Nigel's Photo Blog

  Violinist at Cashel, Ireland This  evening, I am reprising a one day section of a custom tour of Ireland for a small group. First,we departed our lodgings in Dublin and drove S.W.to our first destination of the town of Cashel, Tipperary and the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel is a historic site which benefits from a high elevation and thus affords good views over the local landscape. Here is a summary of the site’s history: Seat of the overkings of Munster in 4th or 5th centuries. Site given to the Church in 1101, partly as a tactic to deprive competing claimants for title of ancient royal seat. By around 1111 it is likely that a large church or cathedral existed on the site. Cormac’s Chapel consecrated 1134. Remains of present cathedral date from 13th century. Cathedral altered in 15th century. Cathedral sacked by English Parliamentary forces in 1647. Site used for worship by Church of Ireland ( Episcopalian) until 1749 when site abandoned and progress...

This evening, I am reprising an extract from an extended tour of Ireland which encapsulated a diverse range of sites. Today, we departed our lodgings in Navan, north of Dublin and proceeded as follows: First, to the famous, Newgrange prehistoric site in County Meath. Newgrange is just one, but the best known, of a number of passage tombs in a landscape populated with  prehistoric archaeology. The Newgrange monument is surrounded by a kerb of 97 stones dominated by the highly decorated Entrance Stone.The mound covers  a single tomb consisting of a long passage and a cross-shaped chamber. We toured the site including the interior. Images of Newgrange Prehistoric Site Video clip Next, we drove south to the small town of Kildare where we stopped for lunch. Here we learned of the nearby Irish National Stud allied with which are Japanese Gardens, Saint Fiachra's Garden and the Horse Museum. The Irish National Stud Company was formed in 1945 to promote the interests of the Iri...