La Piazza Blog & Stories
Gaeilge, Guinness & Goosebumps!
Gaeilge, Guinness & Goosebumps!
MO Chairde (My friends),
An exciting 2015 Ciclismo Classico season is almost ready to swing into action. From a personal viewpoint this season is even more special, with my top guide tour in July to Ireland. It’s with great pleasure that I will have the opportunity to take Ciclismo Classico guests to my home town of Killarney. My friend and colleague Enrico and I rang in the New Year in Ballybunion, in the heart of the Kingdom of Kerry. We scouted the best roads, the most spectacular scenery, the best local dishes and met many friendly local characters on our merry way!
Once we touched down in Dublin, we immediately headed west to the City of the Tribes – Galway. Galway has this unique atmosphere of blending old Irish Gaelic traditions with modern day society and way of life. It boasts some of the most important cultural festivals in the country from film, to writing and arts festivals. Our first hotel in tour is no stranger to Ciclismo. Ballynahinch Castle hotel (www.ballynahinch-castle.com) is a true pearl in the heart of Connemara. The famous Ballynahinch River meanders through the carefully manicured gardens of the estate, where peace and tranquillity abound. We will be spending our first 3 days in this beautiful, unspoiled area. Cycling through small quiet villages, one will get a feel for the easy-going pace of life in this part of Ireland. Whether it’s a humorous story, or one of their funny one-liners, you will quickly become acquainted with the Irish philosophy of life. On most of our trip we will be biking through areas where the Gaelic language and culture is preserved and used in everyday life. Our last day in Connemara reserves a special treat for us. We will have the opportunity to meet some locals, who will perform the ancient art of sean-nòs singing and dancing. Sean-nòs is the oldest form of Irish music and dance, which has been passed down through the generations. Without doubt this part of Ireland has the best preserved traditions of this unique Irish art. Later on that day we will get a taste of the Gaelic language. This unique Irish language will accompany us throughout our tour, as we cycle through the ‘strongholds’ of the Irish Lingo. By the end of our trip together we will be able to converse with ‘cùpla focal’ (a few words)!
Ireland’s Dramatic West Coast
Across Galway bay to Inis more. The big island! Irish life in its simplest form. It’s normal to hear the locals singing off words like poetry, in their own Gaelic dialect, which even for a kerryman like myself, sounds like a foreign language! The love these islanders have for their island is contagious and is easy to understand why, after we cycle from the main village of Kilronan, around the Island. Visiting some hidden treasures along the way, like the well of the ‘salmon leap’, where our friend and local man Cyril o’ Flaherty will show us a local tradition which is ‘something special’ to not just witness, but to actually do! Not forgetting the impressive Dùn Aengus fort build in the Bronze Age. Perched on top of a 300 ft cliff, overlooking the wild Atlantic. Locals claim that from Dùn Aengus one can see the entrance to the underwater world of Tìr na nòg (land of the forever young), but they’ve never been to Kerry!
Back on the mainland we continue our journey, following the most spectacular piece of coastline, heading south towards the Kingdom of Kerry. On our way we’ll stop to visit one of Ireland’s most beautiful natural features, the cliffs of Moher. From O’Brien’s tower we will be able to see the mountains of Connemara to the north where we started, and the mountains of Kerry to the south. Fuelled by the finest seafood chowder and fruits of the sea, we continue our ride. After a short ferry ride across the river Shannon we arrive in County Kerry, finishing our ride in the golfing town of Ballybunion. A distinct change in landscape awaits us as we bike through a patchwork of green fields, that roll to the ocean. Intense emerald green and wild ice blue will capture our vistas as we proceed with our Irish biking pilgrimage to the colourful town of Dingle. Not before biking through the sand dunes of the Maharees and conquering the mighty Conor pass, where from the top one can see Dingle Bay in all its splendour in the distance. Ireland may be famous for its pub culture and beer, but no place in Ireland can match the atmosphere of Dingle. With its 35 pubs, known for their great character and great characters, where ‘ceoil agus craic(music and fun)’ abound. After tasting Dingle’s lively pub culture, we explore the ‘post-card perfect’ Slea Head panoramic loop. Taking us into the heart of the local Gaelic speaking communities, we will have the chance to stop and make our own personal souvenir, to take home memories of one of the most picturesque, unspoiled regions of the Emerald Isle.
Killarney! Home is where the heart is! And that’s where we will be going after our visit to Dingle. From our majestic Hotel Europe (www.theeurope.com) we will explore the bike paths of Killarney National Park, one of Irelands finest! Our easy cool down ride will take us along the shores of Killarney’s biggest of three lakes- Lough Leane, through the finely preserved Mucross gardens and woodlands of Oak and Yew, where one can get a glimpse of the ‘sweet faced’ native Kerry cows and the powerful red deer. An optional hike to the top of Torc mountain awaits for extensive views of Killarney, it’s surrounding lakes and Irelands highest mountain range- the McGillycuddy’s Reeks. Back to Killarney for ceoil agus craic, cùpla focal, Guinness, and a farewell feast of Kerry’s finest ingredients.
My homeland, my people, my friends, our culture and traditions……all waiting to be explored by you, with Enrico and me. The land of forty shades of green is full of surprises!
See you in Galway!
