24 June: Day Three
Phoenix Park |
Kilmainham Gaol |
This was one of those unexpected tour stops that make each day an adventure! Phoenix Park is one of the largest parks in Europe, so we only saw a small snippet of it. One of the most notable events that has taken place here was a mass with the Pope in 1979 where over a million people attended. It was significantly less crowded while we visited!
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This was our last stop in Dublin, before heading out to the countryside. The Gaol (jail for us Americans) has such a long and important history in Ireland. We were given a guided tour through the different parts of the gaol. Many of the names we heard about here would come up many more times as we toured the country and learned about Irish history.
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Rock of Cashel
Declan had arranged a group lunch for us at the Bru Boru Cultural Centre which is located just at the base of the Rock of Cashel. We enjoyed pre-fixed plates with soup, scones, and a choice of several different meats. As we were eating, several Irish dancers along with a violinist entertained us. It was another one of those surprise moments on the tour!
After our hunger was taken care of, we walked up to the Rock of Cashel. We were given a guided tour of this historic sight. Even though part of it was under reconstruction, we still felt like we saw all the important parts. As our heads were still swimming with all the dates and history, we loaded back on the bus. One thing I find so helpful is AFTER we have visited a sight, I like to re-read about it again in the guide book. (Bus time is a perfect time to look at the guidebook and write in my journal.) I'm a visual person, so seeing it in print helps to solidify what we just heard on the tour, and it's easier for my brain to put the timeline of events in order! |
Our Free Evening in Kinsale
One of my favorite evenings on the tour! Almost everyone in our group ended up at the same pub even though it wasn't a "group" night. It was great that the pubs in the smaller towns were very family friendly. Rebecca, although only 15, wasn't out of place here (but perhaps it was also because of her natural red locks...she fit fight in with the locals!) We ate dinner and then sat back, relaxed and enjoyed the local musicians.
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