Ireland for Mr & Mrs Jack
Macallister
reland is nothing if not a mix of
fact and fancy. The Irish have woven tales forever, creating in the process
the myths and martyrs for which its people are so well loved. Stories have
poured forth from the
Emerald
Island
as
freely and as easily as stout flows from her innumerable pubs. Remember, James
Joyce was an Irishman.
Ireland
is a thing of beauty too, a place where orchids, of all things, grow beside
thorny, fragrant pines, and where the furious
Atlantic
beats up against stony black cliffs with an anger that sends seabirds flying.
And
Ireland
is full of contrasts. Sleepy hamlets lie tucked into velvety valleys where
folk live a life unchanged for centuries. Meanwhile, twentysomethings fill the
theaters in
Galway
, and designer wear sells in swank shops along
Grafton Street
in
Dublin
.
Evidence
of life on the
Emerald
Island
stretches back 9,000 years to a tribe of Mesolithic hunter-fishers who
inhabited the coasts of
Ireland
. In 500 B.C. the Firbolgs, who lived on the island, met their first
conquerors, the Celts (or Gaels), master horsemen from
Spain
and
France
. They brought with them a primitive tribal structure, the raw material for
what would become a well-organized society. Saint Patrick brought the word of
Christ to
Ireland
in 423 A.D. As Christianity spread, monasteries became the center of
population clusters, and it was here that clan kings
stowed
their treasures. Monks’ elaborate manuscripts, such as the Book of Kells,
still survive as an early testament to the Irish talent for storytelling.
Beginning in the ninth century the Irish people suffered repeated attacks by
the Vikings. It was not until King Brian Ború defeated the Vikings in 1014 at
the Battle of Clontarf that the Norse tyranny was brought to an end. The
Irish, however, would suffer continued invasions throughout their history. The
Normans
were the next to arrive, sent to
Ireland
by King Henry II of
England
at the request of Dermot MacMurrough, who had set his sights on the throne of
Ireland
. For the next 300 years the
Normans
dug in their heels, establishing a powerful foothold, buying up large plots of
land, building fortified castles, and introducing feudalism. Henry VIII
proclaimed himself king of
Ireland
in 1541 and insisted that Irish lords surrendered their land to the crown,
which would then “regrant the land by the grace of the king.” Royal
clansmen, who had ruled regionally for centuries, fled to
Spain
. King James I of
England
is remembered in
Ireland
for the Plantation of Ulster, in which he ordered Protestant Scotsmen and
Englishmen to settle in
Ulster
. The religious mix simply did not work, and the chronic unrest between
Catholics and Protestants began. In 1641 Ulster Catholics in Portadown
attempted to recover their confiscated land. Twelve thousand Protestants were
killed during the rebellion. Nevertheless
England
continued its push to suppress the practice of Catholicism in
Ireland
. Resentful Catholics staged the Great Rebellion, but they were defeated by
Oliver Cromwell, whose 20,000 troops killed one-third of
Ireland
’s Catholic population by 1652 and handed over its land to Protestants. When
James II, a Roman Catholic, ascended to the English throne, Irish Catholics
were hopeful, but their optimism was short-lived. James was defeated in 1690
at the Battle of Boyne by William of Orange. Catholics in
Ireland
became the persecuted majority. Penal codes barred them from holding public
office or indulging in a variety of social activities. Land ownership was
forbidden. Inheritance laws dictated that when a Catholic property-owner died
his land was divided up between his sons unless one son converted to
Protestantism— in which case that son got everything. By the mid-1700s only
seven percent of
Ireland
was owned by Catholics. Pressure for change built steadily. In 1782 the Irish
Volunteers, 80,000 strong, posed such a threat that the English granted
Ireland
its independence—more or less. In fact the Irish still owed their allegiance
to the British crown, Catholics were still denied a role in the politics of
their own country, and the English Parliament still manipulated policy in
Ireland
