Kilkenny- my last trip before I leave Ireland

The road side is just beautiful in Ireland.. green and lush and this is the end of November.

  The Kilkenny castle with its pretty gardens that go on for acres.- 50 acres to be exact.The castle was built in 1172 and home of the Butler family from 1391 for 500 years. The last relative lived in Chicago.  The castle was handed over to the state for a mere sum of 75.  The castle has an impressive 150foot  long gallery of artwork.  The rooms are done in bright  colours, one is robin egg blue!

I tried to get us side by side...We are in front of the castle courtyard.

Walking down through the town.

Arcade open to many more shops.

This is called a carriage way..You actually push up your grocery cart or baby pram.

This store made me take a double take and a walk backwards!  It is a fish pedicure. You wash your feet and stick them into these tanks.  The fish will eat off any dry skin.  I was tempted to try but we had to move on...too bad

The Rothe House built in 1594-- a tutor-era merchant's house. You step back into medieval time as you walk through.

Front view of the Rothe House.

This is where Smithwick's Ale is brewed.  Unfortunately for us it is closed on Sundays. The beer is Dave's favourite.

We had an early dinner here only built here in the 1300s and operating continuously as a tavern.  The inside was decorated with the period of time.

But in the ladies room I found this:  a curling iron that cost 2 euros to use.  I haven't seen one of these at home in the ladies room, have you?

The things we see in Ireland- my camera didn't know what to forcus on.

I really don't know why the Irish aren't fat.  At just about every block is a candy store. Every jar is filled with something new. I haven't gone in yet.

As we make our way to the car the night begins and the planet Jupiter shines over the castle.

This will be my last blog for Ireland as I will be leaving in a few days.

I thank all those that took the time to read it and I hope that I have given you some good insight to Ireland and its history. I still have trouble with the hundreds of years old things are. Ireland is a beautiful country and the people are so warm and friendly. They are happy to do anything for you even if it is out of their way. Life and things go on even if it is raining. It is bittersweet as I leave.

When you plan a trip next, come to Ireland and see what I have found. You won't be disappointed.

Cheerio :-)

Family Time in Ireland

Grampa started Rogers right off on the right track, trading dollars for Euros.

Relaxing after dinner with Rogers and Uncle Brent.

Eamon trying to get out of eating his peas.

How many candles are on this? one, two, ...    and David is opening the window from all the heat!

A fierce game of Connect between Uncle Adam and Eamon.

Bed time with Dad.

Home after a long day.

Thanksgiving at Kilmurray Village Lodge.

Amanda and Brent enjoying each other..It always makes me smile when I see them having fun together.

Enjoying each other..Grampa is relaxing too! :)

Adam look at these!

Kevin and Amanda.  I think Kevin is finally relaxed!

Grampa trying to finish this puzzle..

So we all had a wonderful eventful Thanksgiving which zoomed by.  I wonder what we can do to top this year.
Cheerio  Lots of Love to my family.  Love Mom/Mum  :-)

The Dingle Peninsula with the family

 Took us 2 hours to get here but it was worth it.

Take a look at the intricate work on this thatched roof, especially the ridgeline and sculpted trim around the windows!  Finest we came across.
As we started up the ring and you do go up! sometimes on only one lane for both ways..

 This is the town of Dingle.

We stopped and had lunch here at Murphy's.  We broke Amanda into her first Guinness.

The motley crew.

 A quick few minutes of shopping before moving on.

 You have to love their colors and their designs- very cool.

 As we drove down the penisula the land flattened but the cliffs dropped down.

 This house was pretty amazing to me.  How do they do that?

 Our little friend here was heading up to the Beehive Huts. The kids were amused at the colors on their fleece. Each farm spray-painted the backs so they could be quickly identified. When I was here 2 years ago, I didn't see much of this.

 Rogers and Eamon are in front of a beehive hut. These were formed and inhabited in the ancient times to 1200AD. They were often attached to each other with a doorway leading from one to another. Formed in the shape of beehives with stones having a downward and outward tilt so as to shed water. The top is covered by one stone called a capstone.-no mortar is used.  This method is called Corbelling.

 The area has many beehives. This area is called Caher Conor.

 Leaving the beehive area.

 The sun was setting and we are heading on home. Another great day. Thanks all. Cheerio :-) Mom

Clonmacnoise- the last day with the family

This was a great day with the family. We started out with a trip to Clonmacnoise which was founded in 548 by St. Ciaran overlooking the river Shannon which was the cross roads of Ireland.

The site contains a number of churches dating from the 10th -17th century, a round tower, a castle, three stone crosses and a large collection of grave slabs. Clonmacnoise was the site of many battles including the Vikings.

 The crosses are among the finest surviving High Crosses. They were carved from one piece of sandstone around 900 AD. They stand 13 feet high. One cross is called the Cross of Scriptures seen here.  The other two are the South Cross and the North Cross.

 This is the real cross and set in the building to keep it preserved.

 The Round tower dates back to 1124 built by Turlough O'Connor and O'Malone the successor of Ciaran. It was damaged by lightning in 1135.

 Temple Connor- dates to 1200AD  The building behind with the glass is where Pope John Paul  visited in 1979.

 Here you see the South Cross in the back.

True love..40 years:)

The South Cross by Temple Dowling

 This is what is left of the castle.

 We have arrived in Shannonbridge for a cup of something warm and landed in the pub below.

 A very interesting place and the coffee which I had to stick to as I was a driver.  But the rest enjoyed Irish's best! I am also warming up in front of the peat fireplace.

 Guinness' mustache!

 The party got rolling into Adam playing the fiddle with only 3 strings and horsehair bow shedding.

 Brent was playing the piano.  They decided he could play so they light the candles and brought him a book of tunes.

 They didn't let Kevin off..They even had a left-handed. guitar for him! It  happened to be the owner's  daughter's who has cut a CD which they gave us. So the party continued with another bar patron who played the right-handed guitar . His son had also cut a CD and we got that too.. Rogers and Eamon got to taste their first Coca Colas.  Lots of fun for the kids last day!

 The Shannon bridge - an old bridge that is the major crossing over the River Shannon which the largest river in the British Isles.

So cheers to you :-)

They are on their way home.....Good-bye Ireland