I finally made it to Ireland after 14 hours on planes. I missed my connection to AerLingus because US Airways decided to have us sit on the tarmac for 45 min waiting for a gate before they just brought out the stairs and unloaded us.
After being grilled by UK immigration—which I have yet to figure out why since I was not staying there—I was booked onto the next flight to Cork.

Leonie and her kids Shauna and Cillian picked me up at the airport with creamy, sticky Starbucks in hand. A little over an hours drive through the very green CO Cork country side and we ended up in Bantry. We had a quick tour of the town before settling in at home.