So not only is departure too early, and the flight too short, to catch a nap on the plane, you arrive in Ireland just as the sun is coming up and then have to stay awake. A set up for a long first day, topped off with a painful fight to stay awake until at least 7 or 8PM. Tougher jet lag than our last trip to New Zealand.
We shuttled to the Hotel in Ennis and amazingly (compared to the US) were able to check into our room at 7:30 AM.
Ennis comes from the Irish word for "island". Like Montreal, Canada, Ennis was built on an island - in the River Fergus. Over time one branch filled in and now there is just the single river flowing through town.
We took a city tour the day of arrival. The major historical attraction is the Franciscan Friary built in the mid 1200's.
St. Patrick brought Catholicism to Ireland in around 600 AD. The island was Catholic until the 1500s when Henry VIII founded the Anglican Church and began actively persecuting catholics. Unrelated, but around the same time, the Irish Kings pledged fealty to him, Ireland became a part of England, and catholics second class citizens.
Unrest surfaced in the 1800s with the election of the first catholic to public office. Then 100 years later, in 1916, rebellion led to the founding of Ireland as an independent country. The central area of the old town has a monument to a local favorite son, Daniel O'Connell that first Catholic office holder.
We learned that the town has numerous boxing clubs - which fits with the Irish reputation as always enjoying a good brawl. We were told they revere Mohammed Ali who is said to have Irish ancestry. He was feted as hero when he visited in the late 1990s.
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After getting a good night's got a sleep (12 hours for me), we took a walk outside of town to see the local country side.
Tomorrow, e-bikes!!
Trip pictures are archived at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/i3Wq9Epv9sqDXb5w6
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Trip pictures are archived at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/i3Wq9Epv9sqDXb5w6