. Disaffection with English rule reached a climax in 1798 with a significant
rebellion. In six weeks of fighting 50,000 people died. Two years later the
Act of Union made
Ireland
a part of the
United Kingdom
. The Irish Parliament was dissolved and instead
Ireland
was represented by 100 members of Parliament in the House of Commons—none of
whom was Catholic. Daniel O’Connell, a Catholic lawyer from Kerry,
campaigned for the right of Catholic Irishmen to become members of
Parliament. In 1828, in a stunning victory, O’Connell won that right, and
went on to call for home rule, the right of
Ireland
to decide domestic policy as an independent government. His countrymen lent
strong support to O’Connell, but fate interrupted with the Great Famine of
1845. Failed potato crops for five years caused the death of one million
citizens and prompted another million or so to set sail for
America
in search of a better life. In the later half of the 19th century the Irish
Republic Brotherhood dedicated itself to Irish home rule, assisted by a branch
in the
United States
that called itself the Irish Republican Army. As home rule became more and
more the dominant theme,
Ireland
became more and more divided. Protestants in the north were not interested in
separating from the protectors in
Great Britain
, while Catholics sought an independent Irish identity. On 24 April 1916 the
Easter Rising took place in
Dublin
. Bands of armed rebels—this time middle-class intellectuals—brought the
city to a halt, taking over the post office, a biscuit factory, a brewery, and
a bakery, among other things. Later the leaders of the Rising would be
executed, and they would be remembered forevermore as
Ireland
’s greatest martyrs. From 1919 to 1921 the Anglo-Irish war raged, with the
IRA gaining the upper hand against the British. Finally, in 1922
Ireland
—excluding the counties of
Northern Ireland
with Protestant majorities, namely Antrim, Down, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Armagh,
and Derry—became a
free state
, adopting its own constitution in 1937. The
free state
of
Ireland
left the British Commonwealth and became the Republic or
Ireland
in 1949. But not every Irish citizen was happy with the state of affairs; many
still believed that the country should be united and free. A civil war was
inevitable. In fact, it is a struggle that continues today, though now since
the peace process, in a democrtatic political way.
24th May
The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge, Ballingarry, Co
Limerick
Tel: +353 (0)69 68508
Arrive
6.15 am at
Shannon
where Rupert will be waiting for you. He will transfer you straight to
Echo Lodge where you can relax for a bit, breakfast and then explore.
You
might first want to explore Ballingarry itself, a charming and sleepy village.
Afterwards maybe visit
Limerick
City
- The Lock Pub does a pleasant lunch and is beside St Mary's Cathedral, The
Castle and The Hunt Museum, a magnificent collection of treasures—from the
ninth century Antrim Cross to Chinese porcelain and even a painting by Pablo
Picasso. The collection was amassed by John Hunt, a medievalist, who left it
to the nation when he died in 1976 and are housed in the 18th century customs
house. The Georgian House is where some of the movie Angela's
Ashes was filmed.
Carry
on to the stone age circles at Lough Gur and maybe as far as Cashel in
Tipperary
, exploring Skehan coutryside around
Newport
. Cashel is a limestone outcrop rising from the plain and crowned by the
cathedral and round tower. Sheltering at its foot is Bru Boru, a entertainment
of Irish music and dance. The back road to Cahir, through Golden, will bring
you past the riverside ruins of Athassel Abbey and the legendary Motte of
Knockgraffon. Cahir has a huge castle in a fine state of repair and a
wonderful "Swiss Cottage" built as a folly in the Regency period. It
is also a centre of antique shopping. Return to Echo Lodge via Adare
which has been called
Ireland
’s most beautiful town. The streets here are lined with lovely cottages,
many with thatched roofs and most with colorful front gardens. They were
constructed by the Earl of Dunraven, who lived in the Victorian-Gothic Adare
Manor.
