After ten days in Ireland, it is good to be back in the USA. Ireland is really the emerald isle. Everything is so green. That's probably because it rains 4 days out of 7 and the tropical climate. I didn't know Ireland was tropical. There are palm trees and some exotic plants and flowers.
Our Guide, Dominick, was fantatic. He filled us in on so much Irish history, and utlimately, US history. One story he told was how the Catholic church would not let miscarried or stillborn babies be buried in a Catholic cemetary because they had not been baptised. These babies were considered to be in limbo and could not enter Heaven. (Not a great story to start out with, but follow along.) These babies were relegated to unmarked graves out in the country. Because the families did not want to forget their babies, they planted a blackthorne tree to mark the area of the graves. Legend has it that the fairies come out at night and dance around the tree to entertain the babies. I saw this tree on our visit to a farmhouse for tea and scones. I can just imagine the fairies dancing around it for the babies.
We visited Dublin Castle--Ireland's version of our White House. Much of the original castle was burned down during some rebellion, but the stone perimeter survived and the interior was absolutely stunning.
In Dublin, Ireland's capital, we saw the Ha'penny Bridge (so named for the fare it cost to cross it). We also went on a tour of Guinnes and to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is stored. We couldn't take pictures in the library where the book is housed. The Book of Kells is the books of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John written by monks in an elaborate script.
Our Guide, Dominick, was fantatic. He filled us in on so much Irish history, and utlimately, US history. One story he told was how the Catholic church would not let miscarried or stillborn babies be buried in a Catholic cemetary because they had not been baptised. These babies were considered to be in limbo and could not enter Heaven. (Not a great story to start out with, but follow along.) These babies were relegated to unmarked graves out in the country. Because the families did not want to forget their babies, they planted a blackthorne tree to mark the area of the graves. Legend has it that the fairies come out at night and dance around the tree to entertain the babies. I saw this tree on our visit to a farmhouse for tea and scones. I can just imagine the fairies dancing around it for the babies.
We visited Dublin Castle--Ireland's version of our White House. Much of the original castle was burned down during some rebellion, but the stone perimeter survived and the interior was absolutely stunning.In Dublin, Ireland's capital, we saw the Ha'penny Bridge (so named for the fare it cost to cross it). We also went on a tour of Guinnes and to Trinity College where the Book of Kells is stored. We couldn't take pictures in the library where the book is housed. The Book of Kells is the books of Matthew, Luke, Mark and John written by monks in an elaborate script. 
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