We started this morning with a short drive to Ghleann Da Loch (Glendalough). Ghleann Da Loch is home to one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and from this developed the ‘Monastic City’. The ‘City’ consists of a number of monastic remains, and the most impressive being the Round Tower which stands 30m high. The main group of monastic buildings lies downstream near the Round Tower. The grounds were entered through the Gateway, which has two round headed granite arches. Beyond St. Mary’s Church is the Priest’s House, a 12th Century building in Romanesque style, with an interesting carving of a much earlier date on the lintel of the doorway. Just beyond the Priest's House is a large granite cross (sixth or seventh century) and the "Cathedral", the largest church on the site, with a nave, chancel and sacristy (11th and 12th C), and St Kevin's Church. St Kevin’s Church is commonly known as St Kevin's Kitchen. This is a barrel-vaulted oratory of hard mica schist with a steeply pitched roof and a round tower belfry (12th C). Today, the church graveyard is still in use today.
From there we took a short trip up the road to the Wicklow Gap to take a look at the view and have a photo op.
Back on the bus, we headed to Kildare for lunch at Silken Thomas. The kids all enjoyed their meals and were able to choose from several different selections ranging from fried chicken, lasagna, pork chops, fresh vegies, and cajun chicken with chips.
Back on the bus we continued our journey to Limerick. While on the ride, we challenged the kids to some limericks. They took this challenge seriously and came up with some seriously funny limericks and none had to do with a man from Nantucket. Below are some examples:
There once was a dog named Chow
Who had a very large bow-wowHer owner dressed in bows
and painted her toes
Until she got squished by a cow.
There once was a prince from Prague
The truth was he was a frog
He asked for a kiss
From a beautiful princess
and he ended up in a bog
There once a tree that stood tall
Not even through storms did it fall.
A bird called Coo-coo
A ghost said Boo
And suddenly the tree was a mall.
Tea this evening was chicken, chips and salad with chocolate cake for dessert. After tea, we had a talent show. I have to admit, I knew our students were talented, but they were talented, funny, poised. It was a good release from a long day of traveling and learning.
Tomorrow we are off to explore County Clare and the region known as the Burren.
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