Farewell from Dublin

The last two days have been hectic. After leaving Cork we headed north to Rock of Cashel which rises dramatically from the plains of Tipperary county. This was the seat of Kings and medieval bishops for 900 years, including Brian Boru who became High King of Ireland in 1002. After a tour of the site we visited a farm outside Kilkenny for a delicious lunch. On to the Irish National Stud, a state run bloodstock farm, founded in 1900. We had a guided tour, seeing some of their prize stallions and some foals. There is also a Japanese Garden on the site. That night we arrived back in Dublin, staying near the Grand Canal.

Our last day included a visit to Epic - the Irish Emigration Museum, a very well curated exhibition giving the stories behind the millions of people who fled Ireland over the past 3 centuries. Then to Christ Church Cathedral dating from 1034. I climbed up the Bell Tower and got magic views from the rooftop, and even got to ring the bell! It is then not far to the Guinness Storehouse for a self guided tour and an included pint of the brew. This is served in the Gravity Bar on the 9th level of the building, with glass floor to ceiling offering 360 degree views over Dublin. 

From the top of Christ Church Cathedral

The bell was really heavy and hard to pull down

As if we hadn’t packed enough into the day, we ended with a dinner and show at The Merry Ploughboy pub south of Dublin, where we had a massive meal and fantastic Irish Musicians and Dancing.

And so ends our Ireland tour. We have an extra night here (we need a rest) and have just had a wander around central Dublin. Tomorrow- off to Edinburgh.

Blarney Castle and Cork

 We have been blessed with the two days of sunshine that Ireland has each year. Today to Blarney Castle, the original was built in 1446 by Dermot McCarthy but has been rebuilt over time. I have been here before but still chose to climb the narrow winding staircase to the top but not to kiss the Blarney Stone this time. The gardens surrounding the castle are magical - we walked around the Poison Garden and Rock Close, where legend has it that witches lived. Directly opposite the Castle are the Blarney Woollen Mills (not in production now). The area is now the largest Irish store in the country plus restaurants and bars. Next stop was at Jameson Distillery. Another tour and more whiskey tasting. In Cork that evening we visited a couple of local pubs which had Irish musicians playing.

The view looking down from the top

From Cork we travelled to Kinsale, a former medieval fishing village. We had a guided tour of Charles Fort, built in the 1670’s by the English to protect Kinsale Harbour from foreign naval forces. It is mostly in ruins but slowly undergoing some restoration work. Then we wandered the pretty streets of Kinsale, with the brightly coloured buildings, a very popular tourist spot. This afternoon we had free time in Cork and we strolled the pedestrian malls and bridge over the River Lee.

Cliffs of Moher and Ring of Kerry

 The sun shone as we set out through beautiful Connemara area - and couldn’t be better for our time at Cliffs of Moher on the rugged west coast. We joined the thousands of other tourists climbing up to get good views. Then on to Adare, the postcard picture perfect town noted for its thatched roof cottages. I deserved a local Killarney Brew that night. 

We watched a sheepdog demonstration, then on to the Ring of Kerry - see the mist - but it did lift and after lunch at The Blind Piper Pub we saw the Atlantic Ocean.

The view (mist) before, and then after lunch (sun)

The West Coast

 Another day - we drove from Enniskillen to Lough Erne for a cruise to Devenish Island. Here stand the ruins of a monastery founded by St Molaise in the 6th century, a perfectly preserved round tower standing 82 ft high dominates the sky. Then onward to Sligo and the town of Drumcliffe. At the parish church here lies the grave of W.B. Yeats, and the headstone reads “Cast a cold eye on Life, on Death horseman pass by”. Then a 2 hour drive with rain bucketing down to Galway. Had Galway Bay mussels for entree tonight.

This morning we visited Celtic Crystal, a small family business creating hand crafted piece, and watched a demonstration by a craftsman. Then on to Connemara, the beautiful mountains and valleys via Inagh Valley. Our destination was Kylemore Abbey. Built by Mitchell Henry in the late 1800’s, it was sold to Benedictine nuns in 1920. There is a magnificent walled garden as well as a neo gothic church. It is now a major tourist attraction. We had the famed apple pie and custard and spent two and half hours wandering the estate, saw Connemara Ponies.

Then to Killary Fjord, where during World War II both German U-boats and British took shelter (Ireland remained neutral during the War). Back in Galway, after dinner we went into the city area to seek out some Irish music in a pub. It was lively and lots of fun.