66. Waterford and Surrounds - Republic of Ireland

 We drove from Dublin to Waterford via the east coast and, must say, that hiring a car in Ireland was the best thing we could have done. The VW Golf was economical and had the grunt when required. Even though the price of fuel was nearly 3.00 AUD a litre, it ended up using just under 4 litres per 100km.

The car 

The roads were great and the scenery was as beautiful as the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. We didn't stop anywhere for long as we needed to get to the pet sit the same day. It was so green considering Ireland was just coming out of summer and what topped it off was the perfect weather for the whole time spent here.

Waterford was having a street festival on one of the weekends we were there. 

Local farm animals were on display

A very talented musician 

The locals were making the most of the Indian summer with Guinness aplenty. I think the Irish are right when they say it tastes better in Ireland!

A bit of humour from a Waterford shoe repairer

They don't give way on the road, they 'yield'

Waterford is famous for its Viking heritage. The name Waterford comes from the 9th-century Viking name of Vedrarfjord. The strategic and trading importance of the three sisters rivers, the Nore, the Barrow, and the Suir, that empty into Waterford Harbor also played their part in the Vikings’ decision to build a dock at the joining of St. John’s River and the River Suir. 

Reginald's Tower

Originally the site of a wooden Viking fort, the stone tower owes its existence to the Anglo-Normans who made it the strongest point of the medieval defensive walls. Later it was used as a mint under King John, before serving various functions under many English monarchs. Weapons, gunpowder and cannons have all been stored here reflecting various periods of Waterford’s turbulent history. The longboat is a replica of the ones used by the Vikings.

You can't go to Waterford without visiting Waterford Crystal.

A tour took us through the complete process of blowing glass through to the finished product. 60% of off-the-shelf glassware is still made here while 40% is made in their Slovenia factory. All one-off items are made in Waterford.

We were impressed by the talent required to perform the tasks. Each part of the production line requires an 8-year apprenticeship.

Before cast iron moulds took over, wooden ones were used up to 9 times.

The crystal bowl looks pretty ordinary after the initial blowing and shaping

That is, until the craftsmen get their hands on it.

All the design work is done by hand with cutting wheels

Here is a piece of glass with the  'Starry Night' by Van Gogh engraving. Again, all done by hand.

And a little bit of footage showing the craftsmen at work

One of our drives took us to Ardmore. A sleepy coastal village that is home to the ruins of  St Declan's monastery built in the 12th century. Ardmore is claimed to be the oldest Christian settlement in Ireland. The tower was used as a belfry and refuge.

Notice how high the doorway is. A ladder was used to get people in and then hoisted inside.

Max makes 4 legged friends wherever she goes.

The flowers are still in bloom with many flowerboxes in their full glory. 

We took a ferry across the river on our way to the Hook Lighthouse.

The seaside villages all had a distinct feel.

Just before the Hook Lighthouse turn off, we came across another ruin. Templetown was the headquarters of the Knights Templar in Wexford. This religious military order was founded in the 12th century to protect Christian pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land. By the time of the Norman conquest of Ireland, they had become wealthy landowners and bankers throughout Europe.

The graveyard contains a rare example of an Irish Knights Templar grave slab. It is rectangular in shape and is decorated with a cross and a lamb. I had to find it!

Again, perfect weather and countryside

Maeve accompanied us on the trip to the Lighthouse which is still operational today

And another ruin sitting in the middle of a farm paddock with Max hunting and gathering blackberries.

Another day trip took us to Tipperary and onto the Grange Stone Circles.

A few minutes out from Tipperary are the Grange Stone Circles. One large and one small. 

They were built circa 2,200 B.C. after the arrival of the Bronze Age People in Lough Gur. It is a ritual site akin to our churches of the present day and also served as an astronomical calendar. The entrance to the circle lines up with the sunrise on the day of the summer solstice.

The entrance on the east side

Tried to capture the feel the circle was giving me.

The smaller circle

How powerful and persistent nature can be

We now go back and stay in London while Daniel and Ellen are off to Portugal for a few days. We then go on to Dedham in the east of the UK for our next sit.