Ireland
Ireland- Land of Brent’s Forefathers
Brent & Tom in front of the elegant Cashel Palace, a beautiful Bishop's house turned hotel built in 1730.
Yes- Cashel! The very same as our last name.
The Rock Of Cashel is a fortress that dates back to the 4th or 5th century AD. There is no written history, so everything that we know today was passed down from oral tradition. The main importance of Cashel in early times was that it was the seat and symbol of Munster and the inauguration of its kings. The King of Cashel controlled most of the southern half of the country.
It's also interesting that the Cashel kings were usually kings and bishops. Today, the remains of a 13th century Cathedral can be seen.
The Rock of Cashel from the remains of Hore Abbey
It is so impressive! It just happens that Cashel is situated in one of the most beautiful and fertile parts of the country. The surrounding pastureland is called the Golden Vale because of the richness of the soil.
While the collapse of Rome left Europe a mess, it meant nothing to Ireland. Ireland remained a relatively cohesive society based on monastic settlements rather than cities. Irish monks actually carried the torch of civilization back to Europe. Some of the greatest art from the Dark Ages of Europe are manuscripts richly illustrated by Irish monks.
While in Dublin, Brent and I got to see one of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts in the world. The Book of Kells was written around the year 800 AD and it contains the four gospels written on vellum. It was written in Latin and the book is full of pain-staking, intricate decorations. As a lover of books, I was in heaven!
We couldn’t take pictures, but I found one of the pages online so we can give you an idea of how magnificent they are.
One of our favorite memories was dinner in Dublin at The Brazen Head, which is possibly Ireland's oldest pub as it was built on the site of a tavern dating back to the 12th century. We lucked out that we happened to be there when local musicians started playing some Irish music. It was such fun! We tapped along with our feet, clapped and even joined in on a few songs we knew. I had to laugh when after some fast-paced songs they slowed down for a bit and played John Denver’s Country Roads. The whole bar joined in on that song!
A little clip from the pub
It was an amazing trip, especially to see first hand the family history with Brent’s parents. Thank you again Tom & Peggy! Ireland was one of those places where Brent and I looked at each other and both thought that it felt like “home.” We’re already planning our next trip!
Slainte! Cheers!
In June Brent’s Dad and Step-mom, Tom & Peggy, flew from Riverton, Wyoming to spend a week with us. We had a wonderful time traveling to Ireland together to visit the Rock of Cashel and the Tipperary countryside.
Brent & Tom in front of the elegant Cashel Palace, a beautiful Bishop's house turned hotel built in 1730.
Yes- Cashel! The very same as our last name.The Rock Of Cashel is a fortress that dates back to the 4th or 5th century AD. There is no written history, so everything that we know today was passed down from oral tradition. The main importance of Cashel in early times was that it was the seat and symbol of Munster and the inauguration of its kings. The King of Cashel controlled most of the southern half of the country.
It's also interesting that the Cashel kings were usually kings and bishops. Today, the remains of a 13th century Cathedral can be seen.
The Rock of Cashel from the remains of Hore AbbeyIt is so impressive! It just happens that Cashel is situated in one of the most beautiful and fertile parts of the country. The surrounding pastureland is called the Golden Vale because of the richness of the soil.
While in Dublin, Brent and I got to see one of the most beautifully illuminated manuscripts in the world. The Book of Kells was written around the year 800 AD and it contains the four gospels written on vellum. It was written in Latin and the book is full of pain-staking, intricate decorations. As a lover of books, I was in heaven!
We couldn’t take pictures, but I found one of the pages online so we can give you an idea of how magnificent they are."May you always have a clean shirt, a clear conscience,
and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!"
and enough coins in your pocket to buy a pint!"
One of our favorite memories was dinner in Dublin at The Brazen Head, which is possibly Ireland's oldest pub as it was built on the site of a tavern dating back to the 12th century. We lucked out that we happened to be there when local musicians started playing some Irish music. It was such fun! We tapped along with our feet, clapped and even joined in on a few songs we knew. I had to laugh when after some fast-paced songs they slowed down for a bit and played John Denver’s Country Roads. The whole bar joined in on that song!
A little clip from the pub
It was an amazing trip, especially to see first hand the family history with Brent’s parents. Thank you again Tom & Peggy! Ireland was one of those places where Brent and I looked at each other and both thought that it felt like “home.” We’re already planning our next trip!
Slainte! Cheers!
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