County
Clare
and The Burren
It
is worth stopping at
Bunratty
Castle
, which was built in 1425 by the MacNamaras and then passed to the O'Briens
who were Earls of Thomond. The Castle is furnished with mainly 15th and 16th
century furnishings.
Bunratty
Folk
Park
recreates rural and urban life in the 19th century
Ireland
. Visitors can for example view farmhouses of various economic backgrounds, a
watermill, church and village street. The
Walled
Garden
at 19th Bunratty House has been sensitively restored and is a must-see for all
garden enthusiasts
Rising
650 feet from the roiling Atlantic, the Cliffs of Moher in
County
Clare
take our breath away. From their majestic height we see the
Aran Islands
in the distance, and we observe kittiwakes, puffins, razorbills, and other
birds catch the dizzying coastal winds. “Not enough wood to hang a man, not
enough water to drown him, and not enough clay to cover his corpse.” That
was how one of Oliver Cromwell’s generals described the Burren. Words,
however, simply cannot do justice to this eerie, peculiar 193-square mile area
of ancient seabed that suffered glacial activity during its long history.
Today we see treeless meadows of limestone karst that forms natural pavement
interspersed with lush flora. Burren means great rock, and the rock formations
do dominate the landscape, but many visitors come to study what grows between
the rocks—an amazing mix of arctic, alpine, temperate, and tropical
vegetation growing side by side. Twenty-two varieties of orchids thrive here,
nourished by underground rivers and rich soil. Scholars of history can scour
the Burren for tombs, chambers, and dolmens (two stones that support a
horizontal slab), traces of Stone Age inhabitants.
At
Rathkeale the remains of the Augustinian Priory, founded in the 13th century
by Gilbert Harvey can be seen. If you divert from Rathkeale on the R518 you
will come to the Askeaton (8 miles), where
Askeaton
Castle
is located, principal residence of the Earls of Desmond during the 15th and
16th centuries. Ruins covering much of an inlet in the river Deel, including a
15th century tower, with the large Desmond Hall nearby. You can also visit the
Franciscan Friary, founded in 1389 but later restored by James, Earl of
Desmond in the 15th century. Nave, chancel and north trancept with
well-preserved cloister arcade. some fine carvings and other remains within
the friary. Travel west from Askeaton (6 miles) you will arrive in Foynes.
Once the centre of trans Atlantic aviation, there is now a museum celebrating
that era when flying boats ruled the skys.
Killarney
itself is a busy town with lots of shopping. South and west of the town
of
Killarney
are the world famous
Lakes of Killarney
.
Killarney
National Park
, 10,236 hectares in extent, comprises the mountains and woodlands surrounding
the Lakes as well as the three Lakes themselves. The Park includes the peaks
of Mangerton, Torc, Shehy and the Purple mountains while just to the west of
the Park rises MacGillycuddys Reeks, the highest mountain range in
Ireland
.
The
nucleus of the National Park is the 4,000 hectare
Bourn
Vincent
Memorial Park
, formerly known as the Muckross Estate, which was presented to the State in
1932 by Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Bourn and their son-in-law Senator Arthur Vincent
to be
Ireland
's first National Park. In recent years, lands and waters of the former
Kenmare Estate have been added, including Knockreer,
Ross
Island
and Innisfallen
The
most familiar part of the National Park is the Muckross Demesne, of which the
focal point is Muckross House. The House, to which there is an
admission charge, is presented primarily as a late 19th century mansion. In
the former stables of the House is a restaurant and craft shop.
Muckross
Gardens
, are renowned for their fine collection of rhododendron species and hybrids
and azaleas. There is an extensive water-garden and a rock-garden on a natural
limestone outcrop. Many tender and exotic trees flourish in the mild climate
and sheltered location around the large expanse of informal lawn and in the
Arboretum. Muckross Abbey, in the grounds, provides the visitor
with a wonderful experience - follow the old narrow stairways to get a feeling
of how the old monks would leave their living quarters and make their way to
prayer. Donal McCarthy Mor founded the Abbey, a Franciscan Friary, in 1448.
