Today was our last day and of course the most beautiful! We want to stay a while longer!
1. Round tower from 11th century at a 5th century site (originally wood structures).
2. Entrance into St. Kevin's Monastery
3. Women's chapel: there were 7-9 chapels on the grounds originally
4. Type of Mausoleum burial chamber
5. St. Kevin's chapel
6. Window of the chapel
7. Fall color at the visitor center of Round Tower
8. Lunch at Wicklow Heather Restaurant: beautiful village of Laragh. Restaurant was filled with antiques.
9. Close-up of monkey puzzle tree
10. Valley view from the bus: magnificent views and sunshine today.
11. Decorative hedge trimming to the ultimate.
12. Beautiful decorative door of the Dublin Archeological Museum: saw antiquities and Bog Book--an ancient copy of the Psalms found during peat bog digging.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
New Grange and Causey Farm
1. New Grange : 3200 site: burial and possible sun worship--light from sun goes into the window slot only during vernal equinox
2. Entry to New Grange: interior is very tight and short stone passage way (leading to Passage Tomb name) and opens into a central chamber large enough for maybe 20 people packed in closely. Capstone weight is about 1-2 tons.
3. New Grange close up of huge stones around base: brought from Wicklow county 70 km away.
4. Another structure on the grounds: ? housing
5.Distant view of smaller burial chamber
6. Pat and M standing by one of the huge rocks outside the Passage Tomb
7. Demonstration of how it is thought the large rocks were moved. Very nice museum with displays.
8. Lunch at the farmand then music instruction. Pat joined the dance lesson.
9. Drum lesson
10. Demonstration of sheep dog herding
11. Black sheep!
2. Entry to New Grange: interior is very tight and short stone passage way (leading to Passage Tomb name) and opens into a central chamber large enough for maybe 20 people packed in closely. Capstone weight is about 1-2 tons.
3. New Grange close up of huge stones around base: brought from Wicklow county 70 km away.
4. Another structure on the grounds: ? housing
5.Distant view of smaller burial chamber
6. Pat and M standing by one of the huge rocks outside the Passage Tomb
7. Demonstration of how it is thought the large rocks were moved. Very nice museum with displays.
8. Lunch at the farmand then music instruction. Pat joined the dance lesson.
9. Drum lesson
10. Demonstration of sheep dog herding
11. Black sheep!
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Dublin, Dublin Castle and St. Patrick's Anglican Church
We went to the Dublin Abbey Theater last evening and saw Sean Casey's Juno and the Paycock and it was a wonderful experience in Irish story, humor and history. When I returned to the hotel, I had a message to call Mary Prendergast, sister of Peter, and I had a delightful conversation with her. We won't have a chance to meet due to the busy last two day schedule but we will exchange some pictures and emails when I return home.
1. Georgian door in Dublin. It was related to the British period of early King Georges and many houses in Dublin show this style.
2. Georgian homes: beautiful ivy growing on the building
3. Courtyard at Dublin Castle: This is not a typical castle, more of a working government center.
4. View of the courtyard at the castle: snake pattern in brick
5. Close-up of the snake
6. Table in hallway outside of the hall of mirrors: the Irish/British were going for a Versailles look
7. Long hall: reception area
8. One of many pretty rooms
9. Pretty window in a hallway
10. Hall of mirrors:: dances: women waited along the wall to be asked to dance--hence the name wall flowers, Viscounts entertained here
11. St. Patrick's Church (Anglican) in Dublin
12. Spiral staircase to a private balcony area
13. Chairs in St. Patrick's: harp is the symbol of Ireland--Guiness harp is reversed to make it not identical to Irish symbol
14. Lunch at Doyle's with a tour member, Pam.
1. Georgian door in Dublin. It was related to the British period of early King Georges and many houses in Dublin show this style.
2. Georgian homes: beautiful ivy growing on the building
3. Courtyard at Dublin Castle: This is not a typical castle, more of a working government center.
4. View of the courtyard at the castle: snake pattern in brick
5. Close-up of the snake
6. Table in hallway outside of the hall of mirrors: the Irish/British were going for a Versailles look
7. Long hall: reception area
8. One of many pretty rooms
9. Pretty window in a hallway
10. Hall of mirrors:: dances: women waited along the wall to be asked to dance--hence the name wall flowers, Viscounts entertained here
11. St. Patrick's Church (Anglican) in Dublin
12. Spiral staircase to a private balcony area
13. Chairs in St. Patrick's: harp is the symbol of Ireland--Guiness harp is reversed to make it not identical to Irish symbol
14. Lunch at Doyle's with a tour member, Pam.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Wexford and the Prendergast Connection
1. Peter Prendergast: 3rd cousin met us in Waterford along with his wife Madeleine and we spent the day with them. Many thanks to them both for the lovely day and history lessons!
2. New Ross: coffin ship in harbor
3. Wexford city wall: Peter and Madeleine live in Wexford and Peter's father and grandfather did also.
4. Beautiful flowers on hillside overlooking Wexford.
5. Statue of John Barry: Irishman who started the US navy
6. Mud flats during low tide with a docked row boat
7. Peter's grandfather's home: would have been a storefront or pub on ground floor and living quarters on two floors above, 3 rooms deep each floor.
8. Passageway from the sea to the city
9. Enniscorthy Castle: built in 1100's. Anglo-Norman Phillip de Prendergast and wife (son of Knight Maurice de Prendergast) lived here 1190-1229. Descendants continued to live there until 1490 until forcefully taken by Kavanagh. This castle is now a museum and open to the public but had been a private home until 1950.
10. Peter and Madeleine in front of the castle.
11. Dublin harbor with trains running along the harbor
12. James Joyce's tower: inspiration for Ulysses
13. Forty foot bathing place: beautiful area where formerly nude male bathing was allowed until the women protested the custom. Now "togs must be warn" sign there. People were actually swimming there today
2. New Ross: coffin ship in harbor
3. Wexford city wall: Peter and Madeleine live in Wexford and Peter's father and grandfather did also.
4. Beautiful flowers on hillside overlooking Wexford.
5. Statue of John Barry: Irishman who started the US navy
6. Mud flats during low tide with a docked row boat
7. Peter's grandfather's home: would have been a storefront or pub on ground floor and living quarters on two floors above, 3 rooms deep each floor.
8. Passageway from the sea to the city
9. Enniscorthy Castle: built in 1100's. Anglo-Norman Phillip de Prendergast and wife (son of Knight Maurice de Prendergast) lived here 1190-1229. Descendants continued to live there until 1490 until forcefully taken by Kavanagh. This castle is now a museum and open to the public but had been a private home until 1950.
10. Peter and Madeleine in front of the castle.
11. Dublin harbor with trains running along the harbor
12. James Joyce's tower: inspiration for Ulysses
13. Forty foot bathing place: beautiful area where formerly nude male bathing was allowed until the women protested the custom. Now "togs must be warn" sign there. People were actually swimming there today
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