Back in Time to Medieval Castles

A trip to Ireland is not complete without a stop by the City Jail; the 19th century Victorian Cork Jail to be exact. Luckily this visit was just a sightseeing tour, because the halls and areas were super chilly even though it wasn't too cold outside; I can only imagine how brutal it would get in the winter. The families living in the jail as guards were prisoners in their own way, never leaving the jail and often children became wardens following their parents, continuing the cycle.

After the depressing yet interesting visit to the jail, we stopped by the English Market filled with meats, cheeses, and fruits galore, plus a much needed cappuccino and scone. In the town, we saw the county courthouse and a few cathedrals.

Who in their right mind would kiss a stone, the Blarney Stone? Me, kissing the stone, dangling upside-down inside a hole through the side of the castle, to gain the gift of the gab! Beyond the stone, the grounds of the castle consisted of beautifully manicured gardens and blossoming flowers.

Adare is a tiny town with old thatched houses, turned into shops and boutiques filled with souvenirs and expensive accessories.

Round and round the Ring of Kerry, such scenic views of green and blue, fields and waters abound. The roads winded through the Black Mountains, passing monuments and herds of sheep, mingling into one blur.

Off to a farm in the evening for a homemade, old-fashioned local dinner, complete with greetings by donkeys, ducks, horses, a sheepdog, and an Irish band.

Bunratty Castle and the surrounding Folk Park offer a space for getting lost, especially with the inaccurate map provided by the tourist desk. Luckily getting lost just added to the fun experience, but I never did find the hound dogs in the park, I guess the sheep and horses made up for it though, given they were so friendly, each wanting a pet over the fence.

For the evening in Limerick a group of us ventured to a Medieval castle dinner, complete with silly entertainment, singing, and dancing. It was an exciting evening, which I left filled to the brink with food.

The one day of fog was for the visit to the Cliffs of Moher, so unfortunately my sighting of the cliffs was rather limited before a complete overtaking of pea soup! Inside the visitor's center is a projected image of how the cliffs look in clear skies...see the contrast?

The last stops of the trip were Sligo and the Shannon River. Sligo is another small town with a river running through the middle, a few shops, and plenty of pubs and restaurants. The morning of the river cruise was a bit rainy, but it was alright considering we were in a covered boat. I would have to say the peaceful boat ride was the perfect ending to the Irish travels, complete with scones, butter, cream, and jam with a coffee on the side. As you can tell, I greatly enjoyed the foods of Ireland.