Blarney, Ireland- 22nd and 23rd September

Day 200 of our trip - and 6201 miles (haven't updated that for a while).

Two big icons of Ireland ticked off! Our first stop on the way to Blarney was at the Rock of Cashel, which may sound like a music venue but is actually 'one of the remarkable collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture to be found anywhere in Europe' (thanks, Wikipedia).

It used to be the seat of the King's of Munster before the Norman invasion, and in the 12th and 13th century became a religious centre. The collection of buildings sits on top of a rocky outcrop (the rock) and the view is amazing. All the buildings are pretty much ruined, but still very atmospheric, spoiled only slightly by the US tourist saying 'look at all the sheep......goats......cows' (they were cows.)

The town of Cashel also does a fine line in scone.

Unfortunately, the remarkable collection of Celtic art is hidden behind that scaffolding. Ah, well.

On the way to Blarney we went to Mitchelstown Caves, where we were taken through about half a mile of caves, about 300 feet under ground. I have stolen some photos off their website (we couldn't take our own) but it doesn't do the experience justice. The caves are amazing and it was pretty special to have our own personal tour (yay off season travel!).

The guy who first discovered the caves in 1833 did so by candle light.  He got lost down there with two of his neighbour's sons, and had to wait in the dark for 12 hours before they were found. So there is a handy hint to anyone leaving the kids with a new babysitter, perhaps check to see if he intends to take them to explore an undiscovered cave armed only with candles.

What the pictures can't really show is the incredible range of colours.  The colour depends on which minerals are leaching through the rock.  Other rocks sparkle like Edwards chest in Twilight!

Columns like these take thousands and thousands of years to develop.

After that we went to Blarney Castle to kiss the Blarney stone and be granted the gift of eloquence. Surprisingly, the Castle itself is very interesting and it is set in lovely grounds - right in the middle of Blarney Town itself. For such a major tourist attraction the whole thing was surprisingly low key. 

Blarney Castle is actually a 'tower house' - and it was built onto an existing tower house. If  you look carefully you can see the join between the two.

If you look above the highest window and see a hole - that is where the Blarney Stone is. You have to bend over backwards while lying on the battlements to kiss it. 

 I wouldn't mind his job. Hey, hands amidships buddy! 

He didn't hold me quite so firmly. in fact, I think he was trying to push me through. 

The queue to kiss the stone - this was a very quiet day, it must be madness in summer.

View from the top

They had a 'poison garden'. The white notice at the bottom apologises for the absence of the marijuana plant, and says it has been seized by the police. They hope to plant a new one in the spring once the licencing issue (?) has been resolved.

Jane takes a lot of landscape photos while we are driving, and they are almost always rubbish. Apart from this one - so well done Jane!

Our campground had a pitch and putt course - which was great fun. We have the 5 second rule from teeing off - if you can get the ball and put it back on the tee within 5 seconds you can have another go without penalty.

I assume this went flying past the hole like most of my putts.

I wish it was this warm at the moment, I'm finding it hard to type.