Kilkenny was a nice little town.
When we got into town, we found a McDonald's (that was like no Mickey D's I've ever seen, it was really arty inside, and hip.. not the regular colors inside at all.) Our b & b was about 2 or 3 blocks away. Of course, we couldn't get in, cause the was this huge gate,and no buzzer or any thing. Or phone still didn't work so we couldn't call. T Mobile was lagging. We tried to see if there was another way in, around the back,or over the gate,but not really. Eventually,we went down to the corner pub, and the bartender called the number for us. The sleepy voice on the phone said, "the gate is closed, is it? Oh dear."
So we got in, to this gate..
then went back to that bar to show our thanks by buying a few pints..
Our B&B:
The next morning,we wandered around the shops and looked for the castle, but couldn't find it. We found a candy shop though.. and they had all kinds of special candies.. like a full set of upper teeth.. and these..
you may be thinking.. is it a rocket? a turd? a phallic shape for kids? But no, it's a toffee mouse, covered in chocolate.
There were a lot of Mice shaped candies, because the plague is awesome?
haha.. no flea shapes though.
Eventually we found a road down to a scenic river. When we turned around,they over the trees, castle spires!
We made our way and soon found Kilkenny castle home to the Butlers. So named because they used to butle for the king! Haha.. actually they used to taste the wine for poison.and got paid a 10%tax on all wine, which was a sweet pay check. The place was huge, and easy to get turned around in.. you'd need to leave a trail of bread crumbs not to get lost.. maybe that was the servants job?
The Butler family was pretty well liked. During the plague people were starving ,and the butlers helped to dress the poor, and in fact, Kilkenny was one of the least affected areas of Ireland. And right now, they are looking for an heir, the last one recently died, so if you know any Butlers, get to searching those family trees. Gerard, I'm looking at you. even If you are Scottish.
On the way out of town, we did the Smithwicks tour, which had a lot of info about the process of brewing, and the history of the family.. by the way, one of the Butlers from the castle eventually married in.. I think it was a Catherine or Cathleen.. also the Smithwick family joined up with a rival brewery during the famine, and created a soup kitchen. Again this area fared a lot better than other places in Ireland
After lunch (the subject of potato famine makes one hungry) and much tea and coffee, we went to Clogheen. Well, actually we went to Tipperary..then we turned around, and drove to county Tipperary,where Clogheen actually is.
Here is a pretty bridge along the way..that was covered in pitch that I got on my arm and sweater.. haha
Here is another bridge..
We stayed at the Hermitage inn, and had a breakfast consisting of hot tomatos,sausages, back and white puddings, ham and egg, and toast! Yes there was blood in the pudding, yes, it was tasty!
After that, we went to the best castle so far! Cahir!
We passed it at first and ended up at the swiss cottage,
a sort of getaway from the castle, where they would dress as peasants and entertain their friends. They bought the best furniture and had it sanded down or painted to look more rustic because it was in style.
It was very nature themed, so nothing was symmetrical, because nature isn't. No two Windows matched, there were unusual angles and points everywhere and I LOVED it.
sadly no pictures of the inside were allowed. But it was very neat. There was a very small daybed that apparently slept two, facing each other from either end of the bed because they slept sitting up. They found it easier to breathe that way because of consumption and whatnot. Though, I guess they never actually slept there.. just rested.. it was in the backyard of their castle after all.
After that, We found yet another scenic bridge that led around the back of said castle, plus ducks and swans!
Happily there was a whole bunch of bread crumbs left on the banks, so we got them to come in pretty close.
We wandered around the side, peeping in keyholes and climbing on stuff. It was so much fun, and there were lots of trees and a little lake. So pretty!
Climb that wall Eli!
There was also a crooked little bench, that Morgan took my picture on, then he got down on one knee and proposed! I said yes. He proposed with my missing ring from back home in the box of the new ring he got me in Dublin. The actual engagement ring though, is still in LA waiting to be picked up!! There was a fair amount of kissing and crying. :D
The castle itself was super neat because you could climb on just about everything.
