Last blog from Ireland (for the time being!!)

Adare to Dublin



I didn't take either of these photos but they illustrate exactly the beautiful views I experienced on my final drive today.

They talk about picture postcard views- well I tell you that saying must have been birthed in Ireland.

Adare/Dublin-May 31st
Well I did it! Just on five weeks ago I set out from this hotel to have my irish adventure. I am quite proud of myself, particularly of the past 16 days as I navigated and drove around the Republic alone. Maybe this is but the first!!
I left Adare,on the southwest side of Limerick this morning around 8.30a.m. Three hours of almost perfect driving later I arrived in Dublin. The trip would have been a wee bit (15mins) shorter if I hadn’t made a right turn as I hit the M50 to do the ring of Dublin. I found myself driving back towards Wicklow(south) the same as when I began the trip. Realized and did a lefty off the M50 navigated a U turn and back on the M50 facing north- all without stopping the car or looking at a map. Bingo there it was the wee symbol I had been looking for “an aeroplane”!! From then on I was fine as I was in known territory. A few more minutes and I was at the exit R108 which would take me to the hotel I booked a few days ago online- “Day’s Hotel”. (Great place especially costwise if anyone is coming this way in the near future.)
The drive here was so enjoyable. Miles and miles of rolling green countryside crisscrossed with green hedges. Traffic was reasonable although boy some drivers have never heard of indicating especially when changing lanes. I really enjoyed the peace, freedom and sense of having succeeded in what I planned.
This will be my last blog in Ireland. Tomorrow morning I drive the car back to its depot-retrieve my 1200euros deposit and return to the hotel to rest until early evening. I have booked a shuttle ride at 5.30p.m. to the airport. For an extra 30euro the hotel is allowing me to stay at the hotel till 3 hours before my flight. That is not too bad as transit stays go. I have decided to treat myself to dinner in the hotel tonight. Normally I have gone to the local “Tesco”(Woolworths) and bought a salad or whatever and bought it back to the B and B to eat. I may even have a glass or two of wine!!!!!!!!!! I will drink to you all, my family and friends who through the wonder of IT have travelled with me over the past weeks.

Next posting will be from home about the trip back. Please, please say a prayer sometime Wednesday morning (your time) for my trip home. I board the plane Tuesday 8.55p.m. (11.55a.m. Wed your time) I am rather dreading it from the point of view of space. My last 8 hours on a plane was spent next to a nice guy alright. It was his size next to mine that caused the problem. I am really hoping somehow the plane isn’t too full. Maybe this is the price I pay for such a great holiday. Oh well onward and upward or “......build a bridge”!
Cheers till later.
Anne (Tess)

Adare near Limerick.

Adare near Limerick



This is a wee gift shop like many others in Adare. It is an experience just to walk in without buying anything.








Just a weekend bungalow!!!! It is called Adare Manor(now a hotel) and as you can see it has gorgeous gardens. Lovely but still not as good as "Powercourt" gardens visited at the start of my trek!








This is another example of the many normal homes in this pretty village. Note the thatched roof.







You know who and Maryanne Bates out the front of the Adare Heritage Centre where we had a cuppa. We were both a little cold as the sun had gone in.

Hello All
It is Sunday afternoon or evening rather-6.45p.m. and I have just returned from spending a couple of hours with Maryanne(Bates) and her friend Kerry. Despite a couple of hiccups we managed to meet. It was great to see a familiar face and swap stories. They are just beginning their trek around Ireland while mine has come to an end. We would have met earlier today but they had car trouble and had to go about getting a new car. They have headed off for Kilarney.
I have spent the last two days in a very picturesque village called Adare. (Anne my friend you remember don’t you?) I will try and attach some photos. It is a real village about 10 to 15mins from Limerick. The village itself is relatively new (1929) although habitation is much older. There are many ruins eg manors, monasteries and farm buildings dotting the countryside as usual. Today after a wee bit of shopping (a little splurge Angela) I spent most of the day just investigating the many country lanes around Adare. It has turned cold again and the weather forecast isn’t promising.
Tomorrow I do my last big drive and possibly the longest. I drive to Dublin to the airport hotel I have booked. Advice says it will take me around 2 to 3 hours. A long drive in the words of the irish!!
I will do my last posting from Dublin tomorrow.
Cheers till then.
Anne (Tess)

Mallow- Thursday May 27th No 2

Tabenachel in Chapel at Nano Nagel Centre

Sorry but this should have gone in the previous blog I just posted 2 minutes ago. Haven't yet work out how to change a post after it has been posted!! Slack I know!

I was just so impressed or better in awe of something that has been dated as 33million years BC. It is a piece of bog wood.

Hope you are as interested as I am . If not just ignore it!

Mallow- Thursday May 27th

Sr Rita and you know who. Do you like the photo Phil?

