Cork, Ireland
Today was our first day in Ireland. Fortunately it was an overcast day so the “forty shades of green” that color the Irish countryside were nicely muted. Sure, had it been a day bright with sunshine it might have been too much for our poor eyes to take in all at once. Endeavour docked at Cobh, departure point for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Ireland to all the Nations of the world, but especially to America, Canada and Australia. As John F. Kennedy’s once remarked “We Irish are very good at populating other people’s countries.”
We spent the morning in a visit to Blarney Castle (pictured). This wonderful and storied place, built by Dermot McCarthy in 1446, is of course home to the Blarney Stone, located at the very top of the wall. This stone, by legend half of the Stone of Destiny, now in Edinburgh, is said to have been given to McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in recognition of his support at the Battle of Bannockburn. It is also said to impart to all who lie on their back and hang over the 80-foot drop to kiss it, the gift of an eloquence of the tongue unrivalled in the entire world. It was indeed a fine morning to visit such a magical place, to walk through the beautiful gardens of the Castle Close. There you can almost hear the voices of the old Chieftains regaling one another with tales of battles past and loves yet to be.
After a short visit to Cork City, we returned to Cobh, where we spent the afternoon walking through this very attractive village with its spectacular cathedral. Cobh is the site of an excellent Heritage Center, which tells the story of the immigrants who once roamed these very docks looking for passage to a better life abroad. It is a poignant story indeed; in fact it is thousands of such stories.
Today was our first day in Ireland. Fortunately it was an overcast day so the “forty shades of green” that color the Irish countryside were nicely muted. Sure, had it been a day bright with sunshine it might have been too much for our poor eyes to take in all at once. Endeavour docked at Cobh, departure point for hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Ireland to all the Nations of the world, but especially to America, Canada and Australia. As John F. Kennedy’s once remarked “We Irish are very good at populating other people’s countries.”
We spent the morning in a visit to Blarney Castle (pictured). This wonderful and storied place, built by Dermot McCarthy in 1446, is of course home to the Blarney Stone, located at the very top of the wall. This stone, by legend half of the Stone of Destiny, now in Edinburgh, is said to have been given to McCarthy by Robert the Bruce in recognition of his support at the Battle of Bannockburn. It is also said to impart to all who lie on their back and hang over the 80-foot drop to kiss it, the gift of an eloquence of the tongue unrivalled in the entire world. It was indeed a fine morning to visit such a magical place, to walk through the beautiful gardens of the Castle Close. There you can almost hear the voices of the old Chieftains regaling one another with tales of battles past and loves yet to be.
After a short visit to Cork City, we returned to Cobh, where we spent the afternoon walking through this very attractive village with its spectacular cathedral. Cobh is the site of an excellent Heritage Center, which tells the story of the immigrants who once roamed these very docks looking for passage to a better life abroad. It is a poignant story indeed; in fact it is thousands of such stories.