These well-preserved ruins were the burial place of local Chieftains.
Overnight at The Aghadoe Heights Hotel
The
Ring of Kerry is a circular route around the
Iveragh
Peninsula
. It is best to do it in an anti clockwise direction - Killorglin,
Glenbeigh, etc. Hightlights
are :
Killorglin
situated on a hill overlooking the wide and graceful River Laune, a river
offering salmon and trout angling. Dominating the landscape to the south are
the MacGillycuddys Reeks. It is the location of the famous "Puck
Fair" festival - On the bridge into the town is a salmon smoke house
called The Fishery.
The
Bog
Village
is situated half way between Killorglin and Glenbeigh on the main Ring of
Kerry route. It is a must for you to stop off and enjoy a step back in time to
the early 18th century to recapture the way life would have been at that time.
Peat, or turf as it is usually called in
Ireland
, is harvested from bogs and is still used as domestic fuel. The village is
here to preserve the past for your enjoyment. This is a most worthwhile and
historic visit to see the real Kerry life as it was, in the heart of Kerry's
bogland. The
Bog
Village
is adjacent to the Red Fox Inn Bar and Restaurant, which is open seven days a
week.
Glenbeigh
is a popular holiday base nestled at the foot of a well-wooded mountain and
close to the head of
Dingle
Bay
. It is dominated by the strange ruin of Wynn's Folly, or
Hedley
Towers
, once home of the Winns, Barons Headley. The Title dated from 1797. Wynn's
Folly was burnt down in 1922. The view from 'Wynn's Folly is superb, and
provides a breathtaking view of the village and surrounds of Glenbeigh.
After Glenbeigh you will pass through
Kells
Bay
where a local shepherd gives demonstrations of working sheep dogs
From
Cahirciveen you can divert to the right and take the car ferrry to Knightstown
on
Valentia
Island
. Be sure to visit The Slate Quarry,
Glanleam
Gardens
and The Tetrapod Trackway - In 1993 an undergraduate geology
student (Iwan Stossel) made the discovery of a lifetime. While examining rocks
on the island's coast he came across a rock platform containing a set of
ancient animal footprints. The tracks have since been dated to almost 400
million years ago and are regarded as among the earliest footprints known to
science, and certainly the oldest known footprints in
Europe
.
Valentia
is an island of unique scenic beauty, tropical vegetation, breathtaking cliffs
and magnificent seascapes. The island is an excellent centre for sea angling
and diving in unpolluted waters. The bridge was built at Portmagee in 1970.
The island, about 11km long by 3km wide is one of the most westerly points of
Europe
. The surface is bold and rocky, two prominent features being Geokaun Mountain
268 meters on the north and Bray head 180 metres on the south, both are
splendid vantage points for the sightseer. The Skellig Experience is located
here. This is where the story of the Skelligs is told. The themes include the
monastic settlement, the lighthouse, the bird and underwater life.
Head
on to Ballinskelligs via St
Finans
Bay
. In Ballinskelligs is the Cill Rialaig Centre - once a deserted and
almost forgotten pre-famine village of thatched stone cottages situated on the
Bolus road near Ballinskelligs, it is now an international artists' retreat .
On
through Charlie Chaplin's
Waterville
and Cagerdaniel where, by golden beaches, stands Derrynane House, the
ancestral home of Daniel O'Connell, lawyer, politician and statesman. Today
some 120 hectares of the lands of Derrynane, together with Derrynane House,
make up
Derrynane
National
Historic
Park
. Plantations and garden walks were laid out in the 18th and 19th centuries,
principally north and west of the house. Some features of the demesne are
strongly associated with Daniel O'Connell, including the old Summer House. The
main area of the gardens, set inland and to the north of the house, can be
reached through a tunnel under the road.
Between
Waterville
and Derrynane you will see a Neolithic Stone alignment on the ridge above the
LHS of the road. Outside Caherdaniel is a ruined Iron Age fort on the
RHS.
