"I" is for Ireland

The beautiful, green island of Ireland is just an 8 hour drive (including ferry ride) or 60 minute flight, so a visit has been on our "must see" list.  We were able to check it off that list last weekend.  During our brief stay, we enjoyed the beautiful Powerscourt Gardens, the green Wicklow mountains, the ruins of St. Kevin's Monestary, a musical pub crawl, and a tour of the Guinness brewery.  Believe it or not, we even found a little time to sit on a bench in the park.  The best part of all was seeing a dear friend again.  She was traveling with her family and allowed us to tag along for half a day.  What a joy it is to have the blessing of friendship no matter where you are in the world!  We are thankful!!  Now to share a few pictures and stories of our weekend adventure.



Powerscourt Gardens (near Enniskerry)

 These gardens are on one of Ireland's most beautiful estates.  A castle was built on the grounds in the 14th century, but was significantly remodeled in the 18th century.  A remodel of the garden occurred at the same time.  Today, a visitor can mosey through the grounds following a "60-minute" walk (which really only takes about 30 minutes at a leisurely pace).  The walk guides a person around the Italian garden, beside the Dolphin Pond and through the Walled garden, Pets' cemetery, and Tower valley.  I found the walk to be very cathartic with the beautifully designed landscape, sweet smelling roses, and splashing water of the fountain.

Wicklow Mountains (south of Dublin)
Compared to Colorado the Wicklow mountains were more like hills, but the green grass and stoney creeks were refreshing in contrast to the concrete and asphalt of the city.  The roads were narrow and bumpy but my amazing husband kept the car on the pavement.  It should also be noted that our friend Corey kept the car on the road as well, following us every kilometer.

St. Kevin's Monastery (Glendalough)

This monastery was, of course, named for my husband and saint, Kevin.  That's actually a false statement (I'm checking to see if anyone actually reads these notes :) ).  There isn't a lot of information on St. Kevin (for whom the monastery was named), but apparently he was a "hermit priest" who left Dublin to avoid the company of his followers.  He wasn't very successful as the monks followed him and established the early medieval settlement in the 6th century.  The monastery was destroyed in the late 14th century (nearly 800 years later!!).

St. Kevin's church (far left), tower (center), and Cathedral
(right, barely visible behind the trees)

St. Kevin's church

Musical Pub Crawl (Dublin)

Beer and music:  two key elements in the life and culture of the Irish.  We enjoyed both in one evening!  Our pub crawl was led by musicians who sang and played the fiddle, guitar, and bodhran (aka an Irish drum).  In between songs, we were given an introduction to the varieties of music (ie polka, jigs, and reels) as well as a lesson in impromptu musical "sessions" and "nobel calls" which occur with regularity in pubs and homes alike.  

There were two interesting facts we learned from this experience that have stuck with me.  (1)  Stomping is used to keep the beat, not clapping hands.  This is because clapping hurts your hands and inhibits your ability to drink, so say the Irish.  (2)  The only dance that keeps a couple together is the polka.  All the other Irish dances switch partners or are group dances.

Guinness Storehouse (St. James's Gate, Dublin)
The brewing of Guinness began in 1759 which was another reminder of how young our country is.  It's amazing to consider a business has been going strong for so long!  The tour only recently opened, in 2000, and is self-guided.  I loved that all of the senses were incorporated as you could feel and smell the barley, see the hops, hear the water rushing, and taste the final product.  The tour even included a short tutorial on pouring the perfect pint!

 
The view from the top of the storehouse:

 

We really enjoyed our time in Ireland, brief as it was.  Perhaps one day we'll have a chance to see a bit more of the countryside and maybe even take a peek at the beautiful coast, but for now, we're thrilled by the opportunity to go and see so much.