It couldn't have been a better trip to the Emerald Isle.
Great weather, a great group and the greatest driver/guide ever - Doney Carroll.
He looked after us at every turn getting us into our hotel early so we could nap before heading out for a full afternoon and evening in Dublin.
First stop, the Guinness Brewery where we learned how the world renowned beer was made and even got to sample in the Gravity Bar atop the brewery.
Then we met up with a musician named Anthony who helped school us in Irish music and how music sessions operate.
We wandered through the Temple Bar area to two different sights and listened to the history and types of Irish music.
I think if we hadn't still been a bit jetlagged, we could have stayed all night.
There are St.
Patrick's Days and then there are Irish St.
Patrick's Days and nothing could have compared to Dublin's.
The weather was amazing and the city was a sea of people adorned in green.
Our hotel was a perfect location to just walk out and watch the parade.
The parade had Mardi Gras flavor without the floats.
It was fanciful and awash with vibrant colors with participants resembled the fairies of the glen more than leprechauns.
It was glorious.
After its end, the entire city became a virtual street party with people dressed in every shade of green possible and wearing the craziest hats they could find.
Of course there were numerous of us who joined right in! We finished the day with an evening was a fabulous night of more music and some Irish dancing in Howth and the 16th Century Abbey Inn.
Doney cranked the Irish tunes the next day for us as we drove to Cashel to visit the ruins of the Rock of Cashel cathedral.
It was our only run-in with rain and the skies were bright blue by the time we got to the picturesque fishing village of Kinsale.
The food in this town was incredible and we all scattered to sample at various restaurants before gathering for a Ghost Tour.
Tales of pirates and prisoners and the whole history of the town were included along with the street theater presentation.
No ghoulies were spotted.
The next day we were all off to kiss the Blarney Stone and do some power shopping at Blarney Mills.
The grounds of Blarney Castle were popping with daffodils and a good number of the group succeeded in making the climb to the top of the castle to bend over and kiss the stone.
Can't you tell how eloquent we've all become? We ended the day in Bunratty where we got a tour of the impressive stone castle and dined as a group at Durty Nellies Tavern.
The food and the company were superb and many of spent time before and after enjoying the atmosphere! Bright sunshine blessed us again as we headed out to the Cliffs of Mohr and the views were simply breathtaking.
Incredibly, there was virtually no wind and it was a picture perfect visit.
Doney took advantage of the weather to detour us along the Blackhead highway and show us the rocky outcroppings of the area known as the Burren.
Our last stop was Galway and there was free time for all.
More than half of the group chose to take the optional tour to the Arran Islands and we were not disappointed.
Yes, there were opportunities to buy the traditional sweaters on Inis Mor, but the tour on the rocky island included fascinating history and unbelievable sites.
Seal colonies, sheers cliffs, leprechaun houses and so much more.
Kudos to Michelle Bauer who dipped her toes in the icy water to claim touching the Atlantic on both sides.
It was all over too quickly and the skies opened up the next morning as we headed to the airport.
Were the Irish eyes crying that we were leaving? Just about everyone vowed to come back and again enjoy the friendliness of our numerous Irish Hosts.