Kissing the Blarney stone.

The coming and goings from those car drivers carried on well into the evening but for us, nothing untoward happened. In fact, a very quiet night was had although extremely muggy and sticky in all that heat made for an unpleasant nights sleep.

Today we headed for Blarney Castle and gardens. Made an early start to get there for the 9 am opening but we still had to queue as two coaches had already arrived. On our list of must-dos was to kiss the Blarney stone so as soon as we had paid the entrance fee (€13) we made for the castle.

The stone is right up at the top and apart from the steps leading up to the castle another hundred had to be climbed in a circular tower in what I can only describe as claustrophobic conditions. Anyone over portly would have struggled. Anyway, after a 15-minute wait, we reached the stone. The object is to kiss the stone to be given the gift of Eloquence. I went first leaving Ian in charge of taking the photo to prove I had done it. He failed miserably so much so that I made him purchase the photo taken by the castle photographer for €10!

That's how you take a photo, Ian!!!!!

 He was positive he had pressed the shutter button but cameras don't lie and no photo of me was found! Anyway, my photo was not of me kissing the stone. I chickened out you see. Head too far back and that view to the ground whilst lying on my back was a tad more then I could bear. My head started spinning and I said enough was enough. So no gift of eloquence was bestowed upon me today.

The day was glorious again and castle grounds and house spectacular. The Blarney House is still occupied but for three months of the year, the present owner leaves so that the public (for a fee of €6 each) can see his private rooms. No photography was allowed but the little green-eyed monster in me oh so wished it was mine. Luxurious, grand, stately, extravagant, lush....the list goes on and on. 30-minute tour and worth all of the money we spent. Another few hours of enjoying what was on offer around the grounds and we then headed back to the Beast to travel the 80 or so km to a place called Killarney. Found a site for €20 for the night which has washing machines. Did two loads by 5.30pm, pegged them on the line and within 90 minutes all the clothes were dry.

Looking up from the ground and watching others doing what I couldn't

My new best friend.

Druids circle

Blarney House

 Now has anyone ever seen this behaviour before. Robins and a Thrush seemingly sunbathing!

I think this is a Silver Washed Fritillary Butterfly

Not sure what type of  Damselflies these are

It's the Ring of Kerry for us tomorrow. 179 km round trip through some breathtaking landscape. We will probably do it over two days hopefully finding somewhere to stay overnight.

T' be shore I've met a leprecorn

God, it's hot! I'm assuming the UK weather is the same as here, not seen any TV news at all you see! Irish tv is rubbish and if we are lucky we may get the full 24 channels that are broadcast. Satellite is a must for Southern Ireland otherwise you may as well forget telly viewing at all. Good job we have plenty of films to watch and of course, there is always the standby of Cribbage.

Looking out of the window by 8.30am we were amazed at the sight that greeted us.

Royal Princess full of Americans. Must have been 40 coaches that arrived to take them on their excursions.

 Off we went to Spike Island this morning. A fascinating place which housed many a jailbird from 1800. So a very brief history first:-
Initially, the island was monastic but in 1789 a man named Charles Vallancey persuaded the Lord Lieutenant John Fame to allow construction of a permanent fortification. In later use and one probably best known for being a little Alcatraz, was the holding of prisoners and convicts ready for deportation to Australia. It remained a prison right up to 2004 and many of the IRA prisoners were also kept on the island. Also being a Treaty Port, and held by the British until 1938, it was then handed over to the Irish government. Afterwards, it was used by the Irish Army until 1979 and then by the Naval Service until 1985. Wiki has more on this subject and I did take some of the text from this site.

Building to the left looks new but is actually the oldest building on the island as it was built as a church. Building on the right housed some of the prisoners.

An archaeological dig was taking place at the prisoner's graveyard.

My very own Leprecorn!

prison couryard. Houses bottom R was the warden's accommodation.

Exercise yard.

Cork Harbour is a natural horseshoe shape and this one of two 6" guns were aimed toward the entrance

Solitary confinement cells and corridors leading up to it.

Prisoners kept like this in the transport ships.

With only 3 hours on the island we had to rush the last few bits. So much to see and do and we never did get down to see the village, now unoccupied.

Back on the mainland and the tide had dropped considerably. Very wet steps under the pier were the only way back up.

Back at the Beast, we headed off toward Blarney. We found another Brit stop at the pub Waterloo Inn. Very strange place as it doesn't appear open. There has also been a steady stream of cars, vans motorbikes coming and going. All seems a bit dodgy to me. Even the Garda (Police) pulled in and then turned around. Hmm, I hope we haven't done the wrong thing by staying. The only saving grace is we are not alone. Another motorhome pulled in not long after us.

It's Blarney castle on the agenda tomorrow. Opens at 9am and very glad it wasn't today we had planned to go. Most of those coaches waiting at the cruise liner took those Americans there.

The harbour at Helfic...not to be reccomended.

Next time I write the words, 'it is worth any agro' for heaven's sake tell me to shut up! Those children screamed....and I mean screamed...and yelled....and laughed....and made stupid grunting noises until well after 1 AM!!!!!!! Then the dad, well I'm assuming it was the dad, made twice as much noise yelling at them to shut up! Then to add insult to injury a car pulls up, a couple gets out, puts up a tent and eventually they settle down (as do the kids) by 2 AM but.....at 5 AM it all kicks off again. This time with a car door slamming as an argument starts between the two campers. I ask you its enough to send one into complete meltdown. Ian, I might add, also added insult to injury by sleeping through the whole thing!!!

Having managed a couple of hours sleep and with me feeling a little worse for wear, Ian then gets up very refreshed (well he would after a good nights sleep) and starts to worry about the number of cars arriving at the harbour carpark. All of which were fishermen wanting to catch the incoming tide for their catch of the day. By now we were almost boxed in so without storing anything away, plates, knives glasses etc, and all still on the work surface ready to crash to the floor at the slightest jolt, and with me hanging on to both our full cups of tea, he moves the Beast to the water tap where we knew we could get away without hassle. Having topped up the tank (both of us had showers last night) and cleared everything back in their rightful places, we eventually set off for another coastal town called Ardmore.

Something not quite right about this photo. Anyone guess?

Ardmore beach

 Parking was difficult but we were lucky when a spot appeared as another motorhome pulled away. What a fabulous place to while away a few hours. A Sunday market was an unexpected bonus and we purchased homemade Thai green curry sauce from an Asian lady and for lunch ate the biggest and hottest Mexican sausage cob filled with jalapenos, chilli sauce, onions and green peppers. Talk about bringing on a sweat.

Anyway, from there we walked to St Declan's stone, the Well, The Round Tower, Ardmore Cathedral and Cemetery.

St Declan's Well

And a shrine at the back of the photo where many an object had been place

Ardmore Cathedral and cemetery 

The Round Tower

Cathedral Wall

We found another Brit Stop at Cobh (pronounced Cof and called Queenstown before Ireland became independent of us Brits) This was very handy for visiting the Titanic experience. Queenstown was Titanic's last port of call before setting off for her ill-fated trip to New York.

The Old pier where the Titanic passengers waited for tenders to take them to Titanic anchored off shore.

Third class cabin

First class cabin

Coff and St Colman's Cathedral in the background

Scaffolding up due to cleaning.

Unfortunately this stop is also right next to a railway and, as the Irish would say,  "Sweet Jesus let them trains be quiet tonight"!  I dont think I can put up with another noisy night.