A bit of whiskey and a stay at a castle
Trip Start
Mar 25, 2012
1
12
18
Trip End
Apr 08, 2012
Where I stayed
Kingscourt, County Cavan, Ireland
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Kilbeggan Distillery is the oldest distillery in the world dating back to 1757 and home of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey. The old distillery has been maintained as a museum just as it was during John Locke's ownership in the 19th Century. The current distillery contains the oldest working pot still in the world and has a cooperage on show for all visitors
As you can only imagine, we were both anxious to taste some of their fine whiskey. We thought we'd never get through the tour.
Well, you may have guessed, we put a glass to our lips, and that was the end of that! Some awful tasting liquid that neither of us could ever acquire a taste for. There were others, though, who found it quite tantalizing.
Along our journey to the Cabra Castle, we stopped at a beautiful church and cemetery. We had seen many Celtic crosses throughout our tour, but were never close enough to photograph them. Our tour guide promised we'd have a chance. Today was the day. The crosses are stunning and mostly associated with the older grave sites. Janice found one of her Irish surnames and Sue found a couple, too.
Now....on to the castle. After a long day, we arrived at the Castle just before the skies let loose with a good rain, squelching some of our new-found friends' possibility of playing a complimentary 9-hole round of golf! The grounds and course are beautiful, as is the Castle.
This castle, with its nooks and crannies and ancient history is made for exploring. In order to get to the main rooms for dining and reception, we wandered through the magnificent reception rooms with their period features and furnishings. A wedding was being set up in one of their largest rooms. The castle is set on 100 acres of parkland and garden, with the magnificent backdrop of forest park. Our room was quaint and charming, with a decidedly castle feel.
Tonight we joined our fellow travelers for a celebratory last dinner together! It was full of hoots and hollers, email exchanges, laughs, and camaraderie. One of our fellow travelers, a very Nordic looking fellow, got up and sang a birthday song in Norwegian, "Hurra for deg som fyller ditt år!" translated to "Hurray for You for Celebrating Your Birthday!" He had been so quiet on the trip; it was just so much fun to see and hear him do this!
It will be an early morning tomorrow--many of our group will leave at 5:15; we will leave the castle for Dublin at about 7:30. From Dublin on to Northern Ireland to visit Sue's cousins, some of whom she has yet to meet.
G'Night!
