed a few nights during the wonderful sunny days of August . Went by train from Dublin . 

I had forgotten to get stamps in advance so purchased a booklet from the local Post Office. The postmark is celebrating Tayto potato chips being 70 years old. Which is now famous as being one of the first to produce this product. I have to say I love Tayto crisps as we call them in Ireland . 

Adare .Co Limerick .

 Europe-Ireland-Limerick-Adare  Passing through here on the way back from Kerry. It is a beautiful heritage town. I stayed here many many years ago and hopefully will do again . A very nice  afternoon was spent here. 

I am never fond of stamps with just text on them . A message on this from the head of the Irish Government to the Prime Minister of Great Britain and Ireland.

Kerry and Westmeath - Ireland

 Europe-Ireland-Kerry-Dingle It is not often that reality and a picture postcard is the same. But in July the weather was fantastic and spend a few hours here on this golden beach. Could not stay any longer would have got sunburnt  ! This beach is in the Dingle peninsula in County Kerry. 

The Irish Post office has been very active in promoting Pride . For the last number of years post boxes in the Dublin  city centre have been painted in the rainbow colours. Some of the delivery vans the same. 

Europe-Ireland-Westmeath-Athlone  Considered to be the centre of Ireland Athlone's main attraction is the River Shannon. 

A climate change stamp is postmarked here from the Athlone mails centre which handles most of the mail in Ireland . 

Kerry and Cork - Ireland

 Europe-Ireland-Kerry-Killarney . With Covid restrictions in place at this time it was holiday time at home and this time off to the beautiful county of Kerry. Spend a few days in Killarney and enjoyed every minute of it. The weather was glorious and being able to eat in restaurants was great , after such a long lockdown. Here is a photo of part of the Ring of Kerry . 

The stamp features Lady Jane Wilde who was the mother of the famous Oscar. Most Post offices are part of shops now . The was the case for the one I visited in Killarney. 

Europe-Ireland-Cork-Glengarriff. During the hols in Killarney made a visit  here. The surrounding area in West Cork and the village of Glengarriff was fantastic . Loved it all. Will have to go back. Went on the short boat ride to Garnish Island. Italian gardens and visited the house there. A very interesting and historic island . 

I am not particularly fond of stamps with just inscriptions on them. But this has an important date on it that most people now dont know. 11 July 1921. The day that there was a truce with the Government forces ( British) and the Republicans. This led to the signing of a treaty in December 1922 and the British Forces leaving the then Free State , later to become Republic of Ireland 

Ireland - Doolin County Clare

 

Europe-Ireland-Co.Clare-Doolin This area was my only holiday in 2020 ! Little did I know how long the issue with Covid19 would last. Luckily the weather was beautiful and a good time was had. Very few international tourists were here due to restrictions as normally this area would be packed in July. 

Posted in the local area post office , but as usual in Ireland got a sorting office postmark. 

Lahinch Co Clare Ireland

Europe-Ireland-Co.Clare-Lahinch Famous for its link Golf course. A nice town on the west coast of Ireland. Passed here on the way to Doolin where I was staying. 
 

Love the old suitcases on this stamp. Those were the days before wheelies and limited baggage. I think then you could nearly bring as much as you want on a plane., well at least at Dublin airport in 1969 . 

Welcome back 2021

Europe-Ireland-Co.Offaly  Greetings all. It has been over one year since I put up a new postcard. How the world has changed. All my trips for last year got cancelled . I am sure many of you have been in the same boat.. Well upwards and onwards for 2021 . Last year I did manage to get some local staycations as we call them. This trip was on a boat on the river Shannon. It rained for all the 3 days and so Clonmacnoise was not as picturesque as this postcard view is. This can be seen from the river. 
 

This was posted in a post office near Athlone. In fact this is were the majority of mail in Ireland get sorted. 

Vermeer Exhibition in Dublin

Europe-Ireland-Dublin It is not often I put postcards up here featuring Paintings. But in June I visited a marvellous  exhibition at the National Gallery of Ireland It featured works by Vermeer the famous Dutch Painter from 1632-1675. This one is one of the most famous "The Love Letter " circa 1669-70.

These stamps feature Royal sites in Ireland. From a time when we had Kings of Ireland. The one of the left "Hill of Tara" , I can even remember from my school days. 

Europe-Ireland-Dublin  Here is another and perhaps my favourite from the Exhibition. " Woman writing a letter with her Maid " circa 1670. You will note that both feature letter writing well before we had postage stamps as we know them.

Some more Royal Sites. The more famous one on the right is the Rock of Cashel which is very impressive . You can visit here on the way to County Cork 

Ashford Castle

Europe-Ireland-Cong-Co . Mayo   Went here for my winter weekend . Ashford Castle is a hotel and is considered one of the best in the world. The service is top class. The good thing is that it looks like and feels like a Castle inside. My first time to visit this part of Ireland . Where the famous film "The Quiet Man "was made featuring John Wayne. 

Well the Irish Post office sure did a good job postmarking this card. I got the hotel to mail the card for me , which I dont usually do . It arrived back in double quick time. The Irish Post office latest Christmas stamp which is a label and stamp showing a casual table designed by Eileen Grey in the early 1900s . This table can now be seen all over the world as there is many copies now made in china. 

