Payoff Day

Though the route was its own payoff, today was definitely the payoff for the travel day.  Started at Blarney Castle.  And, if you were wondering, my dream of a date with an old stone came true, I kissed the Blarney Stone.  If Churchill could do it, I wasn't going to pass.  The small chambers and passage ways really give you a different perspective of such a large and imposing structure.  These could not have been very large people.  On the other hand, it's interesting to imagine the banquets that must have taken place in the Great Hall.


We also spent a good deal of time exploring the grounds.  Probably the most interesting part was the Rock Close.  A secluded garden with waterfalls, woods, and druid rocks.  There is a cave, and the Witch's Kitchen, they say was the site of the first cave dwellers in Ireland.  Some of the ancient Yew trees are intriguing in both their age and configurations.

Blarney House View from the Castle

Ancient Lime Kiln

Waterfall in the Rock Close

Family Room in Blarney Castle

Dalmen Rock - Druid Site

Wolfsbane in the Poison Garden - Blarney Castle

We headed south to the city of Cobh (that's Cove).  It actually started at Cove, was changed to Queenstown by you know who and then back to Cove with the Irish spelling.  We toured the Queenstown story museum which tells of the great emigration from Ireland.  Over one million people fled the country, many of them from this port, during the famine years.  The conditions they suffered in this passage, and the story of the "Coffin Ships" weigh heavy on your heart.  The Coffin Ships got their name because the demand for vessels was so great during the exodus of the famine years that old, unseaworthy, ships were pressed into service, and many of them did not make their destination).  This was also the last stop for the Titanic before it embarked on its first, and last, voyage.  It also fascinating to read of the tons of food sent over on American ships during these years.  Longshoreman donated their time to unload these relief ships and the storehouses sheltered the provisions free of charge.


But, the surprise find of the day was St. Coleman's Cathedral in Cobh.  It is the cathedral for the Cloyne Diocese.  Now this is a church!  I don't think the pictures come close to doing it justice, but even a glimpse of this magnificent structure is worth it.

Harbor at Cobh

Spire of St. Coleman's

Back of St. Coleman's Cathedral

Next we headed to Cork.  We walked most of the old section of town, including stops at the South Gate Bridge, the original bridge into Cork, St. Finbarr's Church, another great church, and Elizabeth Castle.  We also made it around most of City Center to get a good feel for downtown Cork.

South Gate Bridge to Old Cork

St. Finbarr's Church

There is, fittingly so, a monument to the United Irishmen who fought and died in revolutions for independence in 1798, 1803, 1848 and 1867.

Travel day again tomorrow, off to Killarney.  I can't wait to be serenaded with 27 versions of "Christmas in Killarney."  (Tam's channeling Bing already).