Blogs from County Kilkenny, Ireland, Europe

Today was a medium travel day starting in Cork and going to Kilkenny via Waterford. Only about 2 and a half hours of travel. On arriving in Waterford we decided to check the tour times for The House of Waterford Crystal. After a short wait we started the tour with a quick history lesson on Waterford and a display of some one off signature pieces. Then we toured the different steps of manufacturing starting with making the wood forms, than watched the forms being used in the blowing room. Which then got passed to the where they removed the blowing caps and then they placed in an annealing oven 24 hours to slowly cool. After cooling they ground the rim top, outside, then inside for a clean rim. Any sculpture pieces that required multiple pieces would ... read more

We sadly departed Dublin without kids on the 12th with Bird and HP just moping along. Otherwise day was okay, warm with folks vehemently complaining of heat in the mid-seventies. A couple of days later when in Portmagee, jumping off point for Skellig Michael, a Yellow Flag warning was issued for temperature as on 16 July it was to rise to a blistering 73F. Honest Abe folksYellow Flag. Chatted with an Airbnb host one afternoon and she warns temp may reach the intolerable levels of the eighties with no rain. She didn't say but one would imagine, they blame the U.S. and China for the bulk of climate change. Countries in Europe by and large are doing the work to reduce carbon, but the big boys do little. At any rate visited a couple of demolished ... read more

Our penultimate full day, and the sun was shining ? We found a café for breakfast, then headed to the castle. The self-guided tour was interesting and well structured. It took around an hour, and there was plenty of information on the history of the castle and the Earls of Ormonde, the 25th Earl who died in 1997 being the last. Upon his death, the Marquessate of Ormonde became extinct and the Earldoms of Ormonde and Ossory and the Viscountcy of Thurles became dormant. The castle is now owned by the people of Ireland since the last Marquess of Ormond sold it to the State for a token sum of £50. Afterwards we had an ice cream, and explored the 50 acres of parkland adjacent to the castle. It’s beautiful, with lots of wild flowers and ... read more

We get to sleep in a bit this morning. As we pass through the lobby on the way to breakfast, the backwards musical sculpture bothers me again. I decide to explain the problem to the clerk at the desk. She smiles politely but clearly doesn't really get it. The hotel's buffer breakfast is particularly good. There is fresh honey comb and (gasp) fresh peanut butter. What a treat. And we're off again on a day trip to explore the area south of Kilkenny. The landscape is much less interesting than the wild coastal regions we toured recently, consisting mostly of rolling hills and farms. We drive through Bennettsbridge, the location of several flour mills, and Thomastown, known for the 13th-century Jerpoint Abbey and the Church of St. Nicholas. Yes, that St. Nick. He's buried here. Tony ... read more

Up and out at 8:30 with another couple in tow, heading for Kilkenny. Made it through the roundabouts, into the city, and caught a parking space on the street right next to the castle! The Castle has three of its original four towers still intact, as well as a beautiful rose garden. The contents were all auctioned off when the Butlers went bankrupt so the OPM have found items "of the times". During excavations, some original wallpapers and fabrics were found and replicated. Then, walked through town to St. Canice Cathedral--lovely medieval city--pubs and shops. Got a great idea for a sweater. The cathedral included the ancient chair used to anoint bishops of the parish, of whichever religion, currently Anglican. Then there was the Tower--seven sets of acutely angled steps with a tight landing at each. ... read more