It's a long way to Tipperary.......

On the way to Tipperary we stopped at Blarney Castle, where Aimee and Daniel got to kiss the Blarney Stone. Unfortunately we don't have any photographic evidence because they have set up the site so that photos can only be taken by the castle's automatic cameras.

Blarney castle, which is in County Cork, was built in 1446 by Cormac MaCarthy, an Irish nobleman. The castle changed hands quite a few times and in the mid 1700's one of the owners built a gothic mansion in the castle grounds. 

The mansion has some very cool gargoyles decorating its roof line.

After Blarney Castle we travelled to Cahir Castle which is on the River Suir in County Tipperary. The armies of Queen Elizabeth I attacked the castle in 1599 and one of the cannon balls from this battle is still lodged in the outside wall. Have a look at the photo with Daniel in it!

This photo was taken in the main banqueting hall at Cahir Castle.

When we got to Cashel in County Tipperary we stayed at Bailey's Hotel. While Daniel and Aimee were only able to stay one night we made sure we made full use of the hotel's library while they were there.

Before Aimee and Daniel caught the bus to Dublin we also visited the Rock of Cashel, a very impressive collection of stone chapels and towers on a huge basalt outcrop.

There is a huge High Cross in the grounds of the abbey and the story goes that if your finger tips touch when you put your arms around it, you will never get a hang over!

We stayed two more nights in Tipperary after Aimee and Daniel left and then we drove to Cork and caught a flight to Bristol. We had several 20+ tractor days while we were in Tipperary - they even drive down the Main Street of Cashel!