We still are having trouble shaking the jet lag. The problem is that we are full of energy at 11:00 p.m. and don't want to go to bed. But come morning, we sleep in like teenagers.
After a big, late traditional Irish breakfast with lots of meat and sausages, including "black and white pudding" (which is a fancy, if not deceiving name for blood sausages), we headed out for Dundalk to see if we could, by chance, find any family history. The archives there were closed, since it was a Saturday, but we talked to two very helpful staff at the local museum, who gave us the name of the woman in charge of the archives, and her email address. I plan to follow up with her by email, and give her the information I have on my great, great grandpa, Peter Casey, to see if that bears fruit.
We then drove to Newgrange to see the ancient tombs of Stone age folks. The tombs pre-date the pyramids. I don't care who you are, that's old! Unfortunately, the tickets for the shuttle buses, which you need to take to see the site, were sold out. Apparently you don't sleep in on holiday weekends, and expect to get into that site! So we were turned away, but do plan to go back on Monday morning on our way back south, to see the site.
We then drove through the countryside to the nearby site of the Battle of the Boyne, which is said to be the largest military confrontation in the history of Ireland. The battle was between King James II and his son-in-law, King William of Orange. (Courtney, keep an eye on Steve for me, okay?) As Patricia Preston says in her book, "Ireland Travel 101,": "At stake were the British throne, French dominance in Europe and religious power in Ireland." I'm sure it all seemed very important at the time. But as it turns out, the British throne has no power in Ireland, the French don't dominate a thing, and the Catholic Church is falling apart in Ireland. Nonetheless, the grounds were a beautiful setting and the exhibit was done well.
Our interest and understanding of the intriguing if not tragic history of Ireland was piqued by our visit to the Kilmainham jail and the National Museum in Dublin, prompting us to want to find out more background history. Some of that we got at the Battle of the Boyne exhibit. The guide there suggested that we go to Drogheda, only about 15 miles away, and see the tower and museum on Sir Oliver Cromwell. So off to Drogheda we drove, again through beautiful countryside. The Saturday traffic was stifling and we had trouble finding the museum, which is out of the way and up the hill from City Centre Drogheda. But we found it in time for the last tour of the day to the tour overlooking the city. We did not have time to see the museum before it closed. Looks like we'll have to save that for the next time we make Peter roll over in his grave.
Again, this part of Irish history, dating late in the 17th Century, shortly after the Battle of the Boyne, was disturbing, but compelling. Call me biased, but Oliver Cromwell was NOT a nice person! He obviously had a thing for seeing heads rolling around. His enemies got their just desserts, even if it was AFTER Cromwell had been dead and buried! Get it?
We got back to our hotel about 6:00 p.m. and had a nice, light dinner and some Guinness in the hotel bar. Tomorrow is Easter! We don't know for sure what we're doing, but whatever it is, we'll never forget this Easter!
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