Henrick
P.S. Any Kerryman will tell you that there are only two Kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry – “One is not of this world and the other is out of this world.”
An exciting 2015 Ciclismo Classico season is almost ready to swing into action. From a personal viewpoint this season is even more special, with my top guide tour in July to Ireland. It’s with great pleasure that I will have the opportunity to take Ciclismo Classico guests to my home town of Killarney. My friend and colleague Enrico and I rang in the New Year in Ballybunion, in the heart of the Kingdom of Kerry. We scouted the best roads, the most spectacular scenery, the best local dishes and met many friendly local characters on our merry way!
Once we touched down in Dublin, we immediately headed west to the City of the Tribes – Galway. Galway has this unique atmosphere of blending old Irish Gaelic traditions with modern day society and way of life. It boasts some of the most important cultural festivals in the country from film, to writing and arts festivals. Our first hotel in tour is no stranger to Ciclismo. Ballynahinch Castle hotel (www.ballynahinch-castle.com) is a true pearl in the heart of Connemara. The famous Ballynahinch River meanders through the carefully manicured gardens of the estate, where peace and tranquillity abound. We will be spending our first 3 days in this beautiful, unspoiled area. Cycling through small quiet villages, one will get a feel for the easy-going pace of life in this part of Ireland. Whether it’s a humorous story, or one of their funny one-liners, you will quickly become acquainted with the Irish philosophy of life. On most of our trip we will be biking through areas where the Gaelic language and culture is preserved and used in everyday life. Our last day in Connemara reserves a special treat for us. We will have the opportunity to meet some locals, who will perform the ancient art of sean-nòs singing and dancing. Sean-nòs is the oldest form of Irish music and dance, which has been passed down through the generations. Without doubt this part of Ireland has the best preserved traditions of this unique Irish art. Later on that day we will get a taste of the Gaelic language. This unique Irish language will accompany us throughout our tour, as we cycle through the ‘strongholds’ of the Irish Lingo. By the end of our trip together we will be able to converse with ‘cùpla focal’ (a few words)!
Ireland’s Dramatic West Coast
Across Galway bay to Inis more. The big island! Irish life in its simplest form. It’s normal to hear the locals singing off words like poetry, in their own Gaelic dialect, which even for a kerryman like myself, sounds like a foreign language! The love these islanders have for their island is contagious and is easy to understand why, after we cycle from the main village of Kilronan, around the Island. Visiting some hidden treasures along the way, like the well of the ‘salmon leap’, where our friend and local man Cyril o’ Flaherty will show us a local tradition which is ‘something special’ to not just witness, but to actually do! Not forgetting the impressive Dùn Aengus fort build in the Bronze Age. Perched on top of a 300 ft cliff, overlooking the wild Atlantic. Locals claim that from Dùn Aengus one can see the entrance to the underwater world of Tìr na nòg (land of the forever young), but they’ve never been to Kerry!
Back on the mainland we continue our journey, following the most spectacular piece of coastline, heading south towards the Kingdom of Kerry. On our way we’ll stop to visit one of Ireland’s most beautiful natural features, the cliffs of Moher. From O’Brien’s tower we will be able to see the mountains of Connemara to the north where we started, and the mountains of Kerry to the south. Fuelled by the finest seafood chowder and fruits of the sea, we continue our ride. After a short ferry ride across the river Shannon we arrive in County Kerry, finishing our ride in the golfing town of Ballybunion. A distinct change in landscape awaits us as we bike through a patchwork of green fields, that roll to the ocean. Intense emerald green and wild ice blue will capture our vistas as we proceed with our Irish biking pilgrimage to the colourful town of Dingle. Not before biking through the sand dunes of the Maharees and conquering the mighty Conor pass, where from the top one can see Dingle Bay in all its splendour in the distance. Ireland may be famous for its pub culture and beer, but no place in Ireland can match the atmosphere of Dingle. With its 35 pubs, known for their great character and great characters, where ‘ceoil agus craic(music and fun)’ abound. After tasting Dingle’s lively pub culture, we explore the ‘post-card perfect’ Slea Head panoramic loop. Taking us into the heart of the local Gaelic speaking communities, we will have the chance to stop and make our own personal souvenir, to take home memories of one of the most picturesque, unspoiled regions of the Emerald Isle.
Killarney! Home is where the heart is! And that’s where we will be going after our visit to Dingle. From our majestic Hotel Europe (www.theeurope.com) we will explore the bike paths of Killarney National Park, one of Irelands finest! Our easy cool down ride will take us along the shores of Killarney’s biggest of three lakes- Lough Leane, through the finely preserved Mucross gardens and woodlands of Oak and Yew, where one can get a glimpse of the ‘sweet faced’ native Kerry cows and the powerful red deer. An optional hike to the top of Torc mountain awaits for extensive views of Killarney, it’s surrounding lakes and Irelands highest mountain range- the McGillycuddy’s Reeks. Back to Killarney for ceoil agus craic, cùpla focal, Guinness, and a farewell feast of Kerry’s finest ingredients.
My homeland, my people, my friends, our culture and traditions……all waiting to be explored by you, with Enrico and me. The land of forty shades of green is full of surprises!
See you in Galway!
Henrick
P.S. Any Kerryman will tell you that there are only two Kingdoms: the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Kerry – “One is not of this world and the other is out of this world.”
