Kilkenny - Ireland

After a 2hour bus ride through scenic green landscape we arrived in Kilkenny. This town boasts a castle and a million pubs, most featuring live music at night and of course Kilkenny beer. Yes Joanne I did try a glass which wasn't too bad. The people are very friendly and particular those working in a craft village set up for local artists. We chatted to a lovely women who was working on a project to bring young and older people together using knitting as the medium. We also spoke to a guy working with silver who was happy to explain the process for making jewellery and other items in silver. In the front building they had an art exhibition on that featured 20 designers displaying and photographed with an object of design that they found meant something to them and that they liked the way it was useful or well designed. The objects were next to the photo taken of them with the object. One chose a chair that was comfortable to sit on and well made, another was a tray carved out of a piece of wood and they loved the shape and the lines. Their was a story attached to each one and it was one of the most interesting exhibitions I had seen in a long time.  Behind the workshops was an old house and garden which used to house the Butler family. The house was closed but we could walk around he gardens. 

Our hotel was a bit out of the town but we walked the 30 minutes in and out each day sometimes twice a day. I have to work off the beer and the Irish Stew and lovely cakes that I had been eating. 

The hotel is run by a husband and wife and I would say it is the closest we have come to a Faulty Towers episode. The Manager was okay with us but we heard him telling a couple who were questioning the price of a room to go away as he wouldn't be happy and they wouldn't either. He also kicked out a guy when two girls tried to sneak him into their room. I was very funny for us to watch.

We visited the Kilkenny castle built in 1146 by an Earl and was sold to the people of Kilkenny in 1935 for £50 and is now in the care of the Office of Public Works. Beautifully gardens surround the palace with a rose garden out the front and a large grassed acreage behind where people can walk their dogs and picnic. 

Lots of things like the shops were really interesting but we found the railway station very amusing. Our bus arrived their and we also left for Cork from the station via a bus and both times their was no one in the ticket office, well actually their was but you had to knock on the glass window. Two girls came in asking about a train and only when they knocked did someone talk to them. They never came out but just yelled through the wall. Also they had a very large suitcase in the middle of the waiting room with a sign on it saying Don't Leave Your Bag Unattended. Go figure. 

We did enjoy our stay as the people were friendly and it had a good atmosphere. Our next stop is Cork.