Shamrock Diaries

[Debroos]

There is a motorhome aire on the waterfront at Whitepoint. The promenade in front of it - leading back along and towards the railway station and the heritage centre - is called the Five Foot Way. This new statue is right on this promenade, only erected in 2024.

Ah, haven't been there since 2023. Lovely spot innit. I don't usually like urban stops but that one's a cracker

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Ah, haven't been there since 2023. Lovely spot innit. I don't usually like urban stops but that one's a cracker

It certainly is and very popular!

There were only 3 spaces left when we arrived 2pm-ish last Saturday (9th May). I think if you arrive too late in the day at weekends, Bank Holidays or when the heavy tourism season starts in June you will be hard pushed to get a pitch there.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Arrived in Kilkenny yesterday to an aire right in the town centre.

Having a non-driving break so staying 2 nights. Bit of exploring in and around the town today then maybe out on the razzle tonight. I lie; we’re not true razzlers! These days the limit for me is a single pint, or even just a half pint and I can count how many drinks I’ve had so far this trip on the fingers of one hand

Laundry stop planned for tomorrow morning on the way out of Kilkenny - Neil (not me!) is running out of clean socks and knickers.

On to the Wicklow Mountains for the next overnighter at a pub stop spitting distance from Glendalough.

The morning after the Wicklow pub stop we’ll make an early start to take a shufty at Glendalough on the way over towards Blessington and the special garden I want to visit in the afternoon.

We’re gradually making our way north east. A stop off planned for Neil at the Newgrange ancient burial site north of Dublin, then heading for the Larne ferry and home.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Arrived in Kilkenny yesterday to an aire right in the town centre.

Having a non-driving break so staying 2 nights. Bit of exploring in and around the town today then maybe out on the razzle tonight. I lie; we’re not true razzlers! These days the limit for me is a single pint, or even just a half pint and I can count how many drinks I’ve had so far this trip on the fingers of one hand

Laundry stop planned for tomorrow morning on the way out of Kilkenny - Neil (not me!) is running out of clean socks and knickers. heading for

Wicklow Mountains for the next overnighter at a pub stop spitting distance from Glendalough.

The morning after the Wicklow pub stop we’ll make an early start to take a shufty at Glendalough on the way over towards Blessington and the special garden I want to visit in the afternoon.

We’re gradually making our way north east. A stop off planned for Neil at the Newgrange ancient burial site north of Dublin, then heading for the Larne ferry and home.

Some deformities are handy to have though Marie.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Yup. The Rock of Cashel. Last seen by me almost 40 years ago.

They had 8 resident choir boys back in the day. Ireland’s first boy band. Each given 2000 acres of the surrounding land, some of the finest farming land in Ireland. Lucky boys, ey?

It was all covered in forest at the time though. 80% of Ireland was covered in forest. Now the situation has been reversed and Ireland is apparently one of the least forested countries in Europe.

Still looks pretty green and forested to me though, lucky devils! Especially when compared to England

Cahir Castle

 

[Pudsey Bear]

You keep getting photobo

Yup. The Rock of Cashel. Last seen by me almost 40 years ago.

They had 8 resident choir boys back in the day. Ireland’s first boy band. Each given 2000 acres of the surrounding land, some of the finest farming land in Ireland. Lucky boys, ey?

It was all covered in forest at the time though. 80% of Ireland was covered in forest. Now the situation has been reversed and Ireland is apparently one of the least forested countries in Europe.

Still looks pretty green and forested to me though, lucky devils! Especially when compared to England

View attachment 151934

Cahir Castle

View attachment 151935

You keep getting photobombed.

 

[trevskoda]

On east side make sure you do Newgrange & mellifont abbey.

 

[HurricaneSmith]

Ive just checked and see that I bought Mrs O'Kelly's "Concise guide book" to Newgrange, and inside I kept a record that I used bus stop No:12.45 and that my entry ticket was 196521. Me, an anorak?

I am loving your journey too. Thank you!

 

[Debroos]

Arrived in Kilkenny yesterday to an aire right in the town centre.

Having a non-driving break so staying 2 nights. Bit of exploring in and around the town today then maybe out on the razzle tonight. I lie; we’re not true razzlers! These days the limit for me is a single pint, or even just a half pint and I can count how many drinks I’ve had so far this trip on the fingers of one hand

Laundry stop planned for tomorrow morning on the way out of Kilkenny - Neil (not me!) is running out of clean socks and knickers.

