Ireland - The Titanic/Belfast #16A

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Belfast is Northern Ireland’s capital. It was the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, which famously struck an iceberg and sunk in 1912. This legacy is recalled in the renovated dockyards' Titanic Quarter, which includes the Titanic Belfast, an aluminium-clad museum reminiscent of a ship’s hull, as well as shipbuilder Harland & Wolff’s Drawing Offices and the Titanic Slipways, which now host open-air concerts.

Our first day in Belfast was to visit the shipyards where RMS Titanic was built in 1912.  We would learn about this famous liner through their state-of-the-art displays and movies.

We would explore the Titanic experience which extends over nine interactive galleries, with multiple dimensions to the exhibition, drawing together special effects, dark rides, full-scale reconstructions and innovative interactive features.  It was just amazing to explore the shipyard, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic.

They depict all this information in one building to you show the in's and out's of the Titanic, all the people involved and the building of that great ship.  It was not only interesting but it was viewing History we learned in school books!

We have put together a documentary in the building of the TITANIC which entails the many details such as photos of the beauty in the decor and information of it's building.  All incorporated into our 30-minute download.  You can have this wonderful piece of history for only $12.00.  Please look further down this page for the ordering information...

St George's Market is one of Belfast's oldest attractions and one of the best markets in the UK and Ireland also is the last of the surviving Victorian covered markets in Belfast.

There has been a Friday market on the St George's site since 1604. The present award-winning St George's Market, built between 1890 and 1896, is one of Belfast's oldest attractions.

As well as being home to some of the finest fresh produce, with customers travelling near and far to sample the delights of Friday, Saturday and Sunday markets, it has become one of the city's most popular places to visit.

Since it's refurbishment in 1997, this charming Victorian building offers one of the most vibrant and colorful destinations that Belfast has to offer.

They had everything from "soup to nuts", lots of things that were new to me and even had a guy there playing music.  It was a very entertaining place to spend an afternoon just walking around checking things out!

Stop in the lovely coastal town of Ballycastle where you visit the harbour town and holiday resort of Ballycastle (Baile an Chaisil) marks the eastern end of the Causeway Coast.

It's a pretty town with a ... Beyond the Giant's Causeway: exploring Northern Ireland's dramatic Causeway Coast. 

A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Giant's Causeway is a magnificent, mysterious geological formation on the North East coast of County Antrim.The epic rocks at ...Giant's Causeway - the Causeway Coast is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.

It is located in County Antrim on the north coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills.

The Giant's Causeway is steeped in myths and legend. The setting is a spectacular, dynamic coastal landscape of Atlantic waves, rugged cliffs, fascinating geographical antiquity, secluded bays and magnificent views. It forms a jagged headland of neatly packed columns which point towards Scotland.

Also on our download we show visitors walking along the basalt columns which are at the edge of the sea, just over 1km from the entrance to the site.

This is a spectacular area and here's some of the many photos you can check out below...

ORDER; Ireland I - #016 -  AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE...

The name "Derry" is preferred by nationalists and it is broadly used throughout Northern Ireland's Catholic community, as well as that of the Republic of Ireland, whereas many unionists prefer "Londonderry"; however, in everyday conversation "Derry" is used by most Protestant residents of the city.

Derry, also known as Derry or Londonderry is a city on the River Foyle in Northern Ireland.  It’s known for the intact 17th-century Derry’s Walls with 7 gates. Within the walls, spired St. Columb’s Cathedral displays artefacts from the 1688–9 Siege of Derry.

On this tour our tour guide showed us the local statues representing soldiers and an Angel, along with some major churches and large buildings with faces and symbols on the sides.  Then we entered the area called "Free Derry".

Up above the city we were able to take breathtaking photos and also were a couple of cannons overlooking the city.

Near the Peace Bridge, the Tower Museum has city views and historical exhibits.

"Free" Derry Corner has been a beacon of civil rights and political liberty for half a century.  On one of the walls is a man with a sledgehammer breaking down the wall.

Here's some photos below with many more on the 30-minute download for just $12.00!

The Polestar sculpture at the Port Bridge is a landmark of Letterkenny, with a sign Timpeallan Polaris - Polestar Roundabout.

Letterkenny is a town in County Donegal, in the north of Ireland. It’s known for the Gothic-style St. Eunan’s Cathedral with its towering spire. The town's Main Street is said to be the longest in Ireland. There's one place with three young people are there biding their time just waiting.

Our drive to Letterkenny - it has plenty of decent pubs and more than enough places to eat to suit all ages. It is popular with "hen and stag" parties. Letterkenny is arguably the shopping capital of the Northwest - though Derry in Northern Ireland is larger.  

The Station House Hotel... 

This was our next hotel which is a charming country house hotel that also offers a unique setting for weddings with lots of unique features, a romantic and lovely atmosphere and twelve acres of manicured gardens and woodlands. 

It was the ideal place to base our touring group since we were going to explore Glenveagh Castle, the National Park and stop in Donegal Town for a look around and enjoy lunch.

Glenveagh National Park and Castle...

Tucked in close to the Derryveagh Mountains, this magnificent national park is set on acres of natural habitat and manufactured gardens.

There is a deer sanctuary and on site the Golden Eagle to meet visitors and the aroma of home made fancies and delicious breads  in the famous Glenveagh tea rooms.

Glenveagh Castle is a large castellated mansion house built in County Donegal, Ireland. The building stone chosen was granite, plentiful in Donegal but difficult to work - allowing for little detail.  Glenveagh Castle was built between 1870 and 1873 by Captain John George Adair.  

After marrying his American born wife Cornelia, Adair began the construction of Glenveagh Castle in 1867, which was completed by 1873. Adair however was never to fulfil his dream of creating a hunting estate in the highlands of Donegal and died suddenly in 1885 on return from a business trip to America.

After her husband’s death Cornelia took over the running of the estate and introduced deer stalking in the 1890’s. She continually sought to improve the castle’s comforts and the beauty of its grounds, carrying out major improvements to the estate and laying out the gardens behind the castle. Over the next 30 years she was to become a much noted society hostess, adorning this huge castle with great furnishings and continued to summer at the castle until 1916.  Many photos are included in our 30-minute download of our tour through the castle of another generation - left as you stepped into another time!

Following the death of Mrs Adair in London in 1921, Glenveagh fell much into decline and was occupied by both the Anti-treaty and Free State Army forces during the Irish civil war.

Donegal is a town at the mouth of the River Eske, in northwest Ireland which was originally built in the 15th century.   It's a busy shopping and tourist town in south Donegal where the River Eske flows into Donegal Bay. 

A visit to Town of Donegal; it's a fairytale of a place, featuring a charming harbor, serene beaches and stoic stone remains of centuries past, like those of 15th-century Donegal Abbey. Stern-looking Donegal Castle, recently restored to its one-time Gaelic glory, is the crown jewel of the area.

Letterkenny and the nearby city of Derry form the main economic axis of the northwest of Ireland.  Indeed, what became the City of Derry was officially part of County Donegal up until 1610.