Pictures From Ireland

(Click on the pictures to enlarge) After flying into Dublin, I drove to the Medieval town of Kilkenny (you bastards!!) and the first thing i saw upon arrival in Kilkenny was a giant can of Guiness on wheels. I thought for a moment i had died and this was heaven, then the giant beer drove away and i realized it was Hell. Actually Kilkenny was a very cool town.



This is the 13th Century Gothic Cathedral of St Canices in Kilkenny. I've never seen a graveyard like this right out in the Cathedral front lawn, and i thought it was beautiful with all of the Celtic Crosses and leaning gravestones.



The Angel of St Canices. I just thought this statue was beautiful and haunting at the same time. Also note the size of the stone used to build St Canices. Thousands of small to medium size rocks all hand laid. I don't think I've ever seen a Cathedral built in this fashion, and I've seen ALOT of Cathedrals!



Dromoland Castle. This was my HOTEL in County Clair, a bonafide 17th Century castle converted to a hotel. I stayed in the oldest part of the castle and the vibe was really amazing.



The Cliffs of Moher on the western coast of Ireland. These are the highest cliffs in Europe, rising 700 feet at their highest point. Pictures can't begin to do justice so such an awe inspiring place.



These are the ruins at the Rock of Cashel. this fortress Cathedral dates back to the 11th Century. I wish i could show you more of this place, but its so massive that its hard to capture the depth of it with a few pictures, so here's a single shot. This is atop a high hill which slopes down steeply on all sides. I'm sure the location was picked as much for its defensibility as it was a place that could be seen from tens of miles away.



To Dublin at last! OK, so i'm a sucker for Cathedrals, I know I know. This is Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin. Its a beautiful structure but fairly unremarkable on the inside as European Cathedrals go.



And of course, the reason everybody comes to Dublin, the beer! The Guiness Brewery is in Dublin, and they offer tours, which of course i had to take! This is my pint of Guiness at the end of my tour. Yum. Not my favorite beer, but i certainly enjoy it.

Ireland is a beautiful and very green country. I've driven hundreds of miles from East to West, North to South, and its simply green everywhere! Hence, i'm sure, the national colors. I have also noticed the very talented singers that Ireland seems to spawn. Virtually every singer i've heard from Kilkenny to County Clair to Dublin has been really excellent, whether they are singing traditional Irish folk songs or belting out covers or singing originals. And Dublin seems to be a very musical city, much like New Orleans. Often you'll see an accordion player on the street, or a duo with acoustic guitars, or mixed instruments with fiddle and banjo. Even on a Sunday night in Temple Bar, great live music was everywhere. Cheers to Ireland!

-Ken Lewis