Clonakilty - Ireland

Europe-Ireland-Clonakilty Just spent my Irish holidays in this southern part of the country. Very peaceful and cam , or that how is normally is. It rained non stop for the few days there, but still had the comfort of a spa hotel to relax. Well known area for good food . 

I thought it was interesting to show a stamp just issued featuring Irish Beef , since in this area. Not that you can see it on this card, but a first as we have just got Post codes in Ireland. However it is a bit of a mess right now.. No one is using them and the post office cant find your address if you just send a letter with a postcode on. My post code is K36 Y653.

This is the Post office in Clonakilty. A former Church . Note we have green post boxes in Ireland. 

Galway- Ireland and Blog update

Europe-Ireland-Galway  Galway city, without doubt the cultural capital of the West of Ireland. Galway boasts some of the finest shops, pubs and restaurants to be found. One of my favourite cities in Ireland. I spend a nice weekend here in November. 

The card shows a commemorative stamp featuring Thomas Davis. Unusually this stamp was available from the main Post Office in Galway . Normally special stamps are mostly only available from the Philatelic counter in the Dublin GPO. Also this is my last postcard in my current sets. So a bit sad putting this up , but also delighted I could share all these cards with you all.
Apart from a possible card from Germany , my next set of cards will be from the trip due to start February 16. That is all sorted now and looking forward to that. Lots of postcards due from that trip.
On the trip- Perth, Australia, Christmas Island , Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Sabah, Sarawak, Johor, Kelantan,Terengganu, Perak, Pahang, Penang,Perlis and Kedah. I have been to Malaysia many times but never posted cards in these states.

In the meantime this blog will start to go back to some of the countries I have been to share some more stories , photos and in many cases photos of Post Offices.  

County Down - Northern Ireland , Donegal -Ireland

Europe-Northern Ireland-Mount Stewart  This is a potential World Heritage Site. Mount Stewart House and Gardens is a very beautiful location to visit. Got a tour of the house where many of the Royal Family have stayed in the past.  

A regular Northern Ireland Definitive issue. 

Europe-Ireland-Donegal The most Northerly of the provinces of Ireland. A really beautiful county and I dont go here very often as it is up the top of the Island. Great beaches, if only we got the weather to appreciate them . 

This fashion stamp was from a booklet . 

Tourist sights in Ireland

Europe-Ireland-The Burren  A world renowned area for plants and rocks. Some plants are only grown in this area , so it is very unique. It is a lovely area to visit in County Clare in the West of Ireland. 

These cards were posted in 2009. Featuring a Europa stamp from that year. 

Europe-Ireland-Killarney One of my favourite places in Ireland to visit. I have been here many times and have fond memories from my time when I was a child . Killarney is a big tourist spot and is on the edge of the Ring of Kerry , a famous tourist trail. The Gardens and the old big house are a wonderful day to spend an summer's afternoon. 

A standard laser print . 

Rock of Cashel and Aran Islands

Europe-Ireland-Rock of Cashel  Dating from 1100 this was the original seat of the Kings of Muster . ( This area) . It is most famous for the Round Tower . Also on site is the remains of the Cathedral  and chapel. 

The other part of the round stamp issue. 

Europe-Ireland-Aran Islands These are very famous Islands on the west coast of Ireland. I had previously visited the most remote Island in the world ( Bouvet) and inhabited ( Tristan de Cunha) . I was quite embarrassed when asked about what was the Aran Islands like to visit. So I made sure I did. I have to say it is a wonderful place. Reminds me of old Ireland if I can put it that way. I was quite surprised to find many non Irish working here and they were speaking Irish language.  Here is Dun Aengus a fort on the coast of the Island. 

The Postmaster agreed to cancel this postcard for me prior to going into the outgoing mail bag. It ended up getting another laser printed cancel . 

Tentative World Heritage Sites , Ireland

Europe-Ireland-Clonmacnoise  This is one of Ireland's most important monastic sites and is situated on the banks of the river Shannon. Founded in 545A and is famous for its Round Towers. 

Posted nearby with a double cancellation. 

Europe-Ireland-Ceide Fields Beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo lies the Céide Fields, the most extensive Stone Age monument in the world, consisting of field systems, dwelling areas and megalithic tombs. The stone walled fields, extending over thousands of acres are almost 6,000 years old, the oldest known in the world. They are covered by a natural blanket bog with its own unique vegetation and wildlife. The Visitor Centre has won several awards, including the Gold Medal for architecture. 

Possibly the first circular stamp that Ireland issued. 

Germany and Ireland

Europe-Germany-Dachau  Just outside Munich this site is certainly worth visiting. It brings home and concentrates one'w thoughts on what happened during the Nazi regime. 

Bought this stamp in a shop. Many newsagents sell stamps. Was not near a post office on this trip. 

Europe-Ireland-Kenmare   Kenmare is in Kerry in the South west of Ireland. This town is one of my favourites and I have spend a number of summers down here . A very friendly town and Kerry itself has much to offer including the famous "Ring of Kerry"

I thought I was doing well when I got the postmaster to cancel this postmark. However it still went through the mail centre and got the regular postmark.