On to the Wicklow Mountains for the next overnighter at a pub stop spitting distance from Glendalough.

The morning after the Wicklow pub stop we’ll make an early start to take a shufty at Glendalough on the way over towards Blessington and the special garden I want to visit in the afternoon.

We’re gradually making our way north east. A stop off planned for Neil at the Newgrange ancient burial site north of Dublin, then heading for the Larne ferry and home.

There's a car park about a mile further on from Glendalough and you can walk along the tree lined river and then the ruins appear slowly through the trees. It's very beautiful that way...

And if you can fit in Knowth as well as Newgrange Neil won't be disappointed!

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Still in Kilkenny right now.

We’re in Matt the Miller’s and I’m having my first taste ever of Sullivan’s which is actually brewed here - Smithwick’s, which is supposed to be a Kilkenny beer, is now brewed in Dublin.

Music starting soon, first time on this trip I’ve managed to be somewhere at the right time.

Anyway, back to the beer! The Sullivan’s is delicious, Kilkenny is a lovely city, the Irish are a breed apart (in a good way) - eat your heart out @Robmac

 

[mariesnowgoose]

There's a car park about a mile further on from Glendalough and you can walk along the tree lined river and then the ruins appear slowly through the trees. It's very beautiful that way...

And if you can fit in Knowth as well as Newgrange Neil won't be disappointed!

Thanks for that, we will go to both, and thanks for the tip about Glendalough too!

 

[Robmac]

Still in Kilkenny right now.

We’re in Matt the Miller’s and I’m having my first taste ever of Sullivan’s which is actually brewed here - Smethwicks, which is supposed to be a Kilkenny beer, is now brewed in Dublin.

Music starting soon, first time on this trip I’ve managed to be somewhere at the right time.

Anyway, back to the beer! The Sullivan’s is delicious, Kilkenny is a lovely city, the Irish are a breed apart (in a good way) - eat your heart out @Robmac

View attachment 151947

Kilkenny was the only place in Ireland that I've ever had any trouble Marie.

I was with a large bunch of blokes and we were playing pool with the locals and the more drunk they got the more anti British they got and then the rebel songs started.

We moved on to the village of Bennetts Bridge the next day just outside Kilkenny for the Hurling final (their equivalent of the FA cup final) where we had a great day with the locals.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Mmm

 

[NeilyG]

Climbing up the big ol’ tower at St Candice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny.

(photo of Marie scaling the tower removed by request.)

Impressive inside:

 

[barryd]

Bloody hell! €14.50 for a Daiquiri!

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Experiencing some wild weather for a change

Park up at Wicklow Gap. Everything bar snow chucked at us since we got here, horizontal torrential rain and very strong winds, then the clouds part and you get a beautiful sunset

Still very gusty, but we’re parked the right way to minimise the buffeting

Will be like being at sea tonight, so I should sleep well

Glendalough first thing tomorrow, then on to Hunting Brook Gardens near Blessington for the afternoon.

What has surprised me is how much attention this old van of ours has attracted everywhere we’ve been. Unexpectedly met lots of very interesting locals because of it. A lot of serendipity occuring on this trip… and folk who are masters at talking legs off donkeys! I’m an amateur by comparison, scarves not needed @The laird

 

[trevskoda]

Happy days, good weather returns at weekend, nice pics.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

More random pics from along the way…

Kilkenny Castle

Rothe House, Kilkenny, some big old oak (no pallet nails)

A grand old wisteria, Kilkenny.

Some nice Victorian tiles, Celtic style, another religious establishment, Cobh. I personally find the architecture of most of the bigger churches quite ugly.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Where exactly was the Wisteria Marie? Liz goes nuts when we see any. We have had several attempts to grow it here and at the last house, but it's not really worked. We're hoping the latest one will take off eventually on a new arch we bought especially for it to grow over.

 

[Robmac]

Where exactly was the Wisteria Marie? Liz goes nuts when we see any. We have had several attempts to grow it here and at the last house, but it's not really worked. We're hoping the latest one will take off eventually on a new arch we bought especially for it to grow over.

Julie has had some success with our latest Wisteria Kev which we installed a metal arch for it to grow over. Although it's very nice It's a bit too much for me as it restricts the view of the garden from our bedroom patio doors but the Garden's her department!

Just took a picture but it's going over a bit now, it was quite spectacular a couple of weeks ago.