Camping in Duncannon, Tullow Show, and Delta Sensory Gardens

Camping in Ireland was a different kind of camping than what I was use to. When I think of camping I think of deep in the woods, national parks, bears, waterfalls and hiking. The camping we did in Ireland was quite different but just as much fun in many ways. There were 4 families including 14 kids. Us, Pauline and kids, Aine and kids and Claire and kids. Pauline and I set up tents the other two had camper vans. The site was a few steps and over the hill to the ocean. By day the kids ran free, made sand castles and sand sledding. By night we lit campfires, roasted marshmallows and drank wine. We camped for three nights and had great success with the weather until 4am the last night. Hurricane winds blew through and nearly blew our tent down (donal and I will def use the tethers next time). We rushed to get all our things packed and can now look back and laugh at the experience. Everyone had a blast and we look forward to next year!

Delta Sensory Gardens in Carlow Town....

The Tullow Show- tractors and farm animals, what more could you want!

Cousin Liam's cows and bulls .....

Lots of sheep....

Rancho Reilly's

Just outside Carlow town a back to the roots kind of place. Great fun for the kids! You can even camp here which we will definitely do sometime.

Fresh Milk

A couple of Donal's cousins are dairy farmers, we went to Liam's farm to see the milking. 

should we drink it.....

getting brave and enjoying....

Milk goes from cow to this small tank then into a v large tank and picked up every two days

Milking Parlor

Liam showing them the ropes

coming in for their milking

feeding the calves with auntie Kathleen

Some more fun on the farm...

Declan starts National School

August 30th was Declan's first day of primary school at Newtown Dunleckney. The class he is in is called junior infants. He will be at this school for 8 years. There is one class per grade, his class has 21 students and the school has 142 students total. He is attending the same school Donal went to just in the newer building and actually has the same teacher Donal had, Miss Curran, 34 years ago. Wow we really do live in a small village. He is in class with his cousin, Seamus, and had known several other kids through football and camps over the summer making the transition for him fairly easy. He was delighted he had homework the first day- a coloring page. On Wednesdays he will doing Irish dancing and he is learning Gaelic.

First day of primary school

Donal's School (Declan school off to the right)

Declan's School

Newtown Church to the left of school- where the boys were Christened and aunties married

meeting Miss Curran

playing legos before class starts

playing with sand table

on the way home from first day- drew a picture for Rory