NANO NAGLE CENTRE

View as you turn into the centre

Photo does not do justice to natures real colours.

The students I speak about in the blog. Feeding lambs with one of the sisters.

Bungalows rented out to whoever wants to use them. One on the left was my recovery unit on Tuesday/Wednesday after my mishap!!

Part view of front of main building. Its age is pre 1718. It actually was the barn on Nano Nagle's parents property.

Last Day in Mallow-May 28th
Today I spent the day at the Nano Nagle Centre for Heritage, Spirituality and Ecology. It is a living heritage centre, inspired by and continuing on, the work of Nano Nagle who was the foundress of the Presentation Sisters. It is also the home and work centre for Sr Rita who I spoke about in the previous blog. She is on a years, just extended to two, working visit to Ireland. It just also happens that she comes from the Presentation Spirituality Centre at Manly in Brisbane.
I was totally educated by the pressies and my aunt, Carmel, who died last year, was also a presentation sister. She would have loved to have been with me or at least had the opportunity I have been blessed with. Twice I might add-one as a patient and today as a very welcomed friend.
It is the most amazing place that embodies the mission and spirituality of a courageous young woman not unlike Mary Mackillop. This centre is on 32 acres of farmland still sustaining crops and live animals as it did in 1718. The five sisters in residence have an army of people who are all in charge of their own various areas and together run the whole thing as well as sustain themselves. It is also a multicultural wee community with people coming from all parts of our world.
As I arrived and pulled up in the car I glanced over to the nearby paddock full of cute lambs and their mums. In the midst of the wee flock was a sister in her sari accompanied by ten Yr 6 or 7 students. Not a teacher in sight. The kids were fantastic in their interaction and so well behaved. They were part of a large group that had been split and sent off to various sections of the property. I was rather impressed and made sure when I met their teachers, a while later, that they knew what their kids were like. Also what amazed me not a parent in sight!!! Apparently this is the way of many days as the centre has many school visits and the like. After experiencing many facets of ecology and sustainability the chn (or adults) visit the various exhibitions, power point, and prayer room and are generally exposed to the charism of Nano Nagle.
It also hires out various to any organization who wishe to avail themselves of the many amenities such as dogs being trained for the handicapped or training and educating people in various musical instruments. Another area they go into is accommodation. They have three beautifully equipped bungalows that are hired out either as room or whole dwelling. I wish I had realized before I had booked into my B and B. Definitely worth a stay either as a patient or visitor!! Better as a visitor!! For those of you interested I have attached the web site for a sticky. Make sure you look at “The Cosmic Walk” or read about the Sundial.
I had lunch with the community of sisters, workers and visitors like myself. It was great. Then Rita walked me around most things for about 2 hours. Again those interested of course I went into the wee chapel that looks out over the huge section of the Blackwater Valley-named by the resident river. One thing I just loved was the bogwood tabenachel. Recent archaeologists have dated it to be 33 million years BC. (photo attached) The whole concept of bogs fascinates me. To look at and be allowed to touch something that old just blows my mind.
As you can see I was impressed by this place and would love to come back at some time. Angela I thought of you a bit today as you would love this place. It speaks of a lot of your lines of thought and values. I would love to be part of something like this for longer than a tourist visit. Oh well reality beckons. Tomorrow I pack up for the second last time and drive onto Adare a few miles from Limerick. This will be my last tourist stop. Let you know about there in my next blog. As I type I look to the side and see you are all snug asleep as it is 3.04a.m.Sat. For me I must away to make some tea- it is 18.05p.m.
Love you all- cheers
Anne (Tess)

Mallow- Thursday May 27th

ASHFIELD HOUSE: Back garden

ASHFIELD HOUSE: Front garden

ASHFIELD HOUSE: I am in the wee house to the side

Hello Everyone
Sorry but I have been offline over the past three days due to a wee bout of food poisoning. Thank God when this occurred I was close to a friend-Sr Rita Cusack(presentation sister from Wynnam and Phil Van Brunschot’s sister) and she plus the community at the Nano Nagle Centre were angels in disguise. I tell you I will be a great advertisement for the Emergency Dept at Mallow Hospital. They were fantastic-talk about fast action. All details (should you wish to know) will have to wait until my return. Suffice to say I am now on the mend and trying to be more careful-not eating any chicken, especially since MY LONG FLIGHT home is only 5 days away. Plus I’d rather not go through that again!!
My time in this beautiful land is coming to an end. Time has literally galloped by. I can’t believe it is 12 days since I started my drive around. Today is Thursday and I travelled here to Mallow from Cashel on Monday. Boy did I strike pay dirt this time with accommodation. Upon making the booking for a B and B while in Cashel Eileen (this B and B’s owner) was going away for the week and could only offer me a self catering unit for the same price of a B and B. Naturally I took it. (Photos attached) It really is lovely with every conceivable normal comfort including an iron/washing machine which has been a bit of a pain doing B and B’s. The gardens are glorious. (Photos attached).
Tomorrow (Friday) I am going back to the Nano Nagle Centre for lunch which had to be cancelled on Tuesday because I was in the hospital. Rita took me back to the centre for the night on picking me up from the hospital as I was advised not to be alone. Actually I wasn’t given much choice where Rita and Francis were concerned. Again God was good! I stayed the night and most of Wednesday but didn’t get to see anything of the centre of course. I slept most of the time. Hence going back tomorrow for lunch. This time I can be social and not a patient!!
Tell you more tomorrow.
Cheers
Anne (Tess)