We got to walk on the battlements with no rails, climb windy towers peek in cells, sit on cannons and squeeze into unlit passageways.
We had the best time..
Thinking of Danielle!
Though, it's possible being engaged made a difference..
Stair cases were built to give right handed swordsmen the advantage over invades trying to come up!
Morgan shooting a child with a cannon.
I told him not to.
Oh, also, the Butlers owned the castle and the Swiss cottage.
When we got into town, we found a McDonald's (that was like no Mickey D's I've ever seen, it was really arty inside, and hip.. not the regular colors inside at all.) Our b & b was about 2 or 3 blocks away. Of course, we couldn't get in, cause the was this huge gate,and no buzzer or any thing. Or phone still didn't work so we couldn't call. T Mobile was lagging. We tried to see if there was another way in, around the back,or over the gate,but not really. Eventually,we went down to the corner pub, and the bartender called the number for us. The sleepy voice on the phone said, "the gate is closed, is it? Oh dear."
So we got in, to this gate..
then went back to that bar to show our thanks by buying a few pints..
Our B&B:
The next morning,we wandered around the shops and looked for the castle, but couldn't find it. We found a candy shop though.. and they had all kinds of special candies.. like a full set of upper teeth.. and these..
you may be thinking.. is it a rocket? a turd? a phallic shape for kids? But no, it's a toffee mouse, covered in chocolate.There were a lot of Mice shaped candies, because the plague is awesome?
haha.. no flea shapes though.
Eventually we found a road down to a scenic river. When we turned around,they over the trees, castle spires!
The Butler family was pretty well liked. During the plague people were starving ,and the butlers helped to dress the poor, and in fact, Kilkenny was one of the least affected areas of Ireland. And right now, they are looking for an heir, the last one recently died, so if you know any Butlers, get to searching those family trees. Gerard, I'm looking at you. even If you are Scottish.
On the way out of town, we did the Smithwicks tour, which had a lot of info about the process of brewing, and the history of the family.. by the way, one of the Butlers from the castle eventually married in.. I think it was a Catherine or Cathleen.. also the Smithwick family joined up with a rival brewery during the famine, and created a soup kitchen. Again this area fared a lot better than other places in Ireland
After lunch (the subject of potato famine makes one hungry) and much tea and coffee, we went to Clogheen. Well, actually we went to Tipperary..then we turned around, and drove to county Tipperary,where Clogheen actually is.
Here is a pretty bridge along the way..that was covered in pitch that I got on my arm and sweater.. haha
Here is another bridge..
We stayed at the Hermitage inn, and had a breakfast consisting of hot tomatos,sausages, back and white puddings, ham and egg, and toast! Yes there was blood in the pudding, yes, it was tasty!
After that, we went to the best castle so far! Cahir!
We passed it at first and ended up at the swiss cottage,
It was very nature themed, so nothing was symmetrical, because nature isn't. No two Windows matched, there were unusual angles and points everywhere and I LOVED it.
sadly no pictures of the inside were allowed. But it was very neat. There was a very small daybed that apparently slept two, facing each other from either end of the bed because they slept sitting up. They found it easier to breathe that way because of consumption and whatnot. Though, I guess they never actually slept there.. just rested.. it was in the backyard of their castle after all.
After that, We found yet another scenic bridge that led around the back of said castle, plus ducks and swans!
Peephole!
All the doors around here are too small!
There was also a crooked little bench, that Morgan took my picture on, then he got down on one knee and proposed! I said yes. He proposed with my missing ring from back home in the box of the new ring he got me in Dublin. The actual engagement ring though, is still in LA waiting to be picked up!! There was a fair amount of kissing and crying. :D
The castle itself was super neat because you could climb on just about everything.
We got to walk on the battlements with no rails, climb windy towers peek in cells, sit on cannons and squeeze into unlit passageways.We had the best time..
Thinking of Danielle!
Trap doors!
Stair cases were built to give right handed swordsmen the advantage over invades trying to come up!
Morgan shooting a child with a cannon.
I told him not to.
Oh, also, the Butlers owned the castle and the Swiss cottage.
aaaaahhhh so awesome! congrats!
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