June 5 – Travel to Limerick
Early departure for Blarney Castle, a rugged 15th century tower on beautiful grounds. Our group was the first to arrive at the site and the sun came out as we scurried towards the tower. We got some great pictures as the sun came out. I chose to skip the climb up to the top to kiss the Blarney Stone. Instead I wandered the grounds and its beautiful gardens. We had some time to shop at the Blarney Mills but I didn’t buy much – no room in my suitcase for bulky items.
After a quick lunch, our bus tour continued with a stop in the village of Adare, 12 miles south of Limerick. It is a pretty little village with centuries of history. It is the home of the Adare Manor, now a hotel and golf course. There are still some remains of a monastic settlement from the 14th and 15th centuries. The 2027 Ryder Cup will be held in this village. We had a short walk with a local guide to learn about the village’s history. On their main street are examples of traditional cottages with thatched roofs.
Some random pictures from the road.
In the evening most of the tour group went to an optional activity – a medieval dinner at the Knappogue Castle, located about 45 minutes from the Absolute Hotel in Limerick. It was a fun although cheesy evening. The food was good as well as the mead. There was some singing, dancing and story telling. The castle was built in the 14th century. We didn’t have an opportunity to see much of the building or its grounds. It was a fun night but not sure I would do this again. Lea enjoyed the day as it was her birthday.
