Sunday, December 18, 2016

Kilkenny and Unforgiving Winds.

I give Carrie Bradshaw props for being able to keep a daily blog/article/column, whatever she does. Keeping a blog up-to-date is a lot harder than it seems. When you are out and about exploring, adventuring writing your blog is the last thing on your mind. Anyways, Kilkenny was a trip I went on with the International Society WAYYYYYY back at the beginning of November. It was also the last overnight trip hosted by the International Society.
International Group for Kilkenny trip!
Kilkenny is a medieval town located in the southeast region of Ireland. When you arrive in Kilkenny you can feel the history the surrounds the town. The itinerary for this trip included: Kilkenny Castle, Rock of Cashel, Smithwick's Brewery, and the Dunmore Caves. 

Day One: Smithwick's Brewery & Kilkenny Castle 

Our hostel was in a prime location only about a two minute walk from Smithwick's Brewery which happened to be the first stop of our day. Smithwick's Brewery is Ireland's oldest operating Brewery and was founded by John Smithwick. 

Smithwick's gives you a "hands on" experience. We are lead through the history of the brewery and then through the process of creating the different brews Smithwick's has! We even had a chance to taste the grain before it finished the process of becoming the delicious Smithwick's ale. I do have to say, it's a taste I hope I will never taste again. Near the end of the tour we got a glimpse of the 'secret' ingredient which was placed and locked behind thick glass, suspended in the middle by wires. Once the tour was finished each person was given a complimentary pint of Smithwick's.
The 'secret' ingredient. 
 They has three choices to choose from: The original Smithwick's, Blonde Ale, or a Pale ale. I obviously had to stick with the original, I felt that going with that one gave the most authentic feel to the whole experience.

Our selections of a free pint!
Kilkenny Castle was our second and final stop for today's adventures! This again was only a 10 minutes walk TOPS from out hostel. It was so strange seeing this large castle in the center of the city, just chilling, locals walking by like it was nothing. Then there out huge tourist group oohing and aweing at it. 


This castle was built in 1195 to help with protecting passage through the river channel nearby. We were given a semi guided tour through this castle. I say semi because our group was so large us who got stuck in the back could not hear everything clearly or fully. A few of us broke of and decided to just explore on our own and read all the plaques to understand the history of the castle.
Outside view of Kilkenny Castle.

After the castle tour we were given the rest of the day to explore and do whatever else we wanted around town. A group of us girls decided to get a reservation at a thai place and have a nice sit down dinner with good food! One I don't see too often because I am a poor excuse for a cook, although I have improved since September. It was a cool experience to sit around a table with 10 other people from around the world, at a thai restaurant in Ireland... an eye-opening experience to sat the least. 

Day two: Dunmore Caves & Rock of Cashel

The second day was by far the coldest day I have experienced in Ireland. The wind was an unforgiving force and lucky for us all of the scheduled stops were outdoors. Today's plan included the Rock of Cashel and Dunmore Caves. 

Dunmore Caves were our first stop and I can't explain how breathtaking they were. Although on the way down I did have some flashbacks to 127 hours, praying none of us would have a similar fate. These caves were insane!
Entrance to Dunmore Caves.

The group of people that established their village around these caves used them as a hiding spot from Vikings, our tour guide told us. When the vikings came to attack the villagers retreated into the caves torched their light sources (which were torches ha) and hid deep inside. The vikings be unfamiliar could not find any of the villages. However, being the ruthless vikings they were a new plan was hatched. Instead of executing the villagers themselves they would fill the caves with smoke eventually smothering the villagers to death. 

Even to this day vikings coins can be found in the caves that were probably lost during battle or an exploration of the caves.
The descent into the caves :O. 
At the very end of the cave tour our tour guide told us to stand still and she was going to turn off of the lights. It was probably the eeriest feeling I've felt. We all stood motionless and silent in the dark for a good minute or two. It gave a real since of what the villagers who too refuge in the caves felt as they awaited their unescapable doom.  

Rock of Cashel would have been a beautiful, rich part of history I wish I could have been more grateful for but the wind tarnished it for almost everyone. No one could keep war, being up on a huge hill with no protection from the piercing wind. Thankfully, our guide kept it short and sweet, I honestly felt he was just as cold as us and probably wondered if his job was worth it.....
Rock Of Cashel 

Just a random cool photo outside of Rock of Cashel.