Trim Castle

We drove from Galway to Trim today. We found our B&B, White Lodge, with not too much hassle.  After getting our luggage settled in our rooms, we walked through the park to tour Trim Castle. Trim Castle was built in the late 1100's, added to a couple of times over the next few hundred years, then finished as a castle fort by the 1600's and left to ruin until the 1800's when Anglo-Irish folks starting touring the castles (during the Romantic Period).  Trim is one of the few castles in Ireland that has not been drastically restored, which makes it very interesting to tour, because you can see more of the structural and architectural details.  We named the castle cat 'Moo Cat'.  He is a typical cat - acting disinterested when the kids tried to get him to come to them, then walking into their path when they turned walked away.  He flopped over and let them love on him, purring. Silly cat. 

After the tour, we caught a late lunch at a quaint little café, then took the river walk back to our B&B.  We saw some horses, donkeys, and puppies, and lots of ruins. 

Bill's gut has been giving him fits off and on for a few days – it's really starting to wear him down. Now he has a low-grade fever, just enough to make him feel cruddy. :(  It's never any fun being sick, and worse when you're traveling. He still cuts a handsome figure in a picture, though. Some got it, some ain't. ;)

Roads with no shoulders are typical fare in Ireland. Most cars have significant scrapes and scratches down both sides. It's quite hair-raising the first 30-40 times you meet a tour bus on these roads, then you start to get used to it. 

This might be my favorite picture of them on this trip.  That's Yellow Steeple ruins in the background. 

The north tower collapsed, but was where foods were stored (cold side of castle).  

Castle was surrounded by curtain wall for defense. 

Smart engineering/architectural design – corner of curtain wall was built with two 2-feet thick walls. Attacks from outside might get through exterior wall, but interior wall would remain intact – takes longer to penetrate for enemies. 

You poor peasants are beneath my dignity. 

Wait! Don't leave! You must beg more for my love! 

I don't know what I was thinking. You guys are great. <3

Getting ready for our tour. 

This toilet was likely covered with a wooden seat, somewhat similar to what we use today. 

View looking down from above the toilet seat. 'Plumbing' has evolved significantly since then. 

Kiddos taking it all in from our guide. 

We have enjoyed some magnificent weather since we've been here. The locals say this is not typical. 

Filmed in Trim in 1994, took home 5 academy awards in 1995. 

Horses saying 'come play with us'

Donkey sweetie pie

Crazy cute puppy

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral ruins

Connemara - part 2

After lunch in Clifden, we toured Kylemore Abbey. Beautiful castle, church, and walled gardens.  Built by Mitchell Henry for his wife, Margaret, with his inheritance. They had 9 kids. She died at age 45, on a vacation trip to India (she contracted dysentery).  He never remarried and died penniless 36 years later in 1910.  In 1920, a group of Benedictine nuns bought the place and turned it into Kylemore Abbey. For many years, they ran a private boarding school for girls. The school is closed, but the nuns are still there - among other things, they make chocolate. They are slowly refurbishing the gardens with grants and charitable donations. It's a perfectly situated place, nestled among large rock mountains and lakes - very retreat-like and peaceful.  The rhododendron are all over, and are in bloom right now. Just gorgeous.  It was fitting that we toured the church right at 3pm - the same time our friends were burying a loved one back home in Knoxville. Godspeed, Patricia Beeler Lewis. 

When we got back to Galway, Josie wanted another pizza from Fat Freddy's, and we were all happy to oblige. The first toast was to Pat. 

Peat bogs

Kylemore Abbey

Taken by nice folks from Maryland!

Marble from several regions of Ireland was used for this church

The rhododendron climbs all the way to the top of the mountain. Stunning to see so much of it in glorious bloom. 

More sheep on the road on the way back to Galway

 

Connemara National Park - part 1

Josie is fever-free so far today!  She clearly feels much better, and we are very glad for that. She had a rough day yesterday. 

We are stopping for lunch at an old station house that has been refurbished in Clifden. The drive from Galway here is beautiful. We can't get over how pretty everything is in Ireland. 

Built 'for no reason'. These sound like fun folks. =)

Rest day in Galway - Josie is sick :(

We walked around the City Center a little bit this morning and let the kids shop some. Josie had complained of her throat hurting a little last night and first thing this morning, which is not an infrequent occurrence because of her continual fight with allergies. But by late morning, she was starting to look sick in the eyes, her 'tell'.  I checked her temp and it was 100.2.  She and I camped out in the hotel room for the afternoon so she could rest.  By late afternoon, her fever climbed to 103.7, despite 2 doses of ibuprofen. :(  We've been trying to push fluids, and if she's still got a fever in the morning we will seek help from a doctor. 

Bill stayed with her this evening while Mimi, Papa, Mitch, Samantha, and I went to hear traditional Irish music at a nearby pub and catch some dinner.  They were incredible.  Sorry Josie didn't get to hear them. Maybe she will be back to rights tomorrow and we can go again. The group we saw had a violin, a banjo, and two on accordions.  Stellar musicians, especially the violinist and one of the accordion players.  They picked a tune to do, then changed their minds a couple of times when deciding in what key to play it. 

'Let's do it in D.'

'Yeah.'

'How about C?'

(Nods)

'A-minor?'

(Pause for thinking and little bit of practice fingering out the melody) 'Yeah! Let's do it.'

And away they went.  By my terrible ear, not a note missed, although I saw a visual exchange between two of the players that seemed to betray a slip-up.  Fun to watch, great to hear. I hope we can all go tomorrow, because that will mean Josie is feeling better. 

Mitch's choice for a souvenir is entertaining. =)

Josie wanted sheep key rings, because of all the sheep we've seen. The white one is Arnie, the black one is Clover.

Samantha's choice, a Claddagh ring (a traditional Irish symbol for love, friendship, and loyalty)

(Hard to see, perhaps, but this 'travelator' has no steps, just a linear slope top to bottom, and they ask you not to walk on it, just stand and hold on to the railing.  It was a little odd-feeling, when you're used to stepped escalators)