We left Kilkenny for County Tipperary and what ended up being everyone's favorite day. We visited Cahir Castle, stronghold of the Butler family (cousins to those in Kilkenny). It was pretty sweet, built on an island so it has a moat and everything, and after a 30 minute tour they turned us loose to explore the castle...and I mean EXPLORE. We got to climb the walls and battlements, find our way up to the towers, down to the dungeons, wander around different rooms which led into other rooms which led into other rooms, and grapple around the spiral stumble steps, so named for their different heights and depths. And let me tell you, those narrow spiral stairs are very difficult to navigate, especially coming down, without falling or slipping!

After walking around Cahir and the little wooded paths, we headed to Cashel to see the Rock of Cashel, a 5th century hilltop stronghold of the Munster kings which was gifted to the Church and the site of a visit from St. Patrick. Legend has it that the devil took a chomp out of the nearby Slieve Bloom mountains and spit out what is now the rock of Cashel. Apparently the circumference and height of the hill fits nearly perfectly into the gap in the mountains. Again, after a short tour, we were left to explore the area, and spent it climbing around on the rocks like tomboys =]

At the foot of the rock of Cashel were the ruins of a Cistercian monastery that had been abandoned when Ireland became Protestant (due to England) and many of the monasteries were disbanded.

Our bed and breakfast was nearly right at the foot of Cashel and had a spectacular view of it and the ruins of the Cistercian monastery were right across the street. We had fun just being outside and enjoying everything from the fresh air to the horse in the back yard to the swing set and trampoline =] and stayed up late talking outside. Great times in Cashel!