Day Trip

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This morning our Irish Experience teacher picked us up around 11:30am to give us a mini tour of Carlow and the surrounding areas.

She first took us to the Browneshill Dolmen. It is believed to have been built between 4000 and 3000 BC by some of Ireland's earliest farmers. The capstone is argued to be the heaviest in Europe, around 100 metric tons.

We then traveled about 15 min outside of Carlow to Duckett's Grove. Its a gorgeous Castellated Gothic revival style house that was built in the 1830s on an estate originally of 5000 acres. The entrance of the estate is marked by an elaborate gate built abot 20 years after the house. The house was ruined by a fire in the 1930s but recently it is being restored and a garden is being planted within the walls.

Afterwards we were taken to Oak Park Forest Park to explore some of the walking trails that cover 127 acres and are free to the public.

Our last stop for the day was at the Arboretum Lifestyle and Garden Center. Inside there was a petshop, home ware, gift ware, restaurant, and furniture. Outside was a large garden center that holds the longest bench in Europe.

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