Day 11, June 11, Killarney

Today is our day to visit Blarney Castle.  Although I carried an umbrella, the weather was much better today.

 

The tower is 90 feet high and you reach the top via a narrow, stone circular stairway.  I had made up my mind that I was not going to let my claustrophobia or my climbing ability stop me from this climb.  Anne and Kelly has worked too hard training me for this challenge.  So it was head up, slow and steady, and keep moving.  And within in a few minutes, maybe 15, and it was very crowded I was rewarded with this view of the grounds and the manor house.

 

 

When you got to the top there was just the parapet walk around the outside and all the wooden structure down the middle was gone.

 

 

This was from the ground looking up the tower.  Do you see that open area just by the parapet area at the very top?  That is where you get to do this!

KISS THE BLARNEY STONE!

Blarney Castle (Tower) is a huge tourist area.  Where was a huge store to shop in where you could get Blarney Woolens, jewelry, t-shirts, dishes, etc. etc.  I grabbed a wrap in their cafeteria.  It was interesting there were a bunch of Harley motorcycle guys and their wives behind us in line waiting to go into the grounds.  They were touring on their bikes and ended up being from Pennsylvania, but the guy immediately behind me said he had a cabin up at Harrison.  Small world.

When we left Blarney we were going to the Rock of Cashel.  This is another large castle.  Unfortunately, right now it is almost entirely surrounded by scaffolding for work.  We stopped just long enough for a potty break and a couple of photos.  The best view was as we were driving away.

 

Then it was on to our next hotel, Druids Glen Resort in Wicklow.  We were going to go to Avoca woolen mills today, but time grew short so instead we too a panoramic tour of Dublin instead.  Avoca is on the schedule for tomorrow.  While in Dublin the driver mentioned a couple of good pubs for supper.  The Brazen Head is supposedly the oldest pub in Ireland.  So of course every headed there.  A few of us knew it wasn't possible for all of us to descend upon this pub, so we went around the corner to O'Sheas on Merchant, and have a very nice meal there.