June 9, 2009. DUBLIN to KINSALE

Today we ride the bus for the first time. I believe this is our second longest drive on our Ireland tour. We saw the beautiful “Emerald Green” country side that Ireland is famous for. We first stopped to visit Powerscourt House & Gardens, an old country estate located south of Dublin. We took a long walk in this classic country estate garden completed in 1875. Near the house the gardens are more formal by design. As one wanders away from the house the gardens become more rustic. Far from the house is a fine Japanese style garden (A slightly British interpretation). Next we stop to see the Rock of Cashel, located in county Tipperary. On top of this imposing rock stands a collection of ruined old buildings & an old cemetery. This rock has been a strategic place for thousands of years. We returned to the bus and drove on to our final destination of Kinsale.

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June 9, 2009 Our route of travel.

Dublin to Kinsale.

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The Harding Hotel in Dublin.
Our first & last place to stay.

THE BUS
Ready to accept our
luggage & take us away.

June 9, 2009 Powerscourt House & Gardens

The Main House

Pigeon Hole

One of two spiral stairs leading
down to the formal garden.

Decorative metal work.

Powerscourt Gardens

House & formal garden.

Formal fountain & statues near the house.

Powerscourt House & Gardens.

The Japanese Garden at
Powerscourt Gardens.

Japanese garden "Photo Op".
(L to R) Jeanne, Claudia, Judy, Becky & Pam.

A small water fall in the Japanese garden.

The Pet cemetery.

Flowers at Powerscourt Gardens.

Fountains & flower garden.

Video: POWERSCOURT GARDENS

VIDEO
Powerscourt Gardens

Ireland as seen from the windows of the bus.

June 9, 2009 The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.

Irish country scenery as seen from
The Rock of Cashel.

Old Monastery near The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel Irish tour guide.

The Rock of Cashel.
Ruined tower walls.

The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.

The Rock of Cashel.
A Celtic cross & green Irish hills.

The Rock of Cashel.
A colorful window.

The Rock of Cashel. Three wooden angels.

The Rock of Cashel car park.
An Exit sign in six languages.

Kinsale, a tidy town.

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June 8, 2009. THE FIRST FULL DAY IN IRELAND

DUBLIN

We were served a full plate of activities on our first full day in Ireland. Our day in Dublin began with a guided Historical Walking Tour. After that, we visited the “Book of Kells” exhibit. Then we were set free to do as we pleased in Dublin. I chose to take the “Hop-on Hop-off” Dublin bus tour. In the evening, we were treated to a “Musical Pub Crawl” featuring traditional Irish music.

June 8, 2009 HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR OF DUBLIN.

We were led on a walking tour of Dublin by an Irish historian from Dublin’s Trinity College. As we were led on this tour of Dublin historical places, we were given a comprehensive lecture about Irish history from the stone age to the modern period. At each site we learned about historical events related to the places we were seeing. The places we saw included: Trinity College, Old Parliament House, Temple Bar, City Hall, Dublin Castle, Wood Quay & Christ Church Cathedral.

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Our guide for the Historical Walking Tour of Dublin.

Archeological dig revealed 11th century Viking artifacts & building foundations At Woods Quay/Fishamble St. The extent of the building is marked with contrasting stone.

11th century Viking artifacts were copied in bronze & set in paving stones near Christ Church Cathedral.

Historical Walking Tour guide & our group
at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
I count 23. Who is missing?

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

Dublin City Hall.
Dome interior above the rotunda.

Dublin City Hall.
Mosaic floor.

Dublin Head Store.

Temple Bar district, Dublin.

Meeting hall, Central Bank.
Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin.

Trinity College, Dublin.
Spherical sculpture.

Video: HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR OF DUBLIN

VIDEO

June 8, 2009 THE BOOK OF KELLS.

Located in the library at Trinity College, we visited the Book of Kells exhibit. Photography is not allowed here, so I only have pictures from the web to share on this blog site. This 8th Century hand scribed & illuminated early Christian manuscript, was brought to Ireland in 806AD from Scotland to protect it from Viking raids from the sea. While but a few pages of this beautifully detailed book are exhibited for viewing the exhibit also presented large displays of various pages from the book & information about how the monks went about creating them.

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Description from the web:
The Book of Kells was written around the year 800 AD and is one of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts in the world. It contains the four gospels, preceded by prefaces, summaries, and canon tables or concordances of gospel passages. It is written on vellum and contains a Latin text of the Gospels in insular majuscule script accompanied by magnificent and intricate whole pages of decoration with smaller painted decorations appearing throughout the text. The manuscript was given to Trinity College in the 17th century and since 1953 has been bound in four volumes. It has been on display in the Old Library since the 19th century. Two volumes can normally be seen, one opened to display a major decorated page, and one to show two pages of script.

Book of Kells

Book of Kells

June 8, 2009 HOP-ON, HOP-OFF BUS TOUR.

I have ridden similar bus tours in other cities & find them to be a quick presentation of what the city has to offer for the tourist. While the bus travels the streets of the city, a narration plays describing places of interest along the way. The price of the ticket allows one to get off the bus & get back on at strategic stops around the city. I chose to get off at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, St. Stevens Green, Powerscourt Shopping Center (I bought my replacement camera here), Kilmainham Goal, & other sites in Dublin.

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Dublin Bus Tour
Hop-on, Hop-off tourist bus.