Monday 7 July 2014

17 June From Dublin To Cork

Hari ini saya ambil rail tour ke Cork dan sekitarnya. Train bertolak dari Dublin jam 7 pagi so kena berada di stesen seawal 6.40 pagi. Saya ambil tour dari Railtours Ireland. Termasuk dalam itineraries : Lawatan ke Blarney Castle, English Market dan Cobh. Updates again later. I masak dulu untuk iftar.

11/07/2014 Updates

The story continued.
We departed from Dublin Heuston Station, which was opened in 1844 as the headquarters of the Great Southern & Western Railway and is now  the official principal station of Iarnrod Eiream - Ireland National Railway company. As our train departs, we travel in a south westerly direction, passing some of Dublin's western suburbs and the lush fertile countryside of County Kildare. The train passes through the town of Newbridge, which marks the northern boundary of the Curragh of Kildare, which soon comes into view on both sides of the line. The Curragh (phon:Curra) is famous for its race course, home of Irish Derby, and there are many stud farms in the vicinity.

At this time of morning, you are likely to see some of Ireland's finest bloodstock being put through their paces. The Curragh is also the headquarters of the Irish Army and their buildings can be seen in the distance to the south.  Shortly after the Curragh we pass the town of Kildare and the Church of Ireland (protestant) cathedral of St. Brigid's - According to our guide (Mr Jonathan), it was completed in 1223. Can be clearly seen to the south (Left hand side when facing direction of travel).

Our first stop is the town of of Portlaoise (Phon: Port Leesh-eh) and is home to Ireland's only maximum security prison. It houses individuals who have commited Offences Against The State. Departing Portlaoise, we pass the town of Templemre ~ home of the Garda Siochana Training College - Ireland's National (and unarmed) police force. Shortly after Templemore, we pass Loughmoe Castle, which can be clearly seen on the southern side of the train. Built in the 15th century, the Purcell family lived there until 1760.


Our next stop is at the town of Thuries, where the Gaelic Atletic Association (GAA) was founded in Hayes Hotel in 1884. For your info ~ the hotel is still in business today. The GAA is the sporting body responsible for promoting Ireland's  National Sports, Gaelic Football and Hurling. At our next stop ~ Limerick Junction ~ some of the Railtours Ireland clients leave the train for the Cliffs of Moher tour. Our final stop before Cork is at the town of Mallow. At this point, if you want to go to the ladies and gents facilities aboard the train, please do so to ensure a swift transfer from the train to the bus upon arrival at Cork.
Oh... muka I dah hangus terbakar
Seronok memang seronok tapi muka I burned from the unforgiving hot sun. Omputih relax2 sunbathing, I takut matahari. Pasti muka I bertompok-tompok lepas ni.
Cork Station
We arrived in Cork at 09:35 and transferred to Railtours Ireland tour coach through Cork City to Blarney Village and historic Blarney Castle ~ built in 1446 by Dermot Mc Carthy. We was given ample time to wandered the area by ourselves. There also time for shopping and lunch at Blarney and i recommend that you have lunch here, as this will be the only opportunity during the day to have substantial meal.

Selfie with monopod that became the center of attention from other tourists.

O Ireland isn't it grand you look
Like a bride in her rich adornin?
And with all the pent-up love of my heart
I bid you the top o' the mornin!



Pemandangan dari jendela Blarney Castle
Inside the castle
Sign
The famous "Poison Garden"
The Poison Garden and Blarney Castle


 


 


Selfie

 


 


 


 


Blarney's ground


 









My Blarney Love

We depart Blarney at 13:30hrs for Cobh, via the city center and short city tour. Cork's population is approximately 150,000 (Ireland's 3rd largest city after Dublin and Belfast) and is the only city centre in Ireland that actually stands on an island. The River Lee divides and rejoins an either end of the city centre. It is also home to Murphy's and Beamish - the Southern Capital's rival to Guiness.

Enjoy the ride, feast your eyes with the beauty of Ireland through my lens / handphone cam.

Countryside view

























Cork English Market




When the Queen visited the market



The man in the picture with the Queen











He turned back from the city because of the immoral lifestyle of the people living here


Now we are leaving Cork to further our journey to next destination : Cobh.




















On arrival at Cobh (Phon: Cove) we visit St Colman's Cathedral. Afterward, we proceed down along the sea front passing the former White Star Line offices en route to the beautifully restored  Victoria railway station/transatlantic terminal. This is now the Cobh Heritage Centre, home to the Queenstown Story to which our entrance was included. According to John, when Queen Victoria visited Ireland in 1849 she came to Cobh and the town was renamed Queenstown in her honour. However, it was renamed Cobh after Irish independence in 1922.





























Leonardo D'Caprio boarded Titanic here hihih







Cobh Port
Cobh was the final port of call of the RMS Titanic and this theme is well expounded. The centre also houses much information about the Great Famine and subsequent Irish Emigration ~ 3 million Irish people emigrated from Cobh, (principally to the United States) including Annie Moore whose statue is located in front of the heritage centre. Among of our groups also ~ like the Ferrels (mother and daughter) are the daughter of an emigrant.


St. Colman Cathedral

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