Ireland 2008

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The training schedule is getting in the way of sight-seeing 😉

Yesterday, Taelyr had a team meeting at 11AM and then training from 3-6PM. Kendall and I went swimming.

Went to the pub last night for some "Irish music", but they close up pretty early around here.

Training today is from 3-7PM so we got up a bit earlier and went to see The King John Castle right here in Limerick, then we walked to St. Mary's Cathedral.

The Cathedral was built in 1168 and is the oldest structure in the UK that is still used for it's original purpose. It is an awe inspiring building, I think mostly because it's still all intact. There was a service going on at the time we were there and the bells were ringing and everything. The castles are awesome, but even-though they are partially restored, most of them are what you would refer to as 'ruins', so it leaves alot more to your imagination.

The King John Castle was built between 1200 and 1210, at a cost of 733 pounds.

It was a bit of a nicer day today, with only a little bit of rain. Right now there is this big, very bright, orange sphere in the sky...not sure what that is all about.

Taelyr is outside in the courtyard with her coach for a special session. I guess she had a bad day today 😞

Not much on the agenda for the next couple of days as they are gearing up for the competition on Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.

Friday we are planing on going south to Tipperary (not far from here 😉) to see Cahir Castle (one of the largest castles in Ireland), and The Mitchelstown Caves. Saturday to Cork to see the Blarney Castle, then across to Waterford. That's the plan anyways.

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Photos

Kendall and her new friend.
Kendall has latched on to Kelsey for some reason. She claims that "She is nice to me"...I guess the rest of us are not.

Poster
These are posted all over the city.

At the pub
dancing

at the pub
I think they were doing the "macarena'...not very Irish if you ask me.

At the Pub
I was NOT doing the Macarena

King John castle
One of the towers

King John Castle
Clearly they didn't have building codes in the 13th Century.

King John Castle
The minting room

King John Castle
Some of our group.

King John Castle
The King himself. Apparently he was not very popular.

King John Castle
These canons would have been added much later.

St. Mary's
Built in 1168.
Wow.

St.Mary
Main entry, not used anymore except for some ceremonial reasons (ie. the welcoming of a new Bishop). Because we chose to go there on a Sunday, we were not able to go inside as the "Devine Service" was in progress.