IRELAND: Kilkenny and surrounds

Back in the day when I was young and single I would go for "Girls Night Out". 

Often we would go to a pub for "beer and wings". 

My beer of choice was usually a Kilkenny.

Who knew that some day I would travel to Kilkenny?

And who knew that Kilkenny beer is now brewed by Guinness in Dublin? 

But, Kilkenny Castle is still in Kilkenny, there's still really pretty countryside and there are still ruined abbeys to explore.

Kilkenny Castle has been continuously occupied since the Norman conquest more than 800 years ago. Over the years it has been rebuilt, extended and adapted to suit changing circumstances.

The Butler family bought the castle in 1391, and it became their seat for over 550 years. 

(Butler: remember that name.)

When I'm in "old places" my mind always wanders to thinking about what the walls have seen and what the people were like that lived or visited within.

Fast forward to1922 where during the Irish Civil War Kilkenny Castle was besieged and damaged. 

Then in 1935, the Butler family abandoned it, after over 500 years of ownership. Then in 1967 they sold it to the Castle Restoration Committee for a ceremonial £50. 

It now belongs to the city and people of Kilkenny. 

We also explored the pretty countryside.

We found churches, abandoned castles and green fields.

And then we found a really interesting abbey. 

Jerpoint Abbey, a national monument, is a ruined Cistercian abbey, founded in the second half of the 12th century. It is one of the best examples of a medieval Cistercian Abbey in Ireland. 

I had to look up a Cistercian Abbey (another example of my inadequate education.) 

Google says: They are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. They are also known as White Monks, in reference to the colour of the "cuculla" (choir robe) worn by the Cistercians over their habits, as opposed to the black cowl worn by Benedictines. 

You can thank me later for giving you the ability to pull that out of your hat at your next cocktail party!

Jerpoint Abbey thrived for hundreds of years, right up until King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries act came into force around 1536.

The abbey was then surrendered to the king, and in 1541 granted to James Butler, the 9th Earl of Ormond. (Does that family name sound familiar?)

Jerpoint Abbey is best known for the incredibly detailed stone statues that are dotted throughout the monastery.

There are decorative touches sculpted into the walls and cloister of mythical figures that are typically uncommon among Cistercian abbeys and are still visible after hundreds of years.

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Before signing off, I would be remiss if I didn't include this tribute to hurling.

Another Google search tells me: "Hurling is considered the fastest and most skilful field game in the world, incorporating elements of lacrosse, baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, soccer, rugby, football and many other sports, although it predates them all."

I am sure many Kilkenny beers have been raised across the country while watching the game.