A collection of various photos I took in Ireland that don't categorize well
Phoenix Park, Dublin
Meehambee Dolman 3500 BC
Whispering Doorway at Clonmacnoise
Claregalway Friary
Kilmacdaugh Monastery. The round tower is the tallest of premodern Ireland. Notice how it has a lean?
St. Colman's grave
Some of the cool people I met in Galway
Coom Wedge Tomb
Moanmore East Stone Circle
On St Paddy's Day I felt it appropriate to go to St Patrick's Cathedral where I saw Jonathan Swift's death mask
Rathsonny Ringfort. Unique because it has a souterrain.
Slighted castle remains at Clonmacnoise
Drumharsnas Castle. Was the site of a murder in 1920
Before the castle, I spent the day driving around the Dingle Peninsula
Fairy Ringfort 500 BC. Now a petting zoo.
Beehive huts 600 AD
Coumeenoole Ogham Stone and WWII lookout at Dunmore Head
Kilmalkedar Church 1100s AD
Gallarus Oratory 6th-9th century AD. It is said that if you squeeze out the window, then your soul will be cleansed.
Standing Stone at Reask Monastery with cross inscription.
Video of coast near Graigue.
It's never been so hard to decide which sites to include in these posts because there is just so much to see!
Local legend says that Carrigogunnell Castle is haunted by a hag who murders someone every night upon seeing her enchanted candlelight. Obviously this was concerning because I was the only person there. I got there just as the sun was setting. Still, I explored the castle and was completely in awe. It was huge! I could go anywhere! The vines on the wall were fantastical! Some of the windows still had the crossbars! Some of the spiral staircase remained too!
As I was I leaving, my car got almost got stuck in a rut (turning around in a really narrow road) just as some locals pulled up. They helped me guide me to turn my car around. We got to talking and then we went back up to the castle and they showed me how to get to the very tallest point on the castle (some vines had to be used as handholds for where the floor had fallen long ago when the castle was slighted). Absolute heroes. Exploring this castle was one of the most unique moments of my life. To think I only went to this castle because I saw it was open on google maps and decided to do one last thing while I still had some daylight! Incredible.
I did the Ring of Kerry today. Started with a 7 km hike to the Gap of Dunloe and then 7 km back. I played harmonica for/at some sheep and learned that horses can have mustaches. I was originally going to do a shorter hike, but I was so enamoured with the Gap of Dunloe that I decided to cut some items from the latter part of my itinerary to do a longer hike. The weather has been so nice that I feel like I've been robbed of the true Irish experience.
Then I drove to the Cliffs of Skellig. Probably the highest precipice I have ever been on! Off in the distance, I could just barely see Skellig Michael, where there is a 6th century monastery and puffins. They filmed part of a famous movie there, but that's the least interesting thing about it.
I stopped by the Derrynane Ogham standing stone. When taking a picture of what I *think* were the ogham inscriptions, my hand accidentally brushed against the stone and I heard an immediate loud hissing in my ear. So here's hoping I didn't anger any ancient spirits 👻
Last stop of the day was Staigue Stone Fort. It was amazing. Not too much is known about it other than that it was built between 300 and 400 AD and used to have a few buildings within the walls. The whole thing was built without mortar, just good ol' stacking rocks. I had the fort completely to myself and went inside some of the chambers that remain. To access the fort, all you have to do is drop a euro in a box by the gate. Honor system of course. I only had €2 coins, so if you decide to go, it's on me.
Then I drove through Killarney National Park to my hotel for the night in Dingle, which I'm sure would have been beautiful if it wasn't pitch black lol.
Today I rented a car and drove all the way from Dublin to Killarney. Along the way, I stopped at Rock of Dunamase (personal favorite of the day) and Rock of Cashel, which has the only* romanesque chapel in Ireland. Then I made some additional spontaneous stops at the Labbacallee Wedge tomb (2300 BC) and Ballybeg Priory (1229 AD), both of which I had COMPLETELY to myself! I wasn't 100% sure if I was allowed in the dovecot (where the monks raised pigeons for food. The pigeons would feed on the waste grain, so effectively they turned a byproduct into a protein source. Pretty clever!) at the time, but I went in anyway and got some pictures of the structure. Driving on the left isn't that bad! However, it is more difficult at night because the roads are winding and dark.
The interior of Newgrange is one of the most interesting places I have ever been (no pictures allowed of the inside sadly). It was built in 3100 BC and is full of neolithic stone carvings in abstract patterns. Also pictured is Knowth and some of its passage tombs, Mound of the Hostages, and the Hill of Tara.
