Our last full day in Ireland started in sunshine with a visit to Kell's Priory...That Strongbow guy crops up once again...
"The Augustine priory of Kells is situated alongside King's River beside the village of Kells, about 15km south of the medieval city of Kilkenny. One of its most striking features is a collection of medieval tower houses spaced at intervals along and within walls which enclose a site of just over 3 acres. It was founded by Geoffrey FitzRobert in 1193. FitzRobert was brother-in-law to Strongbow. During its first century and a half the priory was attacked and burned on three occasions. It seems likely then that the walls and fortifications date back to this period of unrest.
The existing extensive ruin mostly dates from the 14th and 15th centuries. It consists of a church, a chapel, prior's residence or sacristy and a number of domestic buildings, all standing on an enclosed site of some 4 acres."
It certainly had been an impressive structure in its heyday...still boggles how they built such things so long ago...
definitely church-like here....
but not here...
the 2nd line of defense in case the first wall was breeched...
and then the clouds started moving in...
Can you guess what that hole in the wall was used for? the hole in the ground would not have been filled in when the Priory was occupied.....(Hint....the plant would have been naturally fertilized)
And then the rain...so what eh, I'm on vacation!...and I'd brought my new Mountain Equipment Co-Op, in green of course - just in case it rained in Ireland....and my Mountain Equipment Co-Op sweater, in green of course - in case it was chilly in Ireland. Little did we know at the time that we would need raingear and sweaters more in Venice the next day than we did in Ireland!
So off for a visit to Kilkenny Castle then...all blue for them...
Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, commonly known as Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. The Anglo-Normans had established a castle in 1173, The first stone castle on the site, was completed in 1213. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day. So let's go in and see, eh...
down to the dungeon...there was no dragon...but an amazing circular stone roof...
just like our house for Christmas dinner...yes there is a huge portrait of me in our dining room too, with my dog naturally...
and who doesn't have tapestries like this on their walls...
the red room...
the yellow room....with the five eldest children of Charles I keeping an eye on things...
and the um, blue room....
the exercise room...good thing cause we all know how the day will end, don't we...
up....
the down staircase...
and then the spectacular Portrait Room...a true jaw-dropping "Wow" moment...
where even the ceiling panels are painted...
What's John looking at?
ah, got it...a WW II-era vehicle waiting for the bridge & groom who are getting married at the castle on this day...
the River Nore...
time to move on....to, well you know where....
but on the way we discover Saint Canice Cathedral, where 1500 years ago "monks lived solely on porridge, nuts and berries." But a few hundred years later, it was roast beef, salmon, and fine wine. Timing really was everything if you were a monk at St. Canice's.
"round towers are to be found in only the most prestigious monasteries"....that must be the ones with roast beef & salmon.
And recalls Glendalough from a few days earlier...
yes we manage to find our way to the Marble City Bar (Kilkenny is known as the City of Marble)
where we enjoy some good food, and yep another Guinness...hey it's our last evening in Ireland..then head back to Margaret's wonderful open-door hospitality at the Moonarch...
for one last Irish coffee in her front room...
If you or someone you know is looking for a terrific B&B near Kilkenny sometime, this one is highly recommended:
The next morning we would drive back to Dublin airport where John and Sheila would return to Bristol and we fly onto Venice.
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