Cashel to Killarney

‘Honey there is no water coming out of the shower” Sharon’s voice sounded a long way off.  I opened one eye and peered out through the blankets.  I felt like someone had parked a truck on my chest as I was hardly able to breathe.  The flu had taken hold and I had a terrible night with runny nose and sore throat.  OK hon’’I replied and stood up and immediately regretted it as my head spun & I almost fell over.  Looking into what was possibly tiniest shower in Ireland I spotted Sharon wrestling with the shower head.  She was giggling now but deadly serious, “I just hate it when things don’t work.  Why won’t it work Johnny”?  I squeezed past her in the tiny cubicle and noted the shower had a funny apparatus attached to the tap, possibly some kind of pump.   I started turning dials and pressing buttons.  “You are just doing what I have already done” Sharon retorted, “What good is that, what does this do”? She said and & before I could reply pulled a cord hanging from the ceiling.  All of a sudden the pump rumbled into life and water streamed out of the shower head as it slowly gained momentum and built up speed.  “Well I guess you won’t be needing me anymore I sighed and tried to retreat from the cubicle.  Sharon said something else however by this time I couldn’t hear her as the pump had reached full velocity and was screaming rather like a jet engine.

We had reached Cashel the previous night and got a little room with a magnificent view.  You only had to look out of the window and The Rock of Cashel towered over our building. It is another medieval structure built centuries ago and I am amazed with the sheer size of these buildings.  Obviously the cutting edge in Architecture in their day.

Rock of Cashel

The proprietor of the B&B Patrick kept us in stitches.  When we surfaced for breakfast along with 2 other Australian ladies we backed up against the open fire as Patrick prepared breakfast. 

“What is that smell Patrick” Sharon asked.  Patrick had a very worried look on his faced and seemed concerned that there may be something stinking in his house.  Pointing at the Fire Sharon indicated with a finger, “what are you burning she asked. “”That he said is peat brick brickettes at the back and coal at the front.  It smells kind of funny said Sharon, kind of a weedy smell”.  Ahh Patrick sighed, I have to apologise for the auld mother she likes to smoke a refer of marijuana first thing in the morning”   This cracked us all up

I had forgotten about the Irish wit.  Guess being away for so long you tend not to remember these things.  Where does it come from? Everyone you speak to has it and it just enters a conversation when you least expect it.  And on it went, one of the Australian ladies complemented Patrick on the breakfast, ‘no problem he retorted I will leave out the Hoover for you.  ‘The Hoover she replied looking confused.  Yes he returned and you can Hoover up when you are done.  Then it clicked "Oh you mean the vacuum  she giggled.  And you he said to me, I will put up the .ladder outside and you can clean the windows before you leave

We left Cashel and made our way to the town of Cahir and went into Cahir castle which is one of the most intact castles in the country complete with its own moat and drawbridge.  It was a bitter day with howling wind and sleet rain as we ventured through the old castle.  No wonder people suffered with all kinds of health issues as a drafty castle is no place for human comfort.  Walls around 6 foot thick surrounded the perimeter and slits every 4 or 5 meters allowed bowmen to defend the walls.  You could almost imagine pouring some boiling oil on the intruders

Chair Castle

build me a home with deep walls

open the gates

just in time

From Cahir we made our way around across to Lismore.  

I can remember Patricks words clearly.  "You will climb up, up & up, Patrick you will be saying 'Why did you send me up here then you will turn around and there it will be the VEE just above you in the middle of nowhere.  There is a lake up there also and definitely a sight to see.  

By the time we reached the lake it was blowing a gale and no fit place to be taking pictures.  I have seen perched lakes before in New Zealand but this was right there and visible from the road 

perched lake

The Vee was a monument to our lady of knock and we could not stay there for more than a few minutes.  Sharon got herself wrapped in as many blankets and scarfs as would allow and we traversed the final 50m  to the top on foot to get one of the most spectacular views I have ever seen

the Vee

yoda

no fit place for man woman or beast

view from the top

We followed the cost to Dungarvin and then south again through the busy port city of Cork 

Cork city

& then to Killarney.  When we reached town I was in poor condition as the flu had really worn me down.  We got a nice little B&B and just ordered some home delivery Indian food (Yes they even have Indian food here now) after dinner I took some cold / flu tablets and was asleep by 9pm leaving Sharon to do her blog and join me later