Ruins amd more ruins, and not just castles either

Today I realised that feeling depressed about being in a country that was no longer in the European Union was luxury compared to watching in dismay at the unfolding situation in Britain.

We have political parties in disarray,  David Cameron resigned , when his plan failed,  Boris Johnson offering platitudes to everyone,  Nigel Farage keeping quiet, and George Osborne trying to calm the financial markets. 

'Trust us!'  'Time to build bridges'

And in the meantime the pound is dropping, the S & P credit rating has dropped from a Triple A to a Double A rating, and the business and financial sectors are making waves.   

And we learn that the 'Leave Campaign' was based on possibilities, not promises.   'Promises were a range of possibilities' apparently.

The three 'key promises' (possibilities)

1. The money, £350 million the EU takes every week, would be diverted to the NHS.  It was emblazoned on the compaign buses at first.  But once the rebate is taken off, plus the support for farmers and others, it would leave £161 million for the NHS.  

2.  Immigration.  Promises wers made to reduce the numbers of people coming to Britain from other EU countries.  However if Britain remains in the Single Market, there will still be free movement between countries.

3.  Turkey has been trying to get into the E U. since 1963 and the likehood of it happening is pretty remote.

I thought yesterday, that a good shake up of the government may make politicians listen to what people have to say about what is happening to them. But sadly I do not think so now.   They are too busy fighting their own battles, or trying to think up some quick plans or trying to gain power within their party.   For us it will be more of the same but worse.  Those at the top will not suffer, except perhaps for a little dent in their pride.   

Yesterday we drove north on the M8, to Cashel and Cahir, in Tipperary.  In hindsight it would have been better to have driven across from Limerick to see the two castles, but we changed our minds about the last few days in Ireland and decided to stay in Cork rather than go to Waterford. 

First stop, St Patrick's Rock of Cashel, set on an outcrop of limestone in the Golden Vale.  For 1000 years the Rock of Cashel was a symbol of power and the seat of kings and churchmen who ruled over the region.

There is scaffolding on one side of the building, due to repairs, but this will be dismantled in Autumn.

The castle looked daunting and very high from the viewpoint in the graveyard.  I  managed to capture Walter taking a photograph from a slightly different angle.

The Round Tower is the Rock's earliest building, built during the 11th or 12th century.  The castle was built in the 15th century.

There were free guided tours, which we and most people took advantage of, and they were very informative as always.  The people of Ireland certainly have the ability to tell a story well.

The 13th century Gothic Cathedral.

I took a photo of the  Romanesque Chapel, dated from 1127, which has had repairs done to the ceiling, and is now climate controlled to stop mildew forming on the walls and ceiling.   Unfortunately the photo was blurred.  It was interesting being inside the chapel, and the guide pointed out fragments of original paintings on the walls.   There was a sarcophagus against one wall said to house King Cormac.

One of the doors leading out of the cathedral.  There were quite a few interesting features still on the walls.

The restored Hall of Vicars Choral, where members of the choir resided.   The furniture and wall hanging are centuries old, but come from elsewhere.  The oak beams came from Canada.   The walls have been whitewashed in order to make the room lighter.

St Patrick's cross.  A replica is outside in the courtyard.  I think St Patrick was meant to have baptised a local king on the rock.

The view over the surrounding countryside was spectacular.  

We walked down the hill and along the road to Hore Abbey, which is in the foreground of the photograph.

This abbey is certainly atmospheric, and I think we enjoyed walking amongst the ruins more than the visit to the Rock of Cashel.

Walter and I, dwarfed by the enormous gothic church.

Hore Abbey was founded by Cistercians in 1266.  It was once a Benedictine Abbey but was given to the Cistercians by Archbishop David MacCearbhaill, who later entered the abbey.

It was very easy to imagine the monks living in this abbey.

The lovely black and white cows in the field around the abbey.    We had to dodge the cowpats as we crossed the field to the abbey.

Next stop, Cahir, pronounced care, which is 15 km south of Cashel.   Cashel and Cahir are derivatives of the original Latin names.

The town of Cahir is built around the castle, and like most Irish towns is compact and attractive.  It has a walking path along the banks of the river, which sadly we did not have time to do.

Cahir Castle, one of Ireland's largest and best preserved castles.  It was founded by Conor O'Brien in 1142.We found it to be a very friendly and homely castle, compared to Dover castle, for example.

The banqueting hall.

One of the upstairs rooms in the keep.

The rachet, to lower and raise the portcullis.  It still works apparently.

This area was used as a prison, and when the portcullis was lowered it was impossible to get out.  Prisoners were not treated terribly well, which is not unexpected.

I found the extremely narrow stairs fascinating.  The guide at the Rock of Cashel told us they were designed like this to protect the people above.  Anyone attacking the castle would be at a disadvantage, as the stairs were dark and precarious, and it was difficult to climb up and hold a sword as well.  Also the people above poured boiling hot sand and oil down the stairs.  Nasty.  There had been battles in this castle.

The narrow passages were also another form of security.

A large weir on the River Suir.

We drove home again, along the nearly empty motorway, feeling very happy and contented.

Now England has been beaten by Iceland in the European cup, 2016, and the English manager has just resigned.  And the woes continue to build up.