Ireland-Scotland day 8 - Rock of Cashel & Dromoland Castle

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On Saturday, a week after we arrived in Ireland, we left Tramore on the southeast coast to drive back to Ennis, on the southwest coast, and halfway there we stopped at the Rock of Cashel, one of Ireland's most historic sites.   

The powerful Kings of Munster, rulers of all of Ireland from 300 to 1100, measured the success of their reign on their ability to command this natural outcropping, and for centuries clan warfare was the norm, trying to take and hold the high ground, an endless pursuit. 

But Irish clans with their cattle raids & incessant warfare passed out of existence a long time ago, and visitors today see what's left of chapels built from the 12th century, in Norman times, and onwards.   

note - you can enlarge any part of a picture by left-clicking in and then out again.

	pub in Cashel		Dahlias &  Japanese Maple		first look at Rock of Cashel
				13th century  tapestry		listening to the tour guide
			see note
		Cistercian Abbey ruin		weathered Celtic cross
			Paul

note - Oops, I learned later that permission from a parent is required (in the EU) before photographing their children, which maybe explains the look on the Mom's face. But what a setting ! 

Dromoland Castle is near Ennis & Shannon Airport, where Mary had to fly out the next morning. Doris & Paul stayed Saturday night at the Castle (it was a Paul surprise) while Mary & I drove to a B&B in Ennis, having seen the first half of the hurling championship between Counties Cork & Clare in the Castle bar. 

When we arrived in Ennis, Mary and I knocked on the B&B door around 5 pm, and the owner's stand-in host was beside himself, a total basket case, barely able to talk, because County Clare was ahead, with only a few minutes left in the game. 

We saw the last 2 minutes on TV and County Clare put the game away with a minute or so to go & held on to win, 27 to 23.  L

The host once calmed down said the B&B owner Mary was at the National match in Dublin, a two hour drive away. He said he knows almost all of the players on the County Clare team, because they are locals, many being firemen. 

The town blew up and when Mary and I drove downtown to a dinner spot, three minutes away, we were surrounded by a sea of sports-crazed revelers, hanging out of car windows, screaming, with horns blaring.   

Once inside the subdued-noise restaurant, Mary and I toasted to our good fortune to have made it to Ireland, the land of our ancestors. We enjoyed great food & shared a bottle of red wine.    

Doris & Mary on Saturday  afternoon

lodging since the 1500's

The next morning after driving Mary to Shannon Airport, I met Doris & Paul back at Dromoland Castle, and we walked the grounds. 

Sunday am		Dromoland Castle		Temple to Mercury		Doris & Paul
	on his daily walk, he said		Dromoland Castle links		classic walled garden
				roses in October		our last day in Ireland
			unscripted		Doris & Paul

On Sunday evening we had a turbo-prop plane from Shannon Airport to Glasgow, climbing above the clouds & seeing the sun again.

When we landed in Glasgow it was overcast and evening turned to night quickly. We found our way downtown to settle overnight in center city Glasgow. 

go to day 9 - Glasgow & Stirling

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