~Deborah Love

A few pictures of my last days in Ireland.

Blarney Castle

Jamie and Ky.

Kinsale Harbor



St. Multose Cathedral in Kinsale


Hanging out at St. Multose


The adorable cat I found among the gravestones.

And a bit of London.

Alex, Geoff, Anita, and Mickey (plus Patch!)
The family I stayed with often while in London!

I walked by this little sandwich shop every day on the way to school, and finally got a picture!
This guy thought I was taking a picture of him and tried to invite me in and kept posing. :)

~Alex Levine

Harvey terrorizing Rhia after their bath.

I haven't updated my blog since returning home, and have yet to post many of my pictures from Ireland, as well as my last few days in London. So if you can bare with me, I will try to finish up in the next few posts. Just use your imagination and pretend I am posting this from a little house tucked away in the rolling green hills of Ireland or from the the second floor of a tall, thin townhouse standing anonymously in a long row of matching houses on a busy street in the outskirts of London.

Shirley's favorite game was taking off her shoes, putting them back on wasn't quite as easy!

Rhia playing at Granny Alison's house in Wicklow.

Wicklow

Rhia and Harv

Feeding the ducks in Wicklow.



Baby Shirley wandered into my room to see what was up. Love the jams.

~Irish Proverb

Another post for your viewing pleasure, all typed with one hand as Miss Shirley is in one arm and Rhia is playing on my legs, so I will probably have serious knee problems at a very young age. I have to admit, as cute as Harv is, having him stay at Granny Opal's all day has made this a very quiet and easy day. I don't know how I am supposed to leave these little girls on Monday, they have completely stolen my heart!

Two weeks ago, Cormac and I ventured to Charles Fort together and had a dandy time, below are the photos from our adventures!

Above: Model of Charles Fort.
Below: A little bit of the real deal.

Cormac, hard at work guarding Charles Fort.

Charles Fort was constructed in the late 17th century on the site of an earlier coastal fortification, and guards the entrance to Kinsale Harbor. It was built to protect the harbor from use by the Spanish and French.

Walking the line.

Enjoying the ample opportunities provided by the fort.

It was beautiful the day Cormac and I went to visit the fort, hard to believe it started dumping buckets of rain a mere three hours later! That's Irish weather for you, suncream one minute, pulling on your wellies the next!

Peek-a-boo!

Cormac pushed me down the hill, and it was a bit of a struggle to get back up!

Seriously cute!

On the walk back to Kinsale

After we had thoroughly explored Charles Fort, Cormac and I walked back to Kinsale. The walking path that Cormac usually took was closed, and he didn't know how to get back without taking it. So we of course ignored the sign and hopped over the wall. When we caught up to the construction crew working on the pathway, they all glared at us so Cormac cheerfully waved and said hello. Then we hurried on our way without looking back!

~Arthur Guiterman

I really could use footnotes for about half of what people say to me. I am continually saying "I'm sorry, what?" or "Pardon?" or just looking at them with a completely blank stare.

Cormac and Harvey, exploring Timoleague Abbey

Founded by the Franciscan order in 1240 A.D.,Timoleague Abbey was built on the site of a monastic settlement founded by Saint Molaga in the 6th century.



The abbey was extended by Donal Glas McCarthy in 1312, and by Irish and Norman patrons in the 16th century. The monks were dispersed by the Reformation, but returned in 1604.


In 1612 the abbey was sacked by English soldiers who also smashed all of the windows, but much of the significant architecture remains. The friars remained in the abbey until 1629.

Cormac and I. Photo courtesy of Harvey.
Harvey and I. Photo courtesy of Cormac.



Harv and Rhia, playing with the webcam!