This 1st set of pictures were taken in Cork, which is only about a half hour drive from Ballinspittle. (Unless you're on a bus...then it seems to take forever!) William was here from Limerick and we spent Friday afternoon running errands in Cork - paying fees at the airport for changing my ticket, and shipping dishes home via UPS. Word to the wise from someone who learned the hard way: don't buy dishes in a foreign land. If you do not heed this advise, then expect your inexpensive dishes to turn into Waterford Crystal/family heirloom dishes when you try to send them home. VERY expensive!
This next set of pictures was taken at the old Cork City Jail - the jail now is home to a muesum chronicling the story of the jail, complete with wax prisoners, jailers, and governor. The prison was opened in 1824, became a womens' only prison in 1878, and then was closed in 1923. In its years as an operational prison, it saw hardened criminals, petty thiefs whose only real crime was being poor, and political rebels (those who wanted to be free of England's rule in Ireland). Quite interesting, actually!
Room with a view!
Those who were held as prisoners in the fight to free Ireland from England's rule left their mark - 2 of the cells have walls covered in names, poetry and patriotic sayings, mostly dated 1923, just as the fight for freedom was coming to an end.
On Saturday, we headed out to Killarney again. (We were over that way when we drove the Ring of Kerry, but didn't see everything on our list, so...we went back!) The following couple of pictures were taken on our drive, which actually makes up part of the Ring of Kerry.
Muckross House - the main reason I wanted to make it back to Killarney was to see this house. = ) Construction was begun in 1839 and the house was finished in 1843, for Henry and Mary Balfour Herbert. In 1861, Queen Victoria stayed at the house for two nights as a visitor...the household prepared for 6 YEARS for this two night visit! In 1910, Muckross House was purchased by an American couple as a wedding gift for their daughter Maud and her husband, Arthur Vincent, from County Clare, Ireland. The couple spent most of their married life there, until Maud died of pneumonia in New York on her way to visit her parents in 1929. Three years later, Arthur Vincent gifted the house, gardens and thousands of acres to the Irish Nation. The house is beautifully furnished, but you aren't allowed to take photographs inside. = (
This actually is the back entrance to the house, but shows just how big it really is, I think!
Muckross Weavers
At last: the beach on Sunday afternoon, right here in Ballinspittle.
William and Harvey
Sitting in the window of the Officer's Quarters
