Ireland Day 8

Another morning of rain, not as crucial to be dry as we are shifting home bases today.

We left Cashel (Connemara) at 9:30 this morning heading down the road to Galway. We had to make a pit stop at the mines to pick up another souvenir as the first one did fair well when it met the ground. On through Galway and heading towards Limerick.

About noon we decided to stop for a tea and a well sounds like tea. Pulled off at an interchange and found Bunratty Castle.

Across the road from the castle was a cafe inside a wool outlet shop. While we took  turns at liquid in liquid out, the girls went through the store. While we were in the Car Park we heard some funky music and a little temporal distortion. A green call box appeared and out popped the Doctor.

 ( well not really but it does make for a good story on a short day.)A sweater or two and a quick tour of the outside of the castle for me we got back in the car and headed east.

Through Limerick and on to Tipperary where it wasn't a long way at all, we were only on the road for 3 1/2 hours.

Next stop Cashel Rock. So we left Cashel (Connemara) and 4 hours later we arrive in Cashel (Tipperary). Cashel Rock is a large hill overlooking the area surrounding the town of Cashel.


F

or 100's of years the Kings of Munster used Cashel Rock as the their seat or throne. Somewhere around the 5th Century the current King was converted to Christianity by St. Peter. Then around the 12th or 13th century the King of Munster ceded the rock to the church who built St. Peter's Cathedral.

Below the rock is Hoare Abbey, a Cistercian Monastery that lays in ruin.

Hoare Abbey is distinctive among Irish Cistercian monasteries in that the cloister lies to the north. The siting of the Abbey, with the Rock of Cashel close by to the north, may explain this departure from the usual arrangement.

We left Cashel and headed to our new home in Sheillagh in Wicklow County.

The roads we took were small farm country roads with picturesque scenery and windy blind corners and bends.

We arrived at our cottage and what a treat. Electronic gates, touch lighting, a huge kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 with en suites, 2 TVs with satellite, home theatre and 3D, fireplace, dens, WIFI, two fridges with freezers , eye level ovens, I think we have died and gone to a 5 star Hilton.

 

After we settled in we drove into town for dinner. Nice food, good friends this is the life. We have encountered some interesting differences in food culture, one that steps out is what is offered for condiments and who makes them.

While eating dinner we heard what sound like a steam locomotive, we looked out the window and saw two steam engines, not locomotives, closer to tractors.

These photos were taken with the Iphone and not the best sun conditions, I apologise for the quality. Also at the pub we saw a genuine shillelagh, on the wall.

We hadn't realized that the name of the town were in is pronounced She lay lee ( not Sheila as my cousin was calling it) and it is the common spelling of the club The urban legend has it that these duelling clubs actually came from here. Whether they did or didn't they are still made here.

I'm going to close with my new profile picture, a self portrait so people can see what the blogger/photographer looks like.

Good Night All, need to get some sleep my Welsh cousins are arriving at 7 am on the overnight ferry.