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Ireland - Day Seven


After breakfast this morning, we reluctantly bid farewell to Kilronan Castle Estate and Spa to start our drive into Carrick-on-Shannon.  Here we enjoyed a one-hour private cruise of the River Shannon aboard the Moon River, complete with live music and refreshments, all while taking in the beautiful scenery, including a picture-perfect rainbow!


After disembarking the Moon River, we made a brief stop in downtown Carrick-on-Shannon to visit the Costello Memorial Chapel, which is the smallest Chapel in Europe and the second smallest Chapel in the world. Sixteen feet long by twelve foot wide, the Chapel was built by Edward Costello in 1877 as a devotion to his wife, Mary Josephine, who died that year at age 47.

Both Edward and Mary Josephine are interred in the Chapel on either side of the altar.


After departing Carrick-on-Shannon, we continued our journey into Dublin, where we were treated to a very special tour.  The Deerfield Residence is the home of U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Claire (McLaughlin) Cronin '82.  Although Ambassador Cronin was stateside during our visit, she arranged for us to have a private tour of the Residence.  Located in Phoenix Park and built in 1776, the home sits just across the road from the official residence of the President of Ireland.  Once through security, we were greeted by Brian Fitzmaurice, the Deerfield Residence house manager. Brian showed us around the home and beautiful grounds. Of special significance is a beautiful sculpture in the gardens

dedicated to those who lost their lives on 9/11 which includes a section of steel beam from one of the World Trade Center towers. We wrapped up our visit to Deerfield Residence with a group photo in the grand foyer.

Next, we checked into the Trinity Hotel in Dublin, the last hotel on our tour, to freshen up before heading out to Taylors Three Rock a delicious meal accompanied by a night of traditional Irish song and dance.


One of our own, John Lynch '77 even got into the action on stage with the musicians! After the dinner and show, we returned to our hotel to get some rest in preparation for our final full day in Ireland. 

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