Powerscourt Estate is located in County Wicklow, and is noted for its gardens covering 47 acres. The house was originally a 13th century castle but redone extensively during the 18th century by a German architect Richard Cassels. It's renovations took from 1731 to 1741, and the building caught fire in 1974 until it was renovated again in 1996. The complex has multiple fountains, a tower, a japanese garden, and even a pet cemetery...thats right...a pet cemetery...
Slainte
The Battle of the Boyne was faught in 1690 between the Catholic King James, and the Protestant King William. William won by out flanking James. This is the largest battle in Irish history with approximately 60,000 soldiers. the death toll was only about 2,000 men. (gotta hand learning to our over enthusiastic tour guide...who read panels to us...)
Slainte
Knowth is located about one kilometer northwest of Newgrange. Knowth is also another passage tomb from the Neolithic era, and over the years was also a Christian settlement on the top of the largest "hill"...Knowth was not as exciting as Newgrange lets be honest...there was no sweet beam of light...
Slainte
Newgrange is one of the passage tombs at the Bru Na Boinne in County Meath. Newgrange is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. Newgrange was built in a way so on the winter solstice a narrow beam of light will illuminate the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway on the inside. It's over 5000 years old, which makes it older then the great pyramids and stone henge. Newgrange is also the location of the only two tri-spirals designs, one on the inside and one outside (pictured above).
Slainte
Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle in Europe, and the largest castle in Ireland. The castle is located in County Meath on the shore of the Boyne river. The castle was primarily built by the De Lacy Family. The primary shape of the castle is a cross, an ornate cross with 20 sides...but lets not kid ourselves people talk about Trim castle, because of Its cameo appearance in the movie Braveheart...yep...Braveheart...
Slainte
(yep...a green field, sheep poo, and that's right rocks...)
Loughcrew is a megalithic burial ground that dates back about 3500 B.C.E. in County Meath. The burial tombs are shaped like a crucifix on the inside, and are covered with megalithic petroglyphs...(basically a lot of circles and swirls and leaf shapes...those were big back then...). Loughcrew is also a place of "worship" for pagans and druids. Yep...druids...like from Lord of the Rings or something...
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Monasterboice is ruins of an early Christian settlement in County Louth. The settlement was founded in the fifth century by Saint Buite. The round tower at Monsterboice is about 35 meter tall and thought to have been refuge for the monks against the Vikings.
Muiredach's High Cross is 5.5 meters high and is said to be the finest high cross in Ireland. The Cross has carving on all sides depicting stories from the old and new testaments.
Slainte
Is an area of over 40,000 interlocking hexagonal rocks as a result of an "ancient" volcanic eruption. There is a legend that surrounds Giant's Causeway. In short the story goes Fionn mac Cumhaill, (an Irish giant of course) built the causeway to get to Scotland to fight (a scotish giant of course) Benandonner, a much larger giant then he. But Fionn's wife disguised him as an infant and when Benandonner saw the "infant" he ran back to Scotland ripping up the causeway so Fionn could not follow (because apparently a full grown giant makes a large infant giant...right?)..yea...giants...anyways...its really pretty.
Slainte
In The 1200s The Earl of Ulster built the first castle at this point. The Castle is surrounded by steep cliffs that drop into the sea below. The Castle is first documented to be owned by the MacQuillin family, and then by the MacDonnell family. Dunluce Castle served as the seat for the Earl of Antrim until the impoverishment of the MacDonnells in 1690, following the Battle of the Boyne. (which we visit later on...gasp!)
Very rarely when visiting Dunluce Castle are you able to see an Island off the coast of Scotland. Coincidently for us, we happened to be at Dunluce on that rare occasion.
ANDDDD Dunluce Castle was in the inside cover of Led Zeppelin's album House of the Holy.
Slainte
The Old Bushmills Distillery was founded in 1608. There are currently seven different whiskeys being produced at the Distillery. May I also add theres nothing better then starting off the day with some whiskey at half nine in the morning.
Slainte
(A tad late...I'm aware) but anyways...On September 16th nineteen girls from Saint Mary's College left to study abroad in Ireland at the National University of Ireland in Maynooth (which apparently is considered the best university in Ireland at the moment). As a group we travel around Ireland on the weekends to see historical sites (which are many times green fields filled with sheep poop and rocks...but should not be confused with other "ordinary" green fields filled with sheep poo and rocks). This blog is about these trips and any important events that happen to us besides our individual travels.
Slainte
Powerscourt Estate is located in County Wicklow, and is noted for its gardens covering 47 acres. The house was originally a 13th century castle but redone extensively during the 18th century by a German architect Richard Cassels. It's renovations took from 1731 to 1741, and the building caught fire in 1974 until it was renovated again in 1996. The complex has multiple fountains, a tower, a japanese garden, and even a pet cemetery...thats right...a pet cemetery...
The Battle of the Boyne was faught in 1690 between the Catholic King James, and the Protestant King William. William won by out flanking James. This is the largest battle in Irish history with approximately 60,000 soldiers. the death toll was only about 2,000 men. (gotta hand learning to our over enthusiastic tour guide...who read panels to us...)
Newgrange is one of the passage tombs at the Bru Na Boinne in County Meath. Newgrange is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. Newgrange was built in a way so on the winter solstice a narrow beam of light will illuminate the floor of the chamber at the end of the long passageway on the inside. It's over 5000 years old, which makes it older then the great pyramids and stone henge. Newgrange is also the location of the only two tri-spirals designs, one on the inside and one outside (pictured above).
Trim Castle is the largest Norman castle in Europe, and the largest castle in Ireland. The castle is located in County Meath on the shore of the Boyne river. The castle was primarily built by the De Lacy Family. The primary shape of the castle is a cross, an ornate cross with 20 sides...but lets not kid ourselves people talk about Trim castle, because of Its cameo appearance in the movie Braveheart...yep...Braveheart...
(yep...a green field, sheep poo, and that's right rocks...)
Monasterboice is ruins of an early Christian settlement in County Louth. The settlement was founded in the fifth century by Saint Buite. The round tower at Monsterboice is about 35 meter tall and thought to have been refuge for the monks against the Vikings.
Is an area of over 40,000 interlocking hexagonal rocks as a result of an "ancient" volcanic eruption. There is a legend that surrounds Giant's Causeway. In short the story goes Fionn mac Cumhaill, (an Irish giant of course) built the causeway to get to Scotland to fight (a scotish giant of course) Benandonner, a much larger giant then he. But Fionn's wife disguised him as an infant and when Benandonner saw the "infant" he ran back to Scotland ripping up the causeway so Fionn could not follow (because apparently a full grown giant makes a large infant giant...right?)..yea...giants...anyways...its really pretty.
(A tad late...I'm aware) but anyways...On September 16th nineteen girls from Saint Mary's College left to study abroad in Ireland at the National University of Ireland in Maynooth (which apparently is considered the best university in Ireland at the moment). As a group we travel around Ireland on the weekends to see historical sites (which are many times green fields filled with sheep poop and rocks...but should not be confused with other "ordinary" green fields filled with sheep poo and rocks). This blog is about these trips and any important events that happen to us besides our individual travels.