In This Crazy Life...

  Friday morning we headed west to Kerry County. On our way we stopped in Cashel to visit the Rock of Cashel.  The Rock of Cashel was more formally known as St. Patrick's Rock. It was  the site of the conversion of Aenghus the King of Munster by St. Patrick in the 5th century AD.    The grounds around the buildings are home to an extensive graveyard, which includes a number of beautiful high crosses. The entire plateau atop the rock is walled.  The oldest and tallest of the buildings is the well preserved round tower (90 feet) which dates back  around 1100. The tower was built using the dry stone method. Modern conservationists have filled in some of the tower with mortar for safety reasons. Only the roof has been rebuilt, in the 19th century. You enter the Rock of Cashel through the Hall of the Vicars Choral, built in the 15th century. The vicars choral were laymen  appointed to assist in chanting...

We had a light breakfast of scones and coffee before heading out to Kilkenny. The owner of the B&B gave us a few tips for following road signs. You can't really depend on signs telling you what highway or road you are on, so you have to know what city is coming next and follow the signs for that city. I kind of wanted to drive through the Wicklow mountains, but after yesterday's adventure taking so long I decided against it. we are staying in a national park in  a few days so I will get my feel of mountains there. We found our way very easily and only had to turn around once when we reached Kilkenny centre.We enjoyed the afternoon walking around the quaint midievil town. Kilkenny Old Jail and Courthouse St. Mary's Catherdral was built in 1857. It is a  Gothic design, built entirely of chiseled limestone and cruciform in shape”.  The tower which has become a landmark of the city was originally designed for St. Kieran’s College, and rises to a height of 1...