Monday, August 4

We spent an amazing day in the former kingdom of the O'Rourke clan (Ryan's ancestors). Everywhere we went there were sites named after the O'Rourkes! We started in Dromahair (The Ridge of the Two Demons) where we could only see the ruins of the first O'Rourke castle through a gate (which Ryan tried unsuccessfully to break down). We did manage to climb around in the ruins of O'Rourke's Hall, an attached building, which was built by later inhabitants.

From Dromahair we headed out to the other O'Rourke castle site which is now called Parke's Castle. Tiernan O'Rourke, King of Breifne, built this castle in the 1100's. In the 1600s, when Tiernan's descendant, Brian O'Rourke was hanged for treason against Britain, Queen Elizabeth gave the castle to an Englishman named Robert Parke. Brian was the last hold out among the Irish kings to be subdued by the occupying British. Parke changed much of the castle, but the original outer walls and towers remain. Ryan was thrilled to explore this amazing site!

From the castle grounds, we took a cruise around Lough Gill to see the Isle of Innisfree and other sites made famous by the poet W.B. Yeats. Our poetry-quoting captain was charming, and even let Kelly join in the recitations! Next we climbed a flat-topped mountain called O'Rourke's Table and got an awesome view of "our" kingdom. We grabbed a quick "pub grub" dinner in the quaint town of ManorHamilton. This town was called "O'Rourke's Little Field" until it was given to Sir Frederick Hamilton. The O'Rourkes get ripped off again! Ryan is developing a chronic "chip on the shoulder."

We finished our day by taking in lovely Glencar waterfall (also found in Yeats' poetry) as well as the Fenagh Abbey ruins and cemetery on the way back to our cottage. Whew! We are exhausted again, but loving every bit of our time here in Ireland.

Love you all!!!!

-- Ryan & Kelly

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