Off to Dublin via the Bunratty Caslte

The Bunratty Castle was only 3 km from where we were staying, next to Headley Court (that's Headley for you Blazing Saddles fans) it took us 30 minutes to find it.  We had a 2 for 1 coupon thanks to Jeannie from her recent trip to Ireland, the senior discount was denied again because it couldn't be used with any other discount.  Still saved $5.

The castle was cool.  You had to pass through the 'village' that was made up of different trades and houses from different periods.  People inside explained stuff and answered questions.

The castle itself had many narrow spiral staircases and we went to the top.  Not very crowed as it was early and had rained so hard the night before people may have stayed home.  The bus parking lot was empty.

Fishing boat, pots, and net

They called this the murder hole as only one person could pass through the narrow passage and would be picked off or doused with boiling water.  Fun days!!

From the top

 

Maybe the first baby walker as it had wheels on the lower ring.

After about an hour it was off to Dublin area.  A few pilot and navigator issues, but getting better.

We decided to stop in a city in West Meath County as that is where Simon Hadley and Joshua Hadley came from according to 2nd cousin on Dad's side, Jan Edwards.  So we stopped at Athlone with heavy traffic and found a parking space.  Stopped in the castle/fort on the River Shannon and checked with the information lady.  She suggested we go to the library and they had a room dedicated to ancestor hunting.  We had an hour left on the meter so we found the library and the longtime librarian got us started after saying he had not heard that name in his 42 years there.

I said I thought they may have been Quakers as they moved to Pennsylvania, so he looked in the Quaker cemetery records and came up blank.   He looked at the 1901 and 1911 census and only came up with 3 Hadley's in all of Ireland.  A widowed man his son and the man's sister.  The British had destroyed all earlier records as they needed fire starters.

So our in depth search was abandoned and back on the road for more frustration.  Our GPS app takes the shortest route without regard to the size of the road.

Imagine a bus, truck, or BIG farm tractor pulling something at way too fast kph.

We managed to find our place by 5:00 and met our hosts who showed us the 'casita'.  Big enough space, but no ice, tv, hair dryer, or dish washer, and the bathroom light wouldn't come on.

We went to town for dinner and ended up bringing Chinese home.  I had packed some ice I made in the muffin tins and ice cube trays that survived the trip.

Pam watched the news on the iPad via the Dish Sling.

After a crummy night sleep, soft bed and light coming in at 5:30 we hit the road to our Hotel. Made an hour stop at a big shopping malign Blanchardstown and Pam bought . . . .

a scarf!!!

We found the place somehow and check into a good sized room and large bathroom on 3rd deck with partial views of stuff.

 Some water view

 I think those are golfers

View of town and hillside.

We walked into town this Sunday morning and it appears to be like a Seaside with lots of amusement rides, games, multiple bumper cars and lots of slot casinos.  I tried my luck and put in a coin that I thought was a pound and got 10 credits.  I tried to cash out at 18 credits and had to get an attendant to help.  It only paid 10 back as that is the minimum payout he suggested I play the remaining credits, but I said I want to quit ahead. Off he went to get change.  Apparently I won 8/100th of a Pound or about 10 cents!

Tomorrow is our business meeting and a tour of some palace that is a 45 minute bus ride away, so we may pass.