At
Castlecove, some distance to the left off the main road, is Staigue Fort -
probably the finest example of a stone fort in
Ireland
, and is about 2500 years old. It is built of local stone and is almost
circular, 27m in diameter. The walls are almost 4m thick at the base, and 2m
thick at the top. The north side is still perfect with some of the old coping
stones still in position. There are two small chambers in the wall, one on the
west side and one on the north side. The stairways are probably the most
interesting feature of the fort, and run inside the wall almost to the wall's
full height. They lead to narrow platforms on which the fort's defenders
stood.
Through
Sneem and back to Killarney.
Tour The Dingle Peninsula - Dingle is the main town on the Dingle
Peninsula, the westernmost point in Ireland. It is just big enough to have all
the necessary services for tourists, and a steady night time beat for Irish
traditional music.Dingle is traditionally Irish, being in theheart of the
Chorca Dhuibhne Gealtacht. The main industries here are farming and fishing.The
harbour is always busy with fishing boats and yachts, and its few streets are
lined with brightly painted shops, pubs and restaurants. In 1970, Dingle was
introduced to the world through the film Ryans Daughter, and Dingle fans from
all over the world flock to the small town every year. In the 1990's, the town
has gained fame in the world of music, history, gastronomy, scenery and not
least it's friendly dolphin. From Dingle travel on and visit Slea Head,
Dunquin, Ballyferriter and back into Dingle. You now take the northern route
via the lovely Conor Pass, to Stradbally, Camp and Tralee. There is magnificent
coastal scenery at the Western end of the peninsula. The Dingle Peninsula –
has been inhabited for almost 6,000 years. The first settlers on the peninsula
were nomadic hunters and gatherers who foraged on the coast for their food.
Later Stone Age man and Bronze Age man were to build their tombs, erect their
standing stones, and toil the land for the first time. The Celtic population
arrived in the couple of hundred years before the birth of Christ and brought
their ancestoral goddess "Duibhne", after which the Dingle Peninsula
has been named in Gaelic: Corca Dhuibhne, the seed or tribe of Duibhne. In the
centuries that followed, the peninsula was to be visited by Vikings, Normans
and English. It is also a centre of craft workers, some inspired by the
talented Mulcahy family
Each wave of settlers left their mark on the locality and it may be said that
the locality left its mark on them. They sustained life here only with great
difficulty. Sometimes they warred with each other; at other times they lived
side by side in peace and in neighbourliness. They intermarried until with the
passage of time they became fused into one people – the people of Corca
Dhuibhne of the present day, a people who still speak the Irish language and
foster the native culture and who in their daily lives bear witness to
indigenous values.
It is certain, then, that the settlers have been of different racial strains.
There are very few written accounts of their doings, but they have left behind
them a great number of material remains as proof of their journeying and their
settling here.
This is one of the richest areas in archaeological remains on the west coast of
Europe, with almost 2,000 sites. Here are the largest collections in the world
of clocháns or beehive huts, of the stones with the unique ogham
writing, of dúnta or ring forts. These remains, including the Oratory
at Gallarus and the cross stone of Reasc, give evidence of skilled
craftsmanship.
Hayfield
Manor,
Perrott avenue
,
College Road
,
Cork
Tel: +353 (0) 21 484 5900
To
Cork City via
Macroom and Blarney Castle,
one of Ireland's oldest and most historic castles, built around 1446. An
ancient stronghold of the MacCarthys, Lords of Muskerry and one of the
strongest fortresses in Munster, its walls are eighteen feet thick in places.
Located on the parapet of the castle is the famous "Blarney Stone".
According to local legend, after kissing this stone, you will have the gift of
eternal eloquence, or "the gift of the gab". To kiss the stone, you
must first lie on your back, then leaning your head backwards and downwards,
you kiss the underside of the stone.
