These pictures may not be in the order of our trip, but they are close.
After leaving Dublin, we went to Waterford and toured the crystal factory. The "masters" were excellent in showing us how they blow and cut the crystal. The cutters have memorized over 40 patterns that they cut into the crystal pieces. Waterford makes the trophies for basketball, golf, football, etc. They made the crystal bat given to Derick Jeter at the final game in Yankee Stadium. When they make a trophy for a tournament, they make three identical ones. Two go to the ceremony (the extra they call the "oops" replacement) and one is kept at Waterford. Here are a blower, finisher (he was putting the lip and handle on a pitcher) and a six-foot tall crystal grandfather clock. The crystal ball is their extra of the new year's ball used in New York. They wouldn't let us take pictures of the cutters.




Then on we went to Glennalough (pronounced Glenda-lock). We toured the remnants of St. Kevin's Monastery. One of the better preserved round towers was on the grounds of the monastery. It is thought that it was used for a bell tower, but no bells were even found. Another theory is that they climbed to the top of the tower and rang hand bells. Because the round towers were so tall, they were beacons of safe haven for christian travellers. It also served as a lookout tower and a place to store valuables from the invading Vikings. The door of the round tower is about 12 feet above ground level. The monks would put a ladder up to it, climb in and pull the ladder in behind them.

This is what is left of the alter area of St. Kevin's church.
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