Ireland, Birr - Birr Castle

One of the reasons we chose Birr, a small town in central Ireland,for our first stop, was because it had a castle. We rationalized that we would need something interesting to do/see to keep us awake the first day here. After checking in (so lucky) and walking the main street, finding a great coffee shop, we headed for the castle (we had passed it on the way in and it backs on to our B & B.

We were informed that the castle is privately owned and still occupied, so we couldn't actually go in, but the gardens were worth the visit.

We followed the signs for the "Castle View", passing the Keep with its bridge over the moat.

Coat of Arms on the gates. The Parsons family (Earls of Rosse) have lived here since 1620.

This sign on the Keep wall. Constant reminders of their battles with the British.

Surrounded by a moat (to keep the tourists out?) is is dark grey and forbidding in every picture but that may just be because of the sun behind it. Oh yes, it was sunny off and on all day!

Across the expanse of lawns, a glimpse of the ancient telescope, we would view, later in the day.

Flowered terraces on one side of the castle.

Plantings were in an English Country style

Its a huge estate to keep up.

Ivy covered gate in the wall.

Another, or the same, heron. We learned there is a heronry on the estate.

Nicola is using her good camera (the one I took to Africa)

No idea what these huge leafed plants are. Photo by Nicky

We walked around the lake (created by diverting the river)

and along the paths

beside the river

The oldest wrought iron suspension bridge in Ireland, built here in 1820.

It has been quite hot and dry here and some of the foliage is turning.

The estate is planted with trees from all over the world. Exploration was often funded by the wealthy nobility with the expectations that saplings and seeds would be bought back for their collections.

A California Redwood. The photo can't do it justice.

It was warm, mostly sunny, uncrowded and tranquil.

The paths crossed numerous bridges, winding back and forth across the river and manmade streams.

One diversion created a waterfall through a fernery.

A seat in the formal garden

with some lovely old greenhouses

full of colour.

In the middle of the vast expanse of lawns, dotted with oaks over 500years old, sits the telescope. It was built by the 3rd Earl of Rosse, in 1845, and was the biggest telescope in the world for 70 years. Using it he discovered the Whirlpool Nebulae, the first hint of the existence of other galaxies.

Just before leaving we poked our heads into the children's play area to see the tallest treehouse in Ireland.

By this point we were really dragging, stiff and tired. We walked back to the supermarket on the main street. Bought 2 bottles of wine (red and white), crackers, cheese and fruit (we knew we wouldn't find the energy to go back out for supper) and headed back to our room. We laid down for about an hour and then took our purchases down to the lounge. The landlady's daughter let us pet her adorable puppy and found us wine glasses and a corkscrew. We ate, drank, chatted to other guests, watched the Papal visit to Dublin on the TV, contemplated the river from the deck and managed to stay awake until about 8pm.

Ireland, Birr - The Maltings

Rasta has a hard time when I start packing.

"Can't I go with you? Look, I can fit". I'll be taking some cat hair with me anyway.

I dropped Rasta at Si and Dan's and drove to Guelph. Dave drove Nicky and I to the airport. We had an uneventful flight on Aer Lingus to Dublin, with about 2 hours sleep. Picked up a car and drove an hour and a half to Birr (just missing the Pope's visit to Dublin)

We are staying the first night at The Maltings B&B. It used to be a granary, the part with the clock on top was a kiln for drying the grain. The current owners renovated it from derelict condition. 10 rooms, a breakfast room and a lounge. Lovely

In one direction out of our bedroom window, towards the waterfall that will give us the gentle sound of water all night. Yes, the windows open!

In the other direction we can see the sunroom where we will eat breakfast tomorrow, the deck over the river and the path that follows the river bank.

Although we were arriving at about 9:30am, the proprietor, Maeve, let us check in early. So kind. We settled in, oohed and aahed over our room,

admired the dead tree across the river

and this Grey Heron (sometimes called a "crane" here).

This is how close we were to the Birr Castle. Picture taken from the the Maltings parking lot.

We were in dire need of another coffee (the first was had with breakfast at the airport), so walked the block and a half to the Main Street.

We found Emma's Cafe and were able to get a large Cappuccino, half decaf and, even better, scones, jam and cream (gluten free for Nicky). Love 2nd breakfast.

 

 

It was a legitimate small town main street: 2 pubs, 3 cafes, 4 clothing stores, 3 pharmacies, 2 thrift stores, 1 grocery store and variety of other services and retailers.

We noticed this monument as we drove in

and this was the plaque at the base.

Robert Emmet (4 March 1778 – 20 September 1803) was an Republican, and Irish nationalist Patriot, orator and rebel leader. After leading an abortive rebellion against British rule in 1803 he was captured then tried and executed for high treason against the British king.^[1]
He came from a wealthy Anglo-Irish Protestant ascendancy Church of Ireland family who sympathised with Irish Catholics Protestant Dissenters such as the Presbyterians and their lack of fair representation in Parliament. The Emmet family also sympathised with the rebel colonists in the American Revolution. While Emmet's efforts to rebel against British rule failed, his actions and speech after his conviction inspired his compatriots.^{[2] from Wikipedia.}

Honey Harbour - more wildlife.

Aimee and I were on the deck, having our usual relaxing read after lunch. I think her granddaughters were on the trampoline, and we had a visitor ...

First he went for the Mac and Cheese that Audrey had spilled at lunch time.

We decided to share our pistachios with him while acknowledging that we really shouldn't be feeding him at all.

He knocked the container over and scared himself.

Didn't take him long to come back though, stuff his cheeks and hurry off.

Its not unusual to see 2 or 3 of these doing aerial battle or waiting patiently in the trees for their turn.

This morning this beauty rested on the walkway railing

while conducting his morning routine .. scratch my back,

scratch my (very long) neck,

check how the armpits smell,

better air them out a bit!