PaddyKraska
Registered User
Posts: 19
(2/27/03 6:09 am)
 
Feb 6th, Moone & Castledermot- Pt 1

---

Day 3- Stop in Kildare for more family stuff, then the train again to Raheny- get settled with Mrs. Kenny & either take the train up to Howth, or down to Dublin. I'm an architecture freak, so either way I'll have fun. Jeff is more of a ghouls & goblins guy, so HE will check out the catacombs, and we both plan to do the Haunted Dublin tour- sounds like a blast.

Well laid plans my b***! LOL Once again, we slept in late (8a) and neither of us felt crunchy, something we both noticed with the Guiness- no lasting aftereffects!! Lovely Irish breakfast again- what amazed me most about the breakfasts is the variety they will offer you- fruit, cereal, at least 2 kinds of bread, sausage, bacon, tomatoes (LOVE grilled tomatoes!!), juice, coffee, tea and always one of two things that are special to that house. (spreadable cheese & American cheese slices at one!) As warm as the house had gotten overnite, we were ready to go. The Donaghues were very nice, the bedroom large & the bathroom bigger than the next one!! We had done some hand wash (probably the best tip we got was to bring soap to handwash clothes), so we checked that- (stuck some of it in front of the bathroom heater for a bit) and packed up and waited for Joe from Athy cab to show up.
This part is a lot about my family, and a lot about me. I need to explain something about myself. The best way to do it is to tell you about my first trip to the Chicago Museum of Art. I’m a great fan of art, and know what I like. I was wandering thru the museum, and came around a corner upon “American Gothic”. You know, the painting of the old lady & man with the pitchfork? Weeel, this is not my favorite painting, or even a style I like, but I was just FLOORED. My friend looked at me with tears streaming down my face and asked what the problem was- I said, “It’s real. It’s not a commercial, its not a parody on Saturday Nite Live, this is the real thing.” I hope that explains how I felt about what happened this day.
Joe packed us up in his “boot” and off we went. First stop was the high cross at Moone. How amazing! You’re traveling these narrow roads and all of a sudden, he pulls off, you crouch (for us tall folk) thru a door, and there not 30 ft from a working farm with tractors and piggies is the most spectacular ruin- bits and pieces of the church & walls, and the cross!! So smooth in most places from time, weather and hands. If it was in a museum, there is no way they would let you touch it!! I ran my hands over it lightly, and just enjoyed. We trampled around a bit, and took pictures. (when we got home, I found I didn’t take HALF enough pictures)
Next off to the ruins at Castledermot- once again, just phenonmenal!! Right smack in the middle of town, surrounded by all the regular stuff is this great cemetery, arch & round tower. I was just in awe of the tower. But, the place that really got to me was the ruin of the monastery. You walk thru the used to be door, and you are in this great open topped building. Just stone walls up to the sky. I started crying (of course) and had to explain myself to Jeff & the driver. It was real!! We were in Ireland!! This wasn’t a picture, or a movie- real hands had worked to make this building, and they were mostly probably related to ME!!!