The "Rock of Cashel"- yes I walked up the hill !

View 1 from the Rock

View 2 from the Rock.

Me contemplating the view

Cashel Day 3-Sunday 23rd May
Great day again today. As usual started with someone cooking my breakfast. Boy am I going to suffer withdrawal symptoms when reality returns the first day at home and I have to make breakfast myself. I have been so lucky with all the B and B’s I have stayed in. The owners have been so friendly and gone out of their way to make me feel at home. God is good.
My travels today took me to yet another great place once again. The place is called the “Rock of Cashel”.(Photo above) This, as I said yesterday, was the place of Kings until the 12th Century when it was passed over to the “Church”. (As was the custom to build on something high so you could see your enemies coming. Now we know why many early Christian dwellings are often high on a hill.) From then on it became one of the most thriving centres in Ireland. Gradually, after “Henry” did his bit and tried to abolish monasticism it fell into disrepair. For nearly two centuries it was just a ruin that the local boys used to run away to and dare each other to do rather dangerous feats. Finally the city council in the 1960’s took control and started to return it to its historical glory. Today it is one of the four top tourist and historical sites in Ireland. All I know is that it, like some of the other sacred places I have journeyed to over past days; there is something that speaks to you, especially if you are lucky enough to have some quiet time without others around. I have been blessed that this has occurred often. For about 30 mins I was able to sit on a rise just below the “Rock” believe it or not in the ancient graveyard and “just be” looking at the most incredible almost 360dgs scenery of the countryside surrounding the rock buildings. (Photo illustrates).

Tomorrow I leave Cashel and journey south west to Mallow. Will chat again then.

Miss you all.

Cheers

Anne (Tess)

(Looks wide- believe me it isn't)

Hello All
Sorry been a wee bit busy since last I posted. My last day in Kilkenny was spent visiting a glass blowing centre and a couple more historical places. By now I understand the difference between a church, an abbey and a cathedral. I even had a lovely lady give me a private tour of a Cistercian monastery because it was quiet and the boss wasn’t around.
Just as well I am not rich and I live so far away. Both counts stop me buying things. I tell you I have been tempted so many times.
Yesterday I left Kilkenny and drove to Cashel. -the ancient ecclesiastical centre and kingdom of Ireland. Lovely drive- even took a quick photo of me as I was driving. It gives you a good idea of what most of the roads (egR660) is like. It took about 2 hours because of the size of the road as I often have to stop to give way.
Lovely township Cashel like a quaint village but with all amenities. Did a long sticky around in the afternoon and guess what I came across!! A teacher with her third grade class of around 30 walking around the township with their little clipboards visiting various points of historical interest. Of course you can guess what I did once they stopped and in a very orderly fashion sat down for a snack. I went up and introduced myself to the teacher. She was great and fascinated with what I was doing. I might add she had 1 yes 1 parent with her and the kids did not move all the time we talked. I was very aware of what she was supposed to be doing and tried a couple of times to move away but she wasn’t worried. The kids just kept smiling at me.
Funnily enough I go into a certain church this morning and got chatting to a lady and what do I find? All the first communion chin’s sacramental symbols hanging beautifully around the church just happened to belong in part to the same teacher and her children!! The school is called St John the Baptist. As today is Saturday and schools are closed I couldn’t go and visit. Wouldn’t it be lovely though if we could set up some type of buddy system between the two schools. I think I might visit the school on my way out of town on Monday. Can’t hurt- I’ll think about it a wee bit more- keep you posted on that.
Tomorrow I plan to visit the “Rock of Cashel”. Again the historical ruins of both a castle of the first kings of Ireland and the first ecclesiastical community. I tried to go this morning but as rounded the corner to go up to the "rocks" carpark a gardia (policeman) stopped me to say they couldn't let any more people up there. Reason was a huge group of over 300 people( big for here) had turned up and were protesting- something to do with money being spent on historical sites. Anyway that's why I am going tomorrow. More of that after the visit.
Keep well.

Cheers

Anne(Tess)