A quiet Sunday Drive

------ Sorry for the delay - conctivity issuess-----

We leave Cork behind and head north to Dublin. It’s a grey day, as the weather gods seem to have finally abandoned us. We can’t complain given the wonderful weather we’ve enjoyed so far, more than our share to be sure.

We begin the trip on the M7 with our first target of The Stone of Cashel and the ancestral home of the Mahers, about two hours away. The M7 is their answer to our interstate system so we were able to make great time. This part of the trip is dedicated to castles and other sites as the schedule is now very relaxed . We took a short side trip to see the first castle on our list in the town of Cahir. We can into town and saw a stinking little Castle on a hill and thought “is that it?”

We got out and walked up the hill and found the castle to actually be a B&B called "Butler Familiy Carrigeen castle.  Another place one might check out if coming here.
Down the hill we go to the ‘real’ castle that was closed to the public but very impressive

The REAL Castle

There was actually a moat around it and protected windows where archers could shot from and be safe. there is no way you take this place if you are tryning to invade and are not welcome

Took some nice scenery shots as the sun broke through just in time.

The town of Cahir. Very quaint

Some geese peacefully guarding the moat

A pretty chaple with a waterfal in the foreground

Back on the M7 and on to Cashel.

We decided to take some time in Cashel and walk the town before heading to the castle, which was very impressive and loomed over the town. We fortified our selves with a half-pint and headed up the hill to the castle. We actually sprung for the entrance fee this time. The site did not disappoint except that the chapel was under repair so one side had unsightly scaffolding up. Some creative camera work was all that was needed to get the shots we wanted.

They nicked us for 4 euros just to park but oh well.

In keeping with our ‘no place to go and plenty of time to get there’ motif for the day, we decided the next place would be Killkenny to the east another famous castle and a night’s stay. We decided to just wing it for a B&B and just walk around town to find one. The first one we stopped at we were sent a with a snooty “I never accept voucher” from an old prune. The next two had no answer at the door and we continued into town. We stopped in a great pub called The Field and were rewarded with the best food on the entire trip by far. It was getting late so we used their phone to call a B&B called Chaplin’s and the barkeep drew us a great map to the place.

Chaplin’s has a pleasant room and wonderful hosts. They said they were headed out for the night and showed us how to use the satellite TV. We sent out football picks to Rich then were please to find a US football game on the tellie to watch.

In the AM we met some of the other guests at a B&B and had some conversation for the first time. Amazingly, Larry met a fellow with a place less than three miles from him house in Chassell. Like they always say, it’s a small world indeed.

Hopefully we can post a blog before we leave on Tuesday AM to cover Monday's advantures. We are not planning much so it may be sort

Hope you've enjoyed the trip with us

Jim & Larry