Ireland - Day 6 - June 10, 2013

We left Dublin behind and headed out to see the country.  I was expecting to be traveling along curvy, country lanes, but for the most of today we traveled roads that are very akin to our state highways, but they are their interstates.  The interstate is a fairly new creation for Ireland, so most of them run to Dublin.  However, we did see cows in the road.

As you probably can tell from the picture above it was raining, but the morning was beautiful and very windy, so I knew the rain would be coming.  Another thing I noticed along the roadside were these bushes/flowers.  They were everyone and usually in clumps.  I don't know what they are, but they are very pretty.

We started the touring portion of our trip at The Rock of Cashel.  This is not a castle as many people think, but five religious building building through the centuries.  The earliest building is the round tower, which is 90 feet high.  It dates from around 1100 A.D.  Cormac's Chapel is next (1127-1134), followed by the Cathedral (1235-1270), a residential castle for the Bishops and Priests, and the Vicars Choral (15th century).  The Vicars Choral is the most renovated of the buildings.  The roof of the main cathedral was removed by Arthur Price, the Anglican Archbishop of Cashel in 1749 so he would not have to pay taxes.  It was definitely windy and cold on top of that hill!

               

             The oldest grave at
            The Rock of Cashel
            1574

Our next stop took of to the small town of Cahir and the Cahir Castle.  It was built in 1142 by Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond. This was a quaint castle, if there can be one, perhaps because it was built by a prince.  The historical association had done a remarkable job on its upkeep.  This castle actually looked like it could be quite comfortable to live in. 

Our last tour stop of the day took us the the stop that most people think of when Ireland is mentioned - the Blarney Stone.  By the time we arrived at Blarney Castle it had begun to rain, so our stop was not as enjoyable as it could have been, but it was still quite enjoyable...no, I found it to be quite amazing and the grounds were beautiful.  We first climbed the 100 steps to the top, where Connor kissed the Blarney Stone.  

The castle, as it appears now (stone) was built around 1210, which was destroyed in 1446, but rebuilt by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, Lord of Muscry.  That is what you look at today when visiting - his creation. 

 The grounds were quite lush and lovely and if we had not been pushed for time and the fact that it was raining, I would loved to have explored them more fully.  There were some very beautiful and unique plants around.  Maybe if I ever get to come back I will have to make sure that I have the time. 

We ended the day by traveling to Killarney for the night, where we met the most charming owners of a restaurant called Mac's.  They are known for making their own ice cream, which I admit is quite good.  I could become very addicted to the Bailey's Irish Cream and the amazing sticky chicken wings they serve.