To our last stop - Co. Wicklow

Trip Start Sep 04, 2005
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Trip End Oct 05, 2005


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Where I stayed
Iveragh House
(Kilkenny hotels)

Flag of Ireland  ,
Monday, October 3, 2005

We choose a variation for breakfast. John has smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, Marilynn has porridge (creamy oatmeal served with a swirl of Irish Mist!) As always, there is orange juice, toast and marmalade, dense, aromatic brown bread and tea or coffee. We check out of Hillgrove house and before leaving Co. Kilkenny, head north to Dunmore Cave.

Ireland is filled with caves, but this is one of the largest and has interesting history of Viking raids attached to it. Our guide, John, took us and a Canadian couple on a virtual private tour. In the visitor's center we have already seen copies of a recently found treasure stash found "by chance" which includes several ancient coins, metal buckles, and a piece of cloth. What turned out to be the highlight is that our guide admitted that he was the one that found them while doing a daily litter check. Hearing the story of hysteria and paranoia from archeologists and the battle of wills over it all was a really interesting inside view. His only reward was a full time job from now on.

So we're now off to the Wicklow mountains just south of Dublin. We stop at Glendalough, which consists of the ruins of a monastic village between two lakes. The setting is pretty but the weather is cold, and the ruins are starting to all look alike.

Just across the highway is our last B&B stop in Bray, a faded seaside resort that we wouldn't recommend. We wanted to be within an hour of the airport, and Marilynn had heard Andie McDowall say it was one of her favorite places in Ireland. Apparently she hadn't gotten around much...We stayed at Iveragh House just up from the seafront. Unlike our previous stays, the attractive exterior wasn't matched inside. The grounds and garden were non-existent. The decor lacked charm and taste and was shabby, but the beds were comfortable and the food good. The owner, Christine was helpful and friendly. Still it was more expensive and we could have done better.

We had a good dinner at the Martello Bar and wandered up the seafront. Even given the fact that it was out of season, Bray has seen better days!
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