This morning, we had the best breakfast yet. I had some of the tasty fresh Irish cereal, green tea, a crepe with fruit, sausage, and some steamed hot chocolate (so good…).
After breakfast, we walked downtown a while, since we were planning on an 11:15 walking tour. Laura and I changed some money at the Bank of Ireland, while Mom finally bought some of the Irish wool scarves that she’d been eyeing.
The walking tour didn’t end up being much of a walk, but it was very interesting. Our guide, Barry Maloney, apparently studied history in school, so he definitely knew what he was talking about. He told us about the battle of Kinsale, in which an Irishman traded information about the Irish and Spaniards’ sneak attack on the English for a case of whiskey, thereby thwarting the fifth Spanish Armada and Ireland’s shot at independence.
This afternoon, we travelled to the Rock of Cashel, which is where St. Patrick baptised the Kind of Munster in the 400s. In 1101, the land was given over to the church to use as Ecclesiastical ground. It was in use from then until the 1800s and is still used as a cemetery today. Sadly, it was overcast and rainy, so I didn’t get many good pictures.
June 16, 2007 at 2:13 pm
i just found your blog! i don’t know why it took so long. it sounds like you guys are having fun in ireland. barry maloney reminds me of bologna. remember, if you see a leprechaun, take a picture!