Their back....

Nope, not the Poltergeists (at least, I don't think so)...

But Purely Vocals is back from Ireland and what an amazing time! Ireland truly is beautiful (I can say that now, because I have finally seen some of it).

We flew out Wednesday night, arriving early Thursday morning (they are 5 hours ahead of us) and headed to a friend's house for breakfast and some sleep. Thursday afternoon, we drove the length of the country from Dublin to Shannon arriving at Bunratty (Bun Raite) Village. We checked into our hotel and grabbed some dinner at a local restaurant/pub, ending the night in a bar singing with the locals - a great time despite the jet lag.

Friday we woke up to a free breakfast and then took a nice long drive in the mildly-overcast weather (the sun was peeking out) to an amazing beach, the pure power of which was truly mind blowing. The tide was in and the wave action was definitely far beyond anything we get here on the New England coast. We were told the surfing there is notable.

Cliffs of Moher, pictures do NOT do it justice!

We then drove a bit more, ending eventually at the Cliffs of Moher. What an amazing site, nature truly is magnificent! I have never seen anything like this, even in movies and I was wonderstruck. Scenery watching and drowsing off on our long drive back was followed by dinner and then our first performance, in the Sixmilebridge town courthouse, and another evening singing in a pub. Oy, it was definitely going to be a long weekend!


Saturday was a long, busy day of rehearsals and singing, three official performances that day  (two of which were in pubs, of course) and our big hour-gig in the Bunratty Castle Great Hall (we've moved up from the last visit when we sang, literally, in the dungeons)! It was an exhausting vocal day leaving us a little hoarse. But I did get some time to roam the grounds of the Bunratty Folk Park looking at the replica Irish homesteads and communing with the goats.


Sunday began with us filling in for another group, which pulled out of playing at the morning Catholic mass. Amazing Grace, as well as a few other pieces, received an overwhelming response from the congregation (which we are told is not known for any reaction to such performances let alone applause - kind of weird in a church though). They were truly gracious and literally sat through the entire recessional. I think the priest was wondering if they were actually going to leave.

The rest of the day we took some time to do our own thing. I choose to watch a few of the festival performances and then head back to my room and rest; I was exhausted. Jet lag is real, y'all! Dinner was a wonderful pasta and salad fest at a townhouse rented by a friend for the weekend. The evening was spent in the the hotel bar, yet again singing (hoarsely), as musicians from other groups joined us for a very cool, off the cuff, sing and play-a-long collaboration!

Monday dawned rainy and cold. After breakfast we headed out for some more site seeing, despite the weather. After a good drive we arrived at another well known beach, whose name I do not recall. We climbed our way down the pebbles, stones, and boulders of a beach to the water...just in time to be hit with a massive sleet and rain downpour, resulting in us clawing our way as quickly back up the beach as possible. On our way out of town we stopped to dry off at a lovely bed&breakfast's...you guessed it, pub, but this one was nearly empty and very cozy with a blazing fireplace (and no singing) for a wonderful bowl of chowder, Irish brown bread, and a cup of hot chocolate. Apparently Ireland has only pink and white mixed mini-marshmallows, who knew?!

Again, the evening was spent singing in a pub with the locals at the festival wrap-up party. We kept it to a minimum, given our worn out vocal chords and headed home early to pack and prepare for the drive back to Dublin Airport Tuesday morning. We arrived with plenty of time to check in, grab a quick bite and a cup of tea, and board the plane home. The ride home was a grueling 7+ hours, as compared to our just mildly unpleasant 5ish hour trip over. But I have to offer kudos to both pilots who delivered us safely to our ports. Thank you Norwegian!

I really despise flying... but boy-o-boy I've gotta admit this was worth it!! 'Til the next time ye Emerald Isle!