With a somewhat later start than Saturday, and well-fortified with an Irish breakfast and a cup of Turmeric Tea, Margaret #2 took us on the adventure-filled day that we'd been trying to fit in during my last couple of visits. Today was finally the day. It was bright and sunny with not a cloud in the sky. And, just like Ottawa in winter, that meant cold. No problem!
I might have known when Margaret suggested borrowing a pair of hiking boots, that the walk ahead would be somewhat of a challenge. Silly me, I just took her word for the fact that the ground might be a bit slippery. To be fair, she did say it was an uphill walk - on a slope. But I was also assured that the parking lot was half way up. Half way? Starting from where? Sea level? And it was a slippery slope.
At the top of the destination hill, were many Loughcrew cairns. There is one major one, probably the deluxe version of a 5000 year old crypt. I get to tick off another sight in Ireland's Ancient East! Now that I'm safely home I will possibly put three tick marks beside it in the book. However, there is a certain sense of accomplishment in conquering what, on first glance, made me start humming The Impossible Dream.
We stopped for coffee at a wee cafe just below the parking lot. It's in a small compound of three thatched cottages. The lattes were lovely. After watching a video about the cottages and cairns, in the damp cottage, I bought a DVD to watch when I get home - where it's warm.
From there we went to see the ruins of the church of St Oliver Plunkett. Should you wish to learn more about this former bishop of Armagh, check out: http://www.saintoliverplunkett.com/literature.html. The cemetery is very overgrown and in a bad state of disrepair - rather like the ruins of the church. The most recent burial was only a few decades ago and the earliest a few centuries ago.
Then it was on to Fore Abbey. Nope, no golfers around. This was another very old monastic site. We did a lot of walking here too and it was all flat! yay!! From the abbey grounds we walked a short distance to the Abbey Cafe. Well, the soup was tasty and hot, but it came with a slice of beige bread, straight out of a plastic bag. In all my trips to Ireland, this is the only time that soup was served without a slice of brown soda bread. Talk about disappointed ... Well actually the entire cafe was rather a disappointment. Our soup and Margaret's sandwich took forever to materialize. Eventually we had a nice chat with the lady running it, and she's from just around the corner from my cottage in Bunclody!
The abbey was built by, wait for it, St Fechin. The 'ch' has a 'ck' sound. My new favourite saint's name. This place is known for 7 wonders, but I have no idea what the first means. Anchorite is a stone; Water which will not boil; Monastery built on a bog; Mill without a mill race; Water which flows uphill; a tree which will not burn; and a stone lintel raised by St Fechin's prayers.
We made no attempt to boil water (maybe that's what took so long for the soup), nor did we try to burn any trees. Some of the trees, planted on top of springs, have articles tied onto them as a way of asking for a wish to be granted. Does attaching a key chain mean you want a car or a house? Does attaching a bib mean you're hungry? Does attaching a teddy bear .... well, you get the idea. Some items are merely strips of cloth or plastic. It's quite unsightly actually but a tradition remains - with one of these trees somewhat less accessible now because it seems to be in a spot which is particularly sodden and one could get into a lot of difficulty. St Fechin is not around to do rescues on the spot.
Our travels were not yet over, as we drove to see the abbey at Multyfarnham. This one is quite magnificent and has been beautifully restored. There was a service in progress so we were able to visit only part of the interior.
From there it was time to head back - so we did. It was a short journey to the motorway which took us back to the Chester Beatty Inn in Ashford where we enjoyed a lovely dinner and a glass of wine. The food was so plentiful that I shall have the same dinner again tomorrow evening. The wine was not so generously poured so there was no doggy bag for that.
Back to Margaret's home we went for a cup of coffee to fortify me for the drive back to Bunclody. I know that route very well indeed and shall probably travel it more than once again before heading home.
The cottage is still chilly, as I turned off the heat when I left. Mary turned it back on before my return and my pajamas are now warming up on the radiator. Hopefully by morning, it will be warm and toasty once again. And so to bed. Photos to follow.
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