GLEN2LOUGH

German war cemetary in Glencree.

Yesterday was such a washout in Kilkenny. It rained the whole time we were there. We didn't even bother to visit the castle. The Kilkenny Arts Festival was in full swing so the town was pretty crowded. This was not my best visit to Kilkenny.


Church at the Peace Center in Glencree.

This morning we took a look out the window to see what the weather was going to be like: rain, rain, and more rain. It was hard to get motivated but finally we decided to take a ride through the Wicklow Mountains for a visit to Glendalough. We had the satnav to guide us but we still got lost. Finally we found Enniskerry. We stopped there for coffee and scones at a little teashop we have visited before called "Poppies". When we were finished we took a stroll about town. We met a couple from Toronto who were looking in the window of a real estate office. They took us for locals (lots of Mexicans in this part of Ireland, apparently) and began to ask us questions about the property they saw for sale in the window. They were amazed that there was a market for €2 million houses in Ireland. Everybody things that Ireland is chronically poor.


Saint Kevin's Church in Glendalough.

After Enniskerry we went to visit the German war dead in the cemetery in Glencree. I love visiting this place but I've never really understood why it is here. I climbed up to the big cross and walked down the other side to the stream. I walked back along the stream to the road. Rich was already gone over to the Peace Center so I followed him over there. The interpretive panels have been moved out of the original building to an outbuilding where a cafe has been built. I was very disappointed that the main building is no longer accessible to the general public. I did spend a little time reviewing the history of war and revolution and reform school that these buildings represent.


The mountains were ablaze with purple heather.

After Glencree (and several showers of rain) we drove over the mountains and through the Sally Gap to Glendalough. Last time I was here it was over run with people but today the weather kept most people away. We set out along the Green Road to that runs along the lake, intending to go as far as St. Kevin's Bed. But a heavy downpour made us think twice. We took shelter under the trees during the worst of it then decided that we had better head back. The rain eased off enough for us to wander through the main monastic settlement as we made our way back to the car.