Friday June 10/Day 6: Trim, Dunbrody, Annestown — and a reprieve

All week, I had been stressing out over the need for a negative COVID-19 test to re-enter the United States. My original plan had been to bop over to the Shannon Airport on Sunday to test prior to our flight on Monday. I hadn’t realized our accommodation on Dingle Peninsula was 2.5 hours from the airport. And, I didn’t think to bring “tele-health” self tests. Sigh…so, we started asking at local pharmacies for self-tests. We weren’t having much luck, and I began to resign myself to leaving Dingle on Sunday, forfeiting our second night at the AirBnb, testing at the airport Sunday afternoon and staying at an airport hotel.

I chose a lighter breakfast, very tasty pancakes. And of course tea! I love how they do tea in Ireland — with milk, not cream. That’s a habit I picked up from my mom.

After breakfast, we asked at a few pharmacies for COVID tests. Then we walked around inside grounds of Trim Castle…another 800+ year old ruin, right in the middle of town. I remain fascinated by how much of the structures remain standing. I definitely need to do more reading about these buildings!

We drove south to the Dunbrody famine ship in County Wexford, on the coast. It was a sobering experience. The people on this ship fared better than most but it was still quite the challenge. And I really wonder about my Gill relatives. My great-grandparents didn’t immigrate until the 1890s. How did their families survive in the years immediately following the famine? My aunt and I had been working on the family history. Unfortunately she passed away in May 2021; I know she would have enjoyed hearing about this part of the trip. We didn’t make it to the “home county” — which I think is either — or both — County Westmeath and County Mayo. I plan to do more genealogical research on a future trip.

While we were waiting for the tour presentation to start, I caught a glimpse of breaking news on my phone. A reprieve! COVID tests would not be required starting at 12:01 am on Sunday! Our flight was on Monday! Thank you St. Christopher (the patron saint of travelers.) Huge sigh of relief…and vindication for Charles. He kept reminding me that planning too early for the tests wasn’t necessary — who knew how the requirements might change. And they did!

One funny (?) thing about the famine ship: the tour guide wore a shirt with the full name of the site: The Dunbrody Famine Ship Experience and Restaurant. A bit ironic, don’t you think?

The drive to the AirBnB in Annestown was lovely. Many beautiful ocean views. We miscalculated the time to do laundry (although it was the CLEANEST LAUNDROMAT EVER) and ended up having a very late supper at Brooklyn’s on the beach in the resort town about 10 minutes away. We also had time to explore the local grocery store. It’s fun to find the things that are the same, and those that are different. Eggs are stored on a regular shelf, not in a cooler…