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May 19, 2004
When the chips are down, the cows are empty.
4/22/2004
I could shoot myself. I ruined a roll of film today because I didn't make sure it wrapped around the thingy that pulls the film enough. That was the one thing my photography professor couldn't express enough. I'm pissed.
Anyway. Today we went to Lough Gur and the Grange Stone Circle. Lough Gur is one of the oldest archaeological sites in Ireland that has been excavated. It was the site of an ancient celtic civilization. Though most of the buildings have been destroyed you can still wander around the area and see the foundations. We also found a wedge tomb as we were driving to the stone circles.
The amazing thing about many of the "off the beaten track" sites is that they're public access despite being on private lands. The people here are willing to preserve site that are on their land...simply for the sake of their heritage. The wedge tomb was off to the side of the road, marked with a simple brown heritage site sign. Although the remains had of course been removed, the wedge tomb was in perfect condition, no grafitti or ruin from humans.
Further down the road we stopped at the Grange Stone circle after deposting 2 Euro in a box that requested funds to help maintain the gate surrounding the site. The land is owned by a local cattle farmer.
Imagine our suprise as we headed over the small, muddy hill to find a herd of cows surrounding and within the stone circle...mooing at us and watching us with a careful eye. After carefully maneuvering through the cow pattied area we decended into the small stone circle. For being the largest stone circle in Ireland it was suprisingly tiny. It was amazing to be able to walk in a place that you know had signficance for people thousands of years ago. The circle is in excellent shape. Beautiful huge grey stones connect with a large oak tree. I wish my pictures would have turned out.
We went from Lough Gur to Bunratty. The trip included a terrifying excursion through Limerick..echhh. Traffic was horrible and my poor mom, bless her heart has serious problems with round-a-bouts. After reaching Bunratty, home of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park...aka...tourist trap and touring the castle and folk park we decided to head to Durty Nelly's a pub that was established in the 1620's for castle guards. I had the classic...fish and chips along with a 1/2 pint of my first Guinness in Ireland...it was a magical moment.
Bunratty was fun. The whole time I was thinking...."Can it get any more Lord of the Rings in Ireland?" If Shera had been with me in that castle, we would have been all over it like Hobbit's on Second Breakfast. Ireland truly is the Shire. I was waiting to turn a corner and find Hobbit holes or orcs lurking.
Tomorrow..some shopping in Bunratty at the Woolen Mills Shops...tax free shopping baby, yeah. Then we head to Upperchurch, Thurles and Two Mile Borris for more genealogical research. Then..Dublin!
Posted by Sarah at May 19, 2004 04:23 PM