Ireland 2011: Day 8 Kilkenny - Limerick

Woke up again to some more yummy french toast and hot chocolate. We drove back to Kilkenny, to tour the Kilkenny Castle.

Dave and Stace had fun with us driving around and around the round abouts on April's Fools. So Funny!

Introduction to Kilkenny Castle
KILKENNY CASTLE stands dramatically on a strategic height that commands a crossing on the River Nore and dominates the 'High Town' of Kilkenny City. Over the eight centuries of its existence, many additions and alterations have been made to the fabric of the building, making Kilkenny Castle today a complex structure of various architectural styles.

The original Anglo-Norman stone castle was built for William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke (c.1146-1219) during the first decade of the thirteenth century. Kilkenny Castle later became the principal Irish residence of the powerful Butler family for almost 600 years. The Butler ownership began when James (c.1360-1405), 3rd Earl of Ormond, purchased the castle in c.1391, and lasted until 1967 when Arthur, 6th Marquess of Ormonde (1893-1971), presented it to the people of Kilkenny in return for a token payment of £50.

The buildings have been in the care of the Office of Public Works since 1969, and many important programmes of archaeological excavation, conservation, and restoration have been carried out there.

We enjoyed the tour of the Castle.

We loved stopping along the way!

We than drove to the Dunmore Caves - Here are some cool images Click for the official website of The Dunmore Caves

(from Irish: Dún Mór meaning "great fort") is a limestone cave in Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is a show cave open to the public, particularly well known for its rich archæological discoveries and for being the site of a Viking massacre in 928.[2]

A fun part of the story: a tourist was exploring the cave and went to clean up the trash after the school kids had toured, in 1999. He saw a piece of trash by a rock and under the trash he discovered all In 1999, a hoard of 43 silver and bronze items was discovered in a rocky cleft deep in the cave. The hoard was dated to 970 AD. It consisted of silver, ingots and conical buttons woven from fine silver, one being a silk scarf of purple.

He told us the significance of the purple silk piece of cloth, signifying royalty had been there. He told us the history of obtaining the color purple. Quite a process. If you were caught stealing purple you would be put in a bag with animals representing certain traits (temptation - a snake, laziness - a hen, Greed - a pig and an Ape who represented Hell or Saten) they would tie the bag and throw you off the cliff. CRAZY.

Tyrian purple: Classical antiquity
Main article: Tyrian purple
Tyrian Purple

Byzantine Emperor Justinian I clad in Tyrian purple, 6th-century mosaic at Basilica of San Vitale. The actual color of Tyrian purple, the original color purple from which the name purple is derived, is the color of a dye extracted from a mollusc found on the shores of the city of Tyre in ancient Phoenicia (present day Lebanon) that in classical antiquity became a symbol of royalty because only the very wealthy could afford it. Therefore, Tyrian purple was also called imperial purple.

One of the neatest parts of the cave was at the front entry before descending into the cave. The different ages and centuries of dated limestone.

On the way out Shayna, Stace, Drew and I stopped at one of the Ring Forts. It was private property. We climbed the fence and stood in sacred ground. It was pretty cool.

We enjoyed our own April Fool's tricks by stopping and going every time we saw something cool. it got annoying, but we saw some cool stuff. We stopped to get pictures of an old Irish Mill. Super cool.

On our drive to Cashel we came around the corner and beheld the most amazing castle, we learned later it is actually a cathedral, but we thought it was a castle. it was magnificent. sitting high on an irish hill, in the country. Old graveyard and stony wall. We had to stop!

We enjoyed touring The Rock of Cashel. The grounds and graveyard of this ancient place was amazing. One of our favorites.

We figured by now we have now seen and toured six castles/cathedrals

1) Dromoland

2) Ross

3) Blarney

4) Muckross House

5) Kilkenny

6) The Rock of Cashel

**Our 7th)Bunratty Castle Tomorrow Night!

We were recommended a great Pub in the Cashel Village. Amazing food. We ordered the Olive Pizza. It came with whole green olives and pepperoni. Never would have thought, it was dynamite, with Orange Club Soda. Drew got the BLT and Fries. SO GOOD.

We than drove to Limerick to our next B&B. The Carrigan House. Just outside of Adare. Our host blessed us. He was so happy to have us. It felt good to support and help the local people out. HE loved saying my name. Kept saying it over and over. It was out in the country, super cute and quaint. We played a game of Arm and A Leg. The guys than went to try and find ice cream and they remembered that we promised mom that we would eat later. She only ordered a soup for lunch. Dave felt horrible. They found a fast food place and brought back burgers and chicken and fries. We had a good time talking and laughing while playing our game. The guys had a bonding moment.