WESTWARD HO!

July 5-10, 2004

Well, before I start on the Westward Ho bit, I forgot to tell the outcome of the hurling match.  We went home and watched the conclusion on the goggle box.  Wexford was the underdog, but happily they won the match and now will proceed to the quarter-finals.

Now, Westward Ho!

Kerry and Cork, Tipperary, Dingle, Killarney, Limerick and Tralee.  These names just roll off the tongue and they are places we all associate with Ireland.  Don and I decided to take a vacation and go to the southwest of Ireland.  Monday morning we packed up our bikes and headed west.

We left Morriscastle, went through Kilmuckridge, out along our familiar route to Enniscorthy, then on to New Ross, and Thomastown, our first stop.  In Thomastown we visited an outstanding Cistercian Abbey, Jerpoint.  The neat thing about this abbey is the carvings, which are extensive and include recognizable effigies of clergy, animals, lords and ladies in medieval dress, knights in armour and saints.  The guide was able to tell us who several of the carvings were depicting.  Atop the battlements we enjoyed a lovely view of the surrounding countryside.

Leaving Thomastown we continued to drive cross-country on the small roads to Cashel, where we made our second stop of the day to enjoy the restored buildings of the Rock of Cashel.  This hilltop settlement was the royal seat of the Kings of Munster as early as the 4^th century, and continuing on into medieval times, when it was given to the church.  The walled complex sits on a rocky outcropping, high above the rest of the countryside, and makes a dramatic statement, with its round tower, castle, and cathedral.

After spending some time touring the Rock of Cashel we went into the town for a quick walk around and to find a bank.  By this time it was getting late in the afternoon and Don came to the realization that we were not going to make it all the way to the west coast in one day.  We decided to make as much distance as possible by going to the main highway, which we followed on in to Mallow, where we stopped for the night.

Our B&B, hosted by the very cordial Mr. Maurice Doolan, was the Riverdale Lodge.  After checking in we strolled to the town and enjoyed a delicious and very reasonably priced pub meal of barbequed ribs.  We struck up a conversation with the Lynch Family of Cork, who were sitting at the next table and were quite entertained by Owen (age 10) and Evan (age 4).  We had a good talk about the hurling match and the boys’ sports prowess.  Evan was quite opinionated and had lots to contribute to the conversation.  We got a big kick out of both boys.  The Doolans also decided to have dinner at the pub, and Maurice joined in the conversation too.  After dinner we walked over to the old castle ruins and took a look at the rare white deer.