To
fill a day around
Cork
is no problem - You could easily spend a week exploring the
Cork
area and still not have seen all the highlights. The bells of Shandon church,
The English Market, St Finbarre's Cathedral & The Crawford Gallery are a
few of the highlights of the city.
Blarney
Castle
, with its eloquent stone is a short drive to the north. The Cobh Heritage
centre presents a fascinating story of emigration to
America
and as you rejoin the main road to Cork the gardens of
Fota
Island
are worth a visit.
Overnight Hayfield manor
S
tart
the day by heading down to Kinsale and maybe, if it is of interest, visiting
the old fort there. An ancient seaside town, Kinsale is full of style and
character. It is also a winner of the National Tidy Towns Competition. In the
17th and 18th centuries it was an important English naval base, and it still
has a distinct Georgian flavour. With its yacht-filled harbour, brightly
painted cottages, bow-winded houses and displays of flowers in pots, tub and
handing baskets, it marks the beginning of scenic West Cork, and well deserves
it's booming tourist industry. Only 18 miles from
Cork
, it is ideally placed as a deep-sea angling and yachting centre. In 1601
Kinsale was the scene of a battle in which English troops defeated a mixed
Irish-Spanish force. It was followed by the 'Flight of the Earls', when many
of the Irish aristocracy surrendered their lands and fled to mainland
Europe
. In 1960, after his defeat at the
Battle
of the Boyne, James II escaped from Kinsale to exile in
France
. Not long after, in 1703, the 90 tonne
Cinque Ports
sailed from the port with Alexander Selkirk on board. Selkirk's survival,
after being marooned on the Pacific Island of Juan Fernandez, gave Daniel
Defoe the idea for his novel Robinson Crusoe. The 
town's Dutch-gabled 18th
century courthouse is now the
Kinsale
Regional
Museum
. Among its fascinating exhibits is a toll-board giving the sums levied on
food and other goods passing through the town gates. It includes the waiver
'No fee is to be taken out of a smaller quantity of potatoes than three
weights brought to town on women's or children's backs.' Other notable
buildings include the 13th century St. Multose Church with its massive west
tower. The north transept and font are probably original and both are
noteworthy. The 16th-century Desmond Castle, a tower house used in Napoleonic
times to house French prisoners of war, is also worth a visit. Two miles
outside the town, at Summer Cove , are the 40ft walls of Charles Fort, dating
from 1677. It is one of
Europe
's best -preserved star forts, so called from their star shaped ground plan.
The barracks inside were occupied by British troops until 1922. Not only dose
this town lay claim to being the oldest town in
Ireland
, but it is also renowned internationally for the number and quality of
restaurants in the town. It is hailed as the gourmet capital of
Ireland
. An early luch here and then on to Clonakilty and the stone circle at
Drombeg, returning via the town of
Bandon
.
To
Mallow with its
Elizabethan
Castle
and then to the Gardens of Annesgrove at Castletownroche. On to Lismore
for Lunch and return to
Cork
by way of the Irish Whskey distillery at Midleton.
Dunbrody
Country House Hotel, Arthurstown, Co Wexford
Tel: +353 (0) 51 389 600
A
must see is the church in Youghal, where Sir Walter Raleigh worshipped.
Ardmore
is just to the east of Youghal, with a stunning medieval church. From
Dungarvan a very scenic road follows "The Gold Coast" through
Annestown and Tramore Tour Waterford Crystal (be sure to see the
cathedral whilst you are there). A ferry ride will bring you to the
Village
of
Arthurstown
, named after an ancestor of the marquess of Donegall who used to live at
Dunbrody House.
Overnight
Dunbrody House
Some
of the sites to see today might include the Kennedy homestead at New Ross, the
gardens of Kilmokea at Campile, Tintern Abbey and The Lighthouse on Hook Head
and the Dunbrody, a replica sailing ship and the beaches at Carne which
were used for the movie "Saving Private Ryan."
