From Cork to Kilkenny

After a lovely breakfast at the Garnish House on Thursday morning, we took a brief walking tour of University College Cork. The pictures you see are of the small river on the edge of campus (beautiful willow tree), two young coeds strolling on campus (they should look familiar to you), an old and beautiful campus building, and the Garnish house seen through the University College arch.

We then set off to visit the ancient town of Kilkenny. Paul had his Jameson, Stacy had her Guinness and Smithwicks, I had my Ballygowan (still and sparkling water), and Candee had her Bulmer's (hard apple cider and hard pear cider). As you can see, she was thrilled when we stumbled upon the distillery in Clonmel.

Kilkenny Castle was built in approximately 1210 by the Anglo-Norman Earl of Pembroke. Over the past 800 years, it has been the site of much drama and conflict. It is built on the River Nore and commands a strong strategic position in the valley. It was the principal Irish residence of the powerful Butler family from 1391 until 1967 when they donated the castle and its grounds to the city of Kilkenny for the nominal sum of 50 pounds. The portrait gallery, the second longest room in all of Ireland, houses monumental and gorgeous oil portraits of every Earl, Marquess, and Marquessa that ever ruled at Kilkenny - an incredible display of continuity and power. Mom and Candee are pictured in the courtyard.

Tomorrow to the Rock of Cashel, and Saturday back to Cork, where an amazing happenstance may be unfolding related to the O'Callaghan saga. More about that later.