Saturday, May 16 ~ We left Dungarvan and headed north for our second week's stay just outside of Tullamore.  Our route took us through the medieval town of Kilkenny and we took the time to stop and see their famed castle.  It was well worth the stop!  The castle is immense, as are the surrounding grounds.  Perfectly manicured and expansive, the castle grounds lay a beautiful green canvas from which rises the gargantuan Killkenny Castle.  I know I have used the term "breaktaking" several times already, but really, there are few words to describe some of the amazing things we have seen.  Kilkenny Castle was originally built in 1172 and was overhauled in 1820 to its current style and condition. It is immaculate and perfect, stirring childhood fantasies of princesses and knights and dragons. 

Kilkenny Castle; Kilkenny, Ireland 5/09

Kilkenny Castle Grounds; Kilkenny, Ireland 5/09

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Back on the road to Tullamore, we traveled through the midlands, which might well be my favorite part of Ireland.  It has a familiar feel to it, not unlike the lush green countryside and the rolling farmlands of my beloved Western Washington.  The towns seemed a bit tidier, the roads a bit wider, and I was surprised that it was here, rather than the coastal towns, that I felt drawn.  Portlaoise, Abbeyleix, Mountmellick, and eventually Tullamore.  We contacted the owner of our midland cottage and met her there to pick up the key.  What a nice surprise! The cottage was a beautiful, modern house with farmland all around.  We spent a very pleasant week there and enjoyed our stay immensely.

Cottage in Tullamore, Ireland 5/09

Sunday, May 17 ~ It was proposed, and agreed upon, that a rainy day indoors would be a welcome variation to our busy agenda.  The storm clouds moved in before we awoke and there was no sign of it letting up.  We all felt a bit ragged, weary of zipping from one place to another, weary of riding in the itty, bitty Fiat on skinny, scary roads, weary of staring at maps and driving round and round the multitude of roundabouts that interrupt every road but the cart paths that wind through the countryside.  A day of rest and we would be energized for the rest of our adventuring. 

Monday, May 18 ~ Clonmacnoise.  A place I had heard about, and seen pictures of, but could not have imagined how incredible it was until I stood in the midst of its fantastic ruins.  Founded by St. Ciaran between 543 and 549 AD, the settlement was built and enlarged over time.  The small cathedral that still stands, sans a roof, dates back to the 10th century.  The cemetery is amazing, filled with stones and slabs and crosses from centuries past.  We must have walked the grounds for hours, wandering from the round tower to the monastic ruins to the visitor center and back to the cemetery again.  

Clonmacnoise Monastic Ruins; Clonmacnoise, Ireland 5/09

One of my favorite pictures from Clonmacnoise Cemetery 5/09