Follow
the valley of the River Nore to Bennetsbridge, with its many craft workers
studios. In Kilkenny you should first explore the city, full of medieval
laneways, inns with tales of witches, a great castle and of course lots of
shops. Lunch
at The K Club in the Ryder Cup Club House.
Merrion
Hotel,
Upper Merrion Street
,
Dublin
2
Tel: +353 (0) 1 606 0600
Tour of Dublin's Fair City
 |
Bank
of
Ireland
, College Green
The
prestigious offices of
Ireland
's national bank began life as the first purpose-built parliament house in
Europe
. Completed in 1739 it served as
Ireland
's Parliament until the Act Of Union in 1801
|
Trinity
College
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth. Among many famous students to
attend the college were playwrights Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett.
Trinity's lawns and cobbled quads provide a pleasant haven in the hearth of
the city. The major attractions are the Old Library and the Book of Kells,
housed in the Treasury. Exit form the front of the Trinity complex and walk
from College Green to Dame St and Continue west passing: |
 |
 |
The Olympia Theatre - Dating back to the 1800s, this Victorian music hall-style
theatre has a capacity of 1,300. It presents an eclectic schedule of variety
shows, musicals, operettas, concerts, ballet, comedy, and drama. As a
variation, for the late-night crowd, live bands are often featured after
regular programs. A brief diversion here will bring you into the
trendy Temple Bar area. Across the Street is
|
City
Hall
Erected between 1769 and 1779, and formerly the Royal
Exchange. It is a square building in Corinthian style, with three fronts of
Portland stone. Since 1852, however it has been the centre of the municipal
government. The interior is designed as a circle within a square, with
fluted columns supporting a dome shaped roof over the central hall. The
building contains many items of interest, including 102 royal charters and
the mace and sword of the city. Adjacent to City Hall is: |
|
 |
Dublin
Castle
Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex represents some of the
oldest surviving architecture in the city, and was the centre of English
power in
Ireland
for over seven centuries until it was taken of by the
Irish Free State
in 1922. Highlights include the 13th-century record tower, the largest
visible fragment of the original Norman castle and the State Apartments,
once the residence of English viceroys and now the focal point for
government ceremonial functions, including the inauguration of
Ireland
's presidents. At this point Dame St takes on the name
Lord Edward St
, and leads to
|
St.
Patrick's Cathedral
Ireland
's largest
church was founded beside a sacred well where St. Patrick is said to have
baptised converts around 450A.D. A stone slab bearing a Celtic cross and
covering the well was un-earthed at the turn of the century(20th). It is now
preserved in the west end of the cathedral's nave. The original building was
just a wooden chapel and remained so until 1192 when Archbishop John Comyn
rebuilt the cathedral in stone. Much of the present building dates back to
work completed between 1254 and 1270. Cut back to
|
 |
 |
Powerscourt
Town
House Centre
 The
townhouse of a famous Georgian family. Today the building houses one of the
cities nicest shopping centres. In the 1960's major restoration turned it
into a centre of specialist galleries, antique shops, jewellery stalls, cafés
and other shop units. Carry on to
Grafton Street
down the narrow Johnson Court Alley
|
 |
Explore
the Great Georgian Squares and Doorways.; Visit the famous Phoenix Park,
Home of our President Mary McAllesse; See the delights of the city of
Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Brendan Behan, Sean O' Casey, Oscar Wilde and Nobel
Prize winners W.B Yeats, George B. Shaw and Samuel Beckett.; See Guinness
Brewery, O' Connell Street; The U2 Wall, The National Museum & Gallery |
 |
And of course Molly Malone herself "In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my
eyes on sweet Molly Malone
As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, through streets broad and narrow,
Crying cockles and mussels,
alive, alive o! |
Explore
either South of Dublin, into the Wicklow mountains, visiting Powerscourt
Gardens, just 24km south of Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.
