Clearly the cities do not inspire any literary thoughts for me. Cork was interesting, but not inspiring, so I just couldn’t think what to blog last night. After heading back out into the countryside, the inspiration is back, so I will catch up on Cork and today’s trip to Kilkenny.

Yesterday morning I woke up to overcast skies and the threat of rain was imminent all the time. I decided to do the Hop on Hop Off bus. Luckily for me the stop was right outside the hotel. The bus has a covered section on top out the wind and rain, so that was where I was planted. Unfortunately, you can’t take too many pics or videos behind the windows. Cork is not very big, and the whole route only takes about an hour and a half. My first stop was the Cork Goal. It was used in the late 1800’s as the main prison in Cork and they have really set the museum out nicely. Gives you personal stories and the layout, the meals, the sentences and the opportunity to go into the cells. I met a group of Scots from Glasgow at the jail, they asked why I was in Ireland, mentioned the Boss concerts – well it turns out they are massive fans and they are all going to the concert in Glasgow. They offered me a ticket, and when I told them I was going to the show in Glasgow as well – I think I achieved superhero status. Turns out they were staying at same hotel as me in Cork….so lots of Bruce comments all weekend.

Back on the bus and the next stop was the English Market. The largest fresh food produce market under cover and it has been running for 100 years. As you know by now, I love supermarkets and food stalls, it’s always fascinating to see the different, veggies, meats and fish. I saw one of the most hideous fish I have ever seen….but for the life of me can’t remember what is is called. Hopefully one of the fish fundies can help. There was the meat markets with the black and white pudding sausages, tripe, chickens, duck and obviously lamb and beef. Not too much different in the fruit and veggie sections, but some really yummy strawberries. I even found a biltong seller.

I had planned on heading to the cathedral next, but it was pouring with rain and I heard that you could not go inside. I wandered around in Debenhams and Marks and Spencer for a while- but clearly I cannot be tempted in Euros. It is really expensive over here and our declining exchange rate is not improving anything. A small coke or a sparkling water costs €2.30 (R37.00). Typically a main course for dinner is about €15-€18…a beef and ale pie, fish dish, a roast beef and veg dish. So around R270 to R330. A desert is around €5-6, so R65 or so. Breakfasts in most places are around €8-€10. The clothing and shoes are also bery expensive.

The rain stopped for a while, so I just wandered around the streets in Cork, then headed back towards my hotel. I had an excellent beef and ale pie for dinner at Gallaghers pub in Maccurtain street, down the road from my hotel. Veggies are not big anywhere you eat. Virtually all dishes come with either chips or mash. A side salad is only a tiny prtion of lettuce with some grated beetroot or carrot and maybe a slice of tomato (more of a garnish in my view). Some cabbage and parsnips, but no butternut, spinach, peas.

Last night I watched a brilliant documentary on Bruce Springsteen, called The Ties that Bind, certainly upped my excitement-o-meter. The next programme was on the drug problems in Dublin and Belfast – this was an eye opener. Third generation drug addicts! WTF???? Grandparent, parent and kids – all hardcore drug users, many third generation unemployed. How does this cycle ever get broken? The resultant loutish and criminal behaviour  and the culture of entitlement is so destructive. Again very similar to what we are experiencing- sadly we attach racial slurs to it!  One guy aged 21, has 3 kids, never had a job and he is outraged that the council have no housing for him!

This morning it was gps routing to Kilkenny via Cahir and Cashel. Both experiences were fantastic. The castle in Cahir was an unexpected find – just saw the sign on the way past and decided to stop. The castle was built on a fortification known as a cathair (stone fort).  It is one of the largest castles in Ireland, on an island in the river Suir. It was built from 1142 by Conor O’Brien, Prince of Thomond. It was then granted to the powerful Butler family in late 14th century by Edward III, for loyal service.Sadly, another one of Ireland’s treasures which fell into Cromwells hands.

Next stop was Cashel to see the stunning Rock of Cashel, also known as St. Patrick’s Rock. According to myth the Rock of Cashel originated in the Devil’s Bit, a mountain 20 miles north of Cashel, when St. Patrick banished Satan from a cave, resulting in the Rock’s landing in Cashel. The Rock of Cashel was the seat of the kings of Munster until the Norman invasion. In 1101, the King of Munster, Muirchertach Ua Briain, donated his fortress on the Rock to the Church.  There are 3 buildings built on the rock. The oldest and tallest of the buildings is a round tower built around 1100AD.

The second building is Cormac’s Chapel, was begun in 1127 and consecrated in 1134. The Chapel was constructed  of sandstone which has become water logged over the centuries which has damaged the interior frescos. To try and preserve what is left, the chapel had to be completely enclosed in a rain-proof structure with interior dehumifiers to dry out the stone. The third building is Irish High Cross or Cathedral, built between 1235 and 1270. Queen Elizabeth visited this site in 2011, in her historic visit to Ireland.

Wow…..talk about verbose! This has been a long winded post! But I can’t find anything to delete…..so please humour me!

No need to explain why 

Black and white pudding sausages

Janeen to explain!

Inside the Cork Goal

Cathedral on Rock of acashel

Celtic Cross on Rock of Cashel

Cashel Castle

Kilkenny Castle from my hotel window

Ruin below Cashel Rock

Atop the Rock

Kilkenny Castle and canal

Imitation stone of ast Patrick on the Cashel Rock

Cod?  I think

Droe wors and Biltong in Cork

Suir river and the Cahir castle

An operational portcullis in Cahir castle – hair by mother nature

Murder of Crows at Cahir Castle

Stunning clouds on the drive to Kilkenny