thetexasharpist: Kilkenny Castle, Dunbrody Famine Ship, Hook Lighthouse and More

Today was a wonderful day. We started off at the Kilkenny Castle which is literally a street over from our wonderful B&B. The castle was beautiful and only has 3 walls! The fourth wall of the castle collapsed and was never rebuilt. It was a great way to start the day.

Kilkenny Castle

We then did our first longish drive. We drove to the Dunbrody Famine Ship. This ship was one of hundreds that took passengers from starving Ireland to the USA. The ship was modified to hold cargo and was not a safe way to travel. If you were first class you were well fed and doing fine. If you were a steerage passenger...life sucked. There was about a 50% mortality rate. However, the Dunbrody once did the trip in 28 days with only 5 deaths which was an excellent voyage. So what made it so deadly? Steerage passengers were only allowed on the deck for 30 minutes a day, IF, the first class passengers did not ask the Captain to keep you below deck. You slept with your entire family in one bunk and your toilet was a bucket that would spill if the waves got to rough. There are also two rows of bunk. If you are in the bottom bunk you had the worse end. If the people above you threw up and missed the bucket, it leaked down on you. So sitting in sewage, no ventilation (the doors to above deck were only opened when you were allowed up), and close quarters = death. They even have two "passengers" one from first class and one from steerage telling you the lives of 2 real passengers. It was a neat experience. Then ironically we also had our best meal at the cafe over-looking the ship. So we ate well next to a famine ship.

Dunbrody Famine Ship

We then traveled to the Hook Lighthouse. It was like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. First the GPS took us to the wrong place, down narrow winding roads. The car was being hit by the trees on more than one occasion. We finally made it! It is the oldest working lighthouse in the world. It is beautiful and provides an amazing view of the ocean. We stared out at it for awhile. I enjoyed finding some tide pools and looking at the different things living in them. They were not very deep so it wasn't anything spectacular. The view was.

Hook Lighthouse

We then took a short jog to Waterford via a ferry. We were too late to go to the Waterford factory but I found a harp that I want when I win the lottery! Then we returned to Kilkenny where I was craving ice cream. So we passed this cute candy story. The door was locked but the owner was closing up. I waved at him, mostly just to be nice and then he opened the door! I got my ice cream and some delicious candy! We then took a walk around the wall of the Kilkenny Castle and enjoyed the peace and quiet of Ireland.