Sunday, 15 February 2026

Muckross House

Dating from the mid-nineteenth century our next visit was to Muckross House.

Whichever way you look...

 

...it's a really impressive building.

The dining room was all set out for a banquet...

...and the library had a book or two to read.

The servants' stairs...

...and it looks like they were kept very busy.

No explanation required

Tine in the kitchen...

...with plenty of cooking space.

Outside, a view across Muckross Lake

Wednesday, 11 February 2026

Muckross Abbey

A short walk from the wedding venue were the remains of Muckross Abbey.

Our first sight

It was founded in 1448 by Franciscan monks

The roof might have fallen but the walls were in pretty good condition.

The nave...

...looking into the chancel.


There's a large yew tree surrounded by the cloisters.




The old graveyard is the burial place for several Irish poets...

...with a wonderful view over Lough Leane.

Saturday, 7 February 2026

Norma & Niall's wedding (2)

I didn't take many photos at the reception as I was too busy enjoying myself!

The cutting of the cake... 

...and a couple of emotional speeches. 


The first dance...

...now joined by one of the bridesmaids...

...and Tine!

There was some Irish dancing too.

Norma with her old school friends aka the Kerry Girls...

...Michelle, Deidre & Maria. What fantastic people!

Tuesday, 3 February 2026

Norma & Niall's wedding (1)

It's been a while since we were invited to a wedding and as luck would have it we had invitations to two the same weekend. Ireland won!

Niall with the celebrant

Still awaiting the arrival of his bride.

The entrance of the young bridesmaids

The soon to be wed couple being piped in.

Happy faces!

Shhh! Don't say anything.

Norma with son Tom and his girlfriend Bernice.

The bride with her two brothers, Padraig & Gerard...

...and two of her old school friends, Michelle & Maria.

Proof we were there! We were delighted to share this special day.

Friday, 30 January 2026

Cork City Gaol

We didn't get to see much of Cork (we'll save that for another time) but we did enjoy our visit the City Gaol.

The model gives you a good idea of its layout...

...very impressive on our arrival.

Imagine the prisoners behind these barred windows...

...many of them paupers or political prisoners.

One wing has been renovated to show how life was in the 19th & early 20th centuries...

...probably not as clean as now.


There are mannequins/figures everywhere and they certainly help you to imagine prison life. The one on the right is Tine by the way.

Some of the passages off the main wing weren't very welcoming.


The view from a cell...

...and the steps down to who knows where?!

Oops, that funny person's here again!

All this excitement, I deserve an Irish stout, Murphy's in practice for the real thing!

This video gives a very good impression of our visit: