Day 12–Jameson Distillery, Waterford Crystal and Kilkenny Castle

Final day of touring.  Couldn’t resist a tour of the Jameson Irish Whiskey Distillery while in Ireland.  They have been making whiskey here since 1780.  They closed the original, (the one we toured), in 1975, opening a modern distillery next door. It looks the same as it has since the mid 1800’s, little had changed over the last 2 centuries.

Next was Waterford Crystal in Waterford, Ireland.  They have been blowing and etching glass since 1783.  They produce your routine, high end goblets, glasses etc., plus they are continually making trophys for all sorts of sporting and political events all over the world.  World famous, interesting to see how very high end crystal is made.

              

    

Cinderella's Coach cost $40,000, making and adding a handle on a claret jug.  Incredible artists.

Finally we visited Kilkenny Castle, another one of those castles build hundred’s of years ago; initially in 1195 by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.  Surviving war after war, then finally bought by aristocrats in the in the 18th Century, remodeled, rebuilt,lost in bad times, remodeled again in good times, someone dies, someone gets married; such is life in the British aristocracy.  Finally in the 1960’s, the Office Of Public Works bought it from the last owner, for 50 Pounds, after it had been abandoned for decades; they rebuilt/remodeled this castle to indicate what life was like  for the owners in the 19th century.  Our favorite room was the “water closet”, a real water closet, with one of the first modern toilets ever crafted.  But it was huge; twice as wide and deep as a modern toilet.  We thought that they were working out the design kinks, but we were told that the owner at that time had a huge back end, hence the need to make it jumbo size!

    

Finally, what is our take home thought after spending 12 days in Ireland?  We saw lots of history and beautiful countryside, 40 Shades of Green, from an old Johnny Cash song, and met many people.  The standout memory though are the people.  We have travelled a fair amount, and the Irish have, by far, been the friendliest we have ever met.  Whether it was at the airport, numerous stops for directions, the airbnb hosts, people at the different historical venues, patrons at all the pubs we ate at, all seemed guniunely  interested in our having a great time visiting their country.