Monte Cristalo 4

Monte Cristalo 4, a photo by CorkBilly on Flickr.

Pictured in the Dolomites 2004. Click on pic to see more from same trip.

MISSING PHOTOS

PHOTOS ACCIDENTALLY ERASED FROM PREVIOUS POSTS. RESTORATION WILL BEGIN SOON BUT WILL BE SLOW

FREE BARRY'S TEA COMPETITION

BARRY’S TEA FOR YOU – THIS CHRISTMAS

There was a lot of interest in our recent post on the special Santa pack from Barry’s Tea. Briefly, Barry’s Tea created the limited edition Santa’s Tea box which is for sale exclusively on barrysteashop.ie for tea fans at home and abroad. The box is only €3.25 which is a winner for stocking fillers and sending to family and friends across the world via The Online Tea Shop

Now the good news is that they are giving us ten packs for a free contest, a contest that you may enter from home and abroad. But you need to get cracking. Tuesday next (Dec 6th) is the final date for posting abroad. So move on over to our Facebook and just press like or comment and all entries will go into the hat next Monday at noon Irish time and the ten winners will be chosen.

FORT CAMDEN

Crosshaven's Fort Camden is a terrific visit:

Classical Coastal Artillery Fort

Brennan Torpedo Site

Magnificent Harbour Views

19th century construction

Underground tunnels

Artillery batteries

Cafe on the Parade ground

Lots of photos and full details of my recent visit here 

THE ROCK OF CASHEL

THE ROCK OF CASHEL

Some things never change.

This was underlined last week by our feisty guide for a tour of the Rock of Cashel. She told us about Miler McGrath, a bishop and a politician and a notorious character. The Vatican appointed him Bishop of Down and Connor but, in 1567, he was appointed the Protestant Archbishop of Cashel. Apparently, he held the dual appointment for nine years! He also served as an MP.

And then there was the choir, the Vicars Choral. Not your innocent boys but fully grown men, some of whom had wives and families in the town. The position was much sought after due to the financial rewards. One of the perks was a seal with which the choir member stamped the bill for the shop-keeper who was later reimbursed by the Archbishop. But greed set in and duplicate seals were made and overused by family members and eventually the seals were withdrawn.

Cashel was a centre of power long before the current buildings appeared on the horizon. Brian Boru, king of Munster and later of Ireland, was strongly associated with Cashel in the 10th and 11th centuries and then Cormac McCarthy, the King of Desmond, erected Cormac's chapel in the 12th century.

Cormac’s Chapel is a gem and one of the highlights of a visit to the Rock. The 12th century Romanesque chapel is being renovated and not always open to the public but we were lucky last week and enjoyed our tour.

The 12th century round tower is the oldest surviving building of the cluster. It was once free standing but is now secured to the 13th century cathedral which is not much more than a shell but quite an impressive one.

Treasures include the original 12th century St Patrick’s Cross which has been brought indoors to the museum the better to preserve it. And then there are the astonishing wall paintings which are being painstakingly restored.

It is a fantastic visit, very impressive. I’d advise you to go under the wing of your guide at first and then, well informed, you’ll be free to wander around and explore on your own after that. Parking is quite close and costs 4 euro. There are fairly basic, fairly clean toilets at the car park but they would seem inadequate for an attraction that draws so many people.

Bantry House and Gardens

Read all about my recent enjoyable trip to Bantry House and Gardens.

THE EWE EXPERIENCE

EXPERIENCE THE EWE

There have always been quite a few good reasons to visit Glengarriff in West Cork. One, that some of you may not know, is The Ewe 

Basically, the Ewe experience is a sculpture garden set mainly around a small lively river running down through a forest a few miles west of Glengarriff on the Kenmare Road. It is well signposted and easy to find.

You get a clue of what you’ll encounter even in those signs and certainly at the entrance where you’ll see the first of the sculptures. Many of them, including the hand pointing to the way in, will raise a smile, some even a laugh.

But there is something serious going on here too. If you read all the information panels on the walk, you will be well educated on mother earth and nature and on man’s part in it. But always that touch of humour. Dare to open a door in a rock to see the world’s most destructive creature and......

Sustainable living is also a theme here. And it is seen in the sculptures, many of them made out of used materials. Take the choir of Milk Maidens for example. They are all created from plastic milk cartons, their prominent red lips from the caps!

There are huge dinosaurs and a massive spider, fish jumping (one cycling even), grim faced bugs all over the place. If you get taken short and need to use the loo, don't worry. There is a pink one provided, with a phone in the tree alongside. All the comforts of home!

You have to be wide awake walking around here and not just because the paths are rough enough. Keep those peepers open and you’ll see a big spotted cat prowling through the trees. And a man’s head, a big one,  lying there.

Humour abounds but questions are asked in a subtle kind of way. Sculpture and nature to nurture the soul. Good for the kid in you and hopefully the kids of today will dial in to the wisdom so that the kids of the future will enjoy this fragile place we call earth.

But don’t let me finish on a serious note. If you take a kid to Ewe, there are games scattered all around for them.  And you! Play Solitaire on a stone “board”, also Noughts and Crosses and more. Visit. Enjoy.  

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