Cork City

Breakfast is served buffet style at the Imperial Hotel.  John and I like to try differnt foods so we each had a bit of Irish 'pudding' - I had black and John had white.  This is ground pork innards mixed with yeast and some kind of seed and the black pudding was made with blood.  Very tasty but rich. 

Following breakfast we walked to the Church of St. Anne, Shandon. With its spectacular bell tower and Italian architecture built in 1722, it is the oldest church in continued use in Cork.  We climbed to the top of the bell tower after playing Somewhere Over the Rainbow on the 8-note bells.  It was facinating to see the workings of the four-faced clock just below the bells.  While we were up by the bells, other tourists played them.  It was a very good thing we had been given protective earmufs!  Then Mickey played Amazing Grace while David read the notes to her. The sactuary was lined with wood on the ceiling and had 5 stained glass windows.

Near the church was a round building where 'firkins' where built. A firkin is a special barrel for holding butter.  Butter used to be a huge export of Cork, they even have a butter museum. Since we've seen the butter cow at the MO State Fair we chose not to tour it.

Later in the morning we joined a walking tour led by Michael.  Near the South Lee River we learned how the city was established on islands between the north and south channels of the Lee River, converting the marsh land into canals around 13 islands.  Today the canals are all covered over and the city center is connect to the main land by 20 bridges.

St. Finn Barr is the patron saint of Cork having established the first church here in the 7th century.  The current Finnbarr cathedral was completed in 1766 and added to in 1809. Since there was a service being held we did not get to see the interior but the sculptures on the outside of the doors were interesting.

We briefly visited or walked past the Crawford Art Gallery, Cork Opera House, Elizabeth Fort, Holy Trinity Church, the library, post office, a 100-year old bank, and an old firehouse.  We walked the oldest lane (Keyser's Hill). The English Market was our last quick stop. 

Did you know that only 4% of the Irish speek the Irish language as their everyday tongue even though every child is taught Irish and English in school? Michael seems to think it is because it is forced on the children so that they rebel when they get out of school and refuse to speak it.

Following lunch we raced to catch the bus out to the town of Blarney where we Kissed the Blarney Stone.  The grounds surrounding the castle are beautiful and expansive.  The castle was built over 600 years ago and the stone was set into the tower in 1446.  We climbed very narrow and winding staircase up 100 steps to the top of the outer rim of the castle.  We then laid on our backs, and with help from the aide, we scooted back towads the wall, grabbed two metal supports and while hanging our heads down into the gap between the floor and the wall, kissed the bottom of the stone or at least attempted to. One has to really want the gift of Blarney to try this maneuver. The castle gardens were in full bloom. There was a poison plant garden and fern garden with a waterfall, azaleas and unique trees in abundance.

At the end of the day, we had walked over 8 miles. Supper was a grand affair at the second highest rated restaurant in Cork - Market Lane Rest. & Bar.