Its 47 acres of garden are famous the world over. They were begun in the 1740s
by Richard Castle and continued by Daniel Robertson. During the middle years of
the last century he directed an army of 100 men with barrows, horses and carts
in carving out terraces from the hillside and enlarging the lake. The resulting
Italian gardens contain beautiful statues and urns collected by the Powerscourt
Lords. The Estate contains the highest waterfall in Ireland at 398 feet set in a
wooded deerpark where Lord Powerscourt introduced the first herd of Japanese
Sika deer to Europe.. Also worth visiting is the Earl of Meath's
Kilruddery House. Killruddery is unique in having the most extensive
early formal gardens, still in their original style, surviving in Ireland.
Dating from the 1680s they are amongst the most important gardens of their type
in these islands and should be regarded as mainly the work of the 4th and 6th
Earls of Meath. Killruddery Estate has been in the ownership of the Brabazon
family (the Earls of Meath) since 1618. The core of the gardens is a pair of
canals (550 feet long) which focus on the House at one end and on an avenue of
lime trees at the other. Return to Dublin via Glendalough and Russborough.
At Glendalough the early Christian monastic site was founded by St. Kevin in the
6th century. Set in a glaciated valley with two lakes, the monastic remains
include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. The Visitor
Centre has an interesting exhibition and an audio-visual show. French, Italian
and Spanish guided tours are available all year by advance booking. The Visitor
Centre is fully accessible for visitors with disabilities. Access to the site is
very difficult for wheelchair users. The road leads through the Wicklow
Mountains to Blessington where Russborough House stands. Russborough was built for Joseph Leeson, later Earl of Milltown. Building began in 1741 and took ten years to complete. The architect was Richard Castle (Cassells). The house is built of granite and is in the Palladian style. Important features in the house include stucco ceilings by the Lafranchini brothers, marble mantelpieces, inlaid floors and lavish use of mahogany in doors, dados and staircase. . The house which is beautifully maintained also contains fine displays of silver, bronze, porcelain and fine
furniture collected by the Beit family of de Beers diamond mines.
Alternatively head
north to the valley of the river Boyne. Leaving Dublin by way way of
Newbridge House at Donabate to Drogheda to vist Brugh na Boyne. Newbridge house
was designed by George Semple, built in 1737 for Charles Cobbe later Archbishop of Dublin, was sold by Dublin County Council complete with much of the contents. The house and its furniture now provide an intimate insight into the past. In 1760 the Archbishop's fashionable daughter-in-law, Lady Elizabeth Beresford, added a large wing to the back of the classical mansion containing the magnificent red drawing-room. One of the finest Georgian rooms in Ireland, it was designed to display her husband's collection of 17th and 18th century paintings. The unique museum of curiosities dating to 1790 is full of weird and wonderful objects brought back by the widely travelled Cobbes.
The Bru na Boinne Visitor Centre interprets the Neolithic monuments of
Newgrange, Knowth and Downth. The extensive exhibition includes a full scale
replica of the chamber at Newgrange as well as fully model of one of the smaller
tombs at Knowth. 
Newgrange,
one of the world's most famous ancient monuments, was built around 3150BC. It is
surrounded by giant standing stones and has a kerb of 97 stones. At Winter
Solstice, the sun shines into the passage and chamber through the roofbox.
Knowth was built around 3300BC and has two passages facing towards the east and
west. The carved stones contain a quarter of Western European neolithic art. An
extensive excavation has revealed a wealth of information about the site.
At the nearby Oldbridge Estate was fought The Battle of the Boyne, between King
William III and his father-in-law, King James II, on 1 July 1690 (11 July
according to our modern calendar). Both Kings commanded their armies in person,
36,000 on the Williamite side and 25,000 on the Jacobite side - the largest
number of troops ever deployed on an Irish battlefield. At stake were the
British throne, French dominance in Europe and Protestant power in Ireland.
Return to Dublin
June
7th Depart Dublin
EI 514 7.00A
Leave Merrion Hotel at Circa 4.45
