Lismore is highly recommended by our host and by the guide books. It is a little north and a few miles west of Dungarvan.
Lismore was the "Tidy Town" of the year in 2012 and is, reportedly, in the running for 2014. It is a delightful town.
With colors.
Out of the flood plane.
We are already in the village, but the entrance to the town showed the Castle which eclipsed the surrounding landscape. Unfortunately, this is the only picture captured....the Castle is privately owned, as others have been, but this owner, the Duke of Devonshire, doesn't want anyone walking through his house.
So, to heck with the Castle, we decided to take a walk around the village....
We followed Lady Louisa for a mile or so around the town....do you think anyone would ever map your walks around town????
This is sounding like Charleston....i.e., you may not be buried here unless......
Originally Catholic, this church was taken by the Protestants and is now part of the Church of Ireland (Anglican).
Religion and churches aside....the city park is very small, but very pretty...
Lismore, founded by St. Carthage, became a center of medieval learning during the 7th and 8th centuries. Tree trunk carvings are popular here.
Back on the road headed toward the Glen of Aherlow, we see another frequent sight -- the tree covered road.
Beware the sheep. And remember they don't pay attention to lights or horns.
Out of nowhere...in the midst of nowhere...here she is again....
HMMG overlooks a spectacular scene
A peek at the road to come....much like the road we have travelled.
We missed this event, but one would guess that it lasted the whole day!
I, Tom, was in Ireland 30 years ago for several weeks over a 6 month period for work. I took a few days out of the weeks to see part of Ireland. I thought that the Glen of Aherlow was the prettiest view that I had ever seen. I wanted to go back. This is the Aherlow House Hotel.
We had a nice lunch here that was not available 30 years ago.
Maybe you could have ordered a sandwich.
The lamb was delicious.
This restaurant was not here then.
And in those 30 years, the trees had grown enough to block the wonderful view. You can't go back.
The ride up had been a single lane narrow road that had Kathy quaking. On the way down we see views we had missed.
And it starts to look more like it did 30 years ago.
This is the view that I remember.
And this
Not this.
Maybe you can go back -- just be flexible because it will not be the same.
We move on to the village of Cashel. Again I, Tom, was here 30 years ago. But that is about the extent of the memory -- I was here.
The town grew up around the Rock of Cashel, once the seat of the kings of Munster. Situated on a rock high above the surrounding countryside it was first a fortress. It was first important in the 4th to 5th century AD.
The Rock went through a succession of kings varying in power until 1101 when the king of Cashel gave the Rock to the church. This church known as Cormac's Chapel was consecrated in 1134. The cathedral building was completed somewhere around 1289.
The marauders of the day did not respect the authority of the church. So the church's location on the Rock and its fortification were excellent protection.
And the wall added to the fortification.
There are 7 abbeys within a few miles of the Rock. This is the ruins of one.
The doors/people were quite small in those days.
This room is called The Hall of Vicars.
Informally, it was where the clergy and staff lived, ate, and hung out.
An example of how they did roofs in those days.
After Cashel, we are on the long trip back to Dungarvan. In our 3 nights near Dungarvan, this is our first visit to the harbor.
We decided on The Moorings for dinner.
A group of guys were at the table next to ours. When they learned that the fish was sole, they all 4 ordered the fish-n-chips.
Breaded crab claws....
You guessed it....clam chowder
Our first real candles since David and McKenzie's in London; eating by candlelight is a family tradition.
