Day Tour of Central Ireland

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Above image shows 12th century Round Tower at Cashel

This evening I am reprising a one day tour of central Ireland.

First we departed our Dublin lodgings and embarked on a long drive, in a S.W.direction, across central Ireland to our next lodgings near Skibbereen. Scenery was green, gentle rolling landscape with woodland, agriculture, sheep and cattle with mountains on horizon.

Our first target was the famous Rock of Cashel,  about two hours from Dublin which we achieved taking in a refreshment stop at Abbeyliex, a small country town. We arrived Cashel about 12.00 noon and the joined a tour of this famous site which was the power base of the Kings of Munster in the first millennium but subsequently evolved into a major religious site. Although ruined in the 17th century the site has been well preserved with key aspects comprising St. Patrick’s Cross, Cormac’s Chapel, Cathedral, Transepts and Crossing, Nave, Round Tower and Hall of the Vicars Choral. Tour lasted about one hour after which we walked down to view the ruined Hore Abbey nearby, a former Cistercian Monastery.

Rock of Cashel from Hore Abbey

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Replica of St Patrick’s Cross, 12th century.

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Rock of Cashel Ruins

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Cashel Cathedral

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Hore Abbey, Cashel

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We had lunch in Cashel and then drove on south to our target of Castletownshend where we checked into our lodgings around 6.00 pm and then had dinner in a nearby restaurant.

B&B

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Mary Ann’s Bar & Restaurant

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Tomorrow, we tour the Ring of Kerry.

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