Ruins and Sheep – Day 3


After an early breakfast this morning, Eric and I picked up our car and headed out into the Irish countryside to find our way through some ruins en route to County Cork. The conversation in the car went something like this:

Me: “The cab driver told you to “just think left.” So, just think left.

Eric: “Got it. Just think left. Just think left. Just think… SHEEEEEEEP!”

Now, wouldn't it be funny if I then told you that he barreled through a herd of sheep? It would, but then I'd be lying.

No, no sheep were harmed during today's drive, but we definitely saw a lot of them. And when I say “a lot” I mean that towards the end of the day's drive the interjection of “sheep!” became so common that we hardly noticed it in the conversation.

Eric: “I wonder how Lily's cold is doing. She sounded like she was going to sheep hack up a lung last night.”

Me: “I know. I should really tell my mom to sheep keep an ear out and sheep listen for any sheep rattling in her lungs.”

😉

All joking aside we hit some really neat ruins today. We started the day stopping at Glendalough, an old monastery that was founded by St. Kevin (a different St. Kevin from yesterday's post) around 500-600 AD (He died in 617AD and is said to be have 120 years old at his passing.)

The Gateway to the monastic city
The Cathedral had several phases of construction with most being from the 12 and 13th centuries
Entrance to the Priest's house… man, these guys were tiny!
St. Kevin's Cross
View of the Priest's house, the Cathedral and the Round Tower.

 

I had to take this picture because it was pretty. 🙂 It's a view from a small bridge by the ruins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we hit Cashel Rock and if you're like me the second I heard “Cashel Rock” I had the “Fraggle Rock” theme song in my head. If you are… then you're welcome. 😉

The Rock, insert Sean Connery's voice here, had two major purposes, first was royal and the second was religious. Most of the construction is from the 12th and 13th centuries and was built for the King of Munster. The castle survived Norman and English invaders and, forgive me, but I can't remember when or by whom but it was turned over to the church by one of the family members who the castle came to. The church of Ireland used the church until the 1700's when it was decided that the upkeep was too much and was left abandoned for over 100 years.
This isn't my shot. The front part of the Cathedral is being saved from deteriorating mold so it's covered by scaffolding. This is from Cashel Rock tourist website

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of other ruins taken from the wall around Cashel Rock
Standing in the doorway to the cathedral

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back of the church with the Round Tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After visiting Cashel Rock we had our fill for ruins, and the wind, for a day so we packed up and drove the rest of the way into Cork. The shopping district here is gorgeous, open and inviting. If we had the time and money I fear I would spend a lot of it in Cork! But now it's time to talk to my darling girls (who seem even more darling now that I've been away from them for four days!) and then sleep.

Tomorrow we start with a short trip to Blarney Castle and then a nice drive down the coast to see a stone circle. Good night, friends and thanks for coming along with me on my Ireland vacation!


5 responses to “Ruins and Sheep – Day 3”

  1. “But now it's time to talk to my darling girls (who seem even more darling now that I've been away from them for four days!) and then sleep.”

    I completely misread the last part of this sentence as “and then sheep.” See what you do to us, LOL!

  2. Hi Prudence! Thanks for stopping by! I certainly am having a good time, lots to see and do we're having a hard time fitting it all in! Hope all is well on your end. 😉