We will now call Londonderry -- Derry. We are back in the Republic of Ireland, out of Northern Ireland, back to using Euros, not Pounds, and dropping the “London” is appropriate. As we continue to travel we learn more and more about the political/religious challenges through the centuries. Most of the England/Ireland, Protestant/Catholic unrest is behind modern Ireland/Northern Ireland due to the need of a struggling economy, high unemployment and need for more tourist dollars. Older generations are still challenged by sectarianism, the newer generations have moved on.
Ashford Castle, best hotel rooms in Ireland, to cross the moat would have cost us $7 each. Telephoto lens works fine.
Today was like “repositioning” a cruise ship. Although it is about a 4 hour drive from Derry, with stops, a bit of sightseeing, a picnic lunch and dinner at a pub, we arrive at our airbnb flat around 8:30pm. A comment about driving in Ireland. Tom has been our driver and he has done an excellent job driving on the left. With innumerable round-abouts, no shoulders on the smaller roads and the speed that Tom likes to drive, it is always exciting.
We had excellent maps, actually a spiral bound book with details of the whole country. But the names are very familiar, for instance, in Ireland we have the following towns: Drumacrib, Drumadoon, Drumagarner, Drumahadone, Drumahoe, Drumakill, Drumaknockan, Drumalig, Drumalure, Drumandoora, Drumanespick, Drumaness, Drumany, Drumara, Drumard, Drumaroad, Drumaskibbole, Drumasladdy, Drumatober, Drumawhy. These are just the “Druma…..s”, the total number of “Drum…….s” is 137!!!! So navigating, (my job) is a bit of a challenge.
At first we thought, how cute, an elderly shepherd leading his sheep. Indeed, this gentlemen was taking a short-cut through the field and the sheep were following him hoping for some treats! In his right had is his umbrella that he would take out every few steps and swat them.
Next to each Abbey is a cemetary, all still in use.
We did go to the Potato Famine Museum. From 1845-1849, a fungus essentially destroyed Ireland’s potato crop. All Irish depended on the potato for nutrition, especially the poorest. This, plus the intent to convert from farming to grazing either starved or exported almost half the Irish population, (around 4 million people). This devastated all levels of Irish culture and society, and drove the fatal wedge between the Protestant landowners and the Catholic workers and poor. The museum is actually housed in the estate of one of the local land barons who, through his curlish attitude toward the poor farmers working for him was instrumental in either their deaths or exportation to Canada on the “coffin ships”.
We also briefly visited Ashford Castle. This renovated Victorian Castle is now a 5 star hotel. Reagan stayed here in 1986. We took a picture from across the moat. Throw in a couple of Abbey’s built in the 11th and 12th century and we called it a day. Oh, I found a book, “Abandoned Castles II” 3/4 inch thick volume of pictures and descriptions of dozens of castles and manor houses no longer maintained, some others collapsing, many hundred of years old. If one had say $10-20 million, what a cool project! (To restore one).
Look carefully under the two pews. Radiant heaters! A 700 year old abbey is tough to heat, so why not just put the heat under the parishiners!
More interesting views on our travels south. Fairly high altitude (for Ireland), no trees. Looks like the alpine lakes above tree-line in Colorado!
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