Our first stop of the day is the Rock of Cashel, which served as the seat of the Kings of Munster until the Norman invasion.  This castle sits atop a hill (or “rock”), overlooking the countryside around it.  It has an extensive graveyard surrounding the buildings, and several buildings used for the Church. 

We had lunch in a nearby town, which I think is the town of Cashel.  Then off to Killarney to stay at the Killarney Plaza Hotel.  And then spent a few hours exploring the town, followed by the “adult dinner”.  Which if this wasn’t an adult only tour, would have been the night for the kids to go have their own little party.  But since it was an adult only tour, it just meant the Adventure Guides finally got a night off.  Of course knowing the guides, they were probably working their fingers to the bone while we were all enjoying dinner.

Word of the Day—Go Raibh Maith Agat, or “thank you”. 

We made an early start from the Dublin Westin.  The bus ride to Cashel was fairly long and went over bumpy, narrow Irish roads.  The Rock of Cashel was once the home of kings who lived in wooden structures that are long gone, and then became property of the Church who raised the stone buildings that now are in ruins.  The Church abandoned Cashel because it was too windy and cold.  Cromwell busted up what time had not wrecked.  Cashel is now in ruins, but it’s still amazing and beautiful.  Even on the beautiful day we had, it was very cold and windswept, and the graves in the graveyard are very covered by lichens, even the newest ones.  Even graves that are less than fifty years old are often impossible to read.  The graveyard is also closed to anyone not entered in a special book—the list of who could be buried in Cashel was made in 1930, and that is all who can go into that graveyard.  Cashel has a lovely chapel that has traces of paint still clinging to the walls—the exhibit showed that once it was stunningly painted and really gorgeous.

After our tour of Cashel, we went down into the town and had lunch with Linda and Dave at a little pub.  They’re very nice, and kind of geeky like us.  The countryside is picture-book pretty with lots of cows and pretty green fields.  The ride from Cashel to Killarney though was rough and down lots of twisy little narrow roads which nearly made me ill.  Anyways, we got to Killarney safely, and did a bit of walking around and shopping before dinner at Menton’s which is the hotel restaurant.  We talked more sci-fi and stuff with Linda and Dave from New Jersey.  Killarney is cute.  It’s more laid back than Dublin, and from our room you can see the horse carts go by.  The room we have at the Killarney Plaza has a lovely view, but somewhat gaudy bedspreads, and a dripping shower…kind of mixed, but still very nice.