Forty Shades of Green

Johnny Cash’s visit to Ireland back in 1959 sparked him to write a song called 40 Shades of Green. My trip to Ireland didn’t inspire a song but to share it on my blog! My trip of 40 Shades of Green, meeting a distant cousin and visiting the country side where my great grandmother was born was so exhilarating! The depth of the history in Ireland just amazes me and has now awaken my spiritual side even more. There are so many attractions in Ireland where spending a month is still not enough. So I filled my week up in the heart of Ireland; Boyne Valley in county Meath, a visit to the Irish Sea and Dublin.

St Laurence’s Gate, Drogheda

The first part of the trip was Drogheda on the East edge of Boyne Valley on River Boyne. I stayed at the Scholars Townhouse Hotel which much to my delight was perfect. Thanks to the bartender I found that Whisky I could stomach (Connemara 12 years aged) and dined on their award winning food. It sits perfectly up on the highest part of the old Barbican defense gate from the 14th century town St Laurence. The hotel has views of old preserved structures, churches, the Martello Tower and the present day town of Drogheda. The Hotel is only foot steps away to all these attractions in the bustling town. I filled 2 mornings visiting the local attractions.

Farmers stand down town Drogheda

St Peter’s R.C. Church Drogheda which holds the head of St. Oliver Plunkett

Panoramic view Drogheda

Next stop was the Irish Sea in Carlingford Village on the coast of County Louth.
This town started as a trading post @ 1400-1500’s— with the castle of King John Norman built @1210. Such a picture perfect town with many things to do; I especially loved the unique shops owned by the local artists. I will have to return for the annual Carlingford Oyster fest and get in a round of golf!

Carlingford on the Irish Sea

A charming shop in down town Carlingford Ireland

Hanging flower baskets in down town Carlingford Ireland

Down town Carlingford Ireland

Newgrange was one of the highlights of my trip. Brú na Bóinne (Irish: Palace of the Boyne) a World Heritage Site in County Meath, Ireland and is the largest and one of the most important complex of Megalithic sites in Europe, dating to the Neolithic period. The complex is situated around a wide bend in the River Boyne. Newgrange is a tomb that dates back 200BC. The most exquisite part of the tomb is on the day of Winter Solstice December 21st. On this day the suns beams into the chamber and illuminates it. You can check out more of the tomb and culture who built it here.  http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/

Just steps away into the low entrance of the Newgrange Tomb

Only 22 people at a time can enter the chamber of Newgrange

The path up to Newgrange

The Hills of Tara

The Hills of Tara

One of the many large boulders with scroll carvings at the Hill of Tara

Another spot on the Boyne Valley visits was the old Mellifont Abbey, founded by Saint Malachy in 1142, which was Ireland’s first Cistercian monastery. Its foundation is to have marked the introduction into Ireland of the European monastic way of life. Its most unusual structure that still stands today is the octagonal lavabo from the 12th Century, c1210.

The octagonal lavabo at Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont Abbey

Back at Dublin I spent the rest of my short time with more shopping. Ireland has beautiful local handmade wool and tweed that I couldn’t get enough of. Let me just say I will be plenty warm this winter! In between all the shopping another must stop I had to do while in Dublin which they say is Ireland’s finest national treasure was to view the The Book Of Kells exhibit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Kells

The beautiful calligraphy on a page from the Book of Kells. They turn one page per day.

Madonna & Child Book of Kells

The Book is believed to have been created ca. 800 AD by Monks as an illuminated manuscript Gospel book in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament together with various prefatory texts and tables. The book is considered one of the best works of Western calligraphy and is housed at the Trinity College, Dublin. http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/

The entrance to the Library at Trinity College

After all that shopping and viewing antiquities a girl can get mighty thirsty! So it was time to do that touristy thing which is off to the Guinness brew tour. For me it was rewarded when I got to the very top of the Gravity Bar sipping that chocolatey brew with that beautiful view.

Pint of Guinness with a Shamrock

The most awaited highlight of the trip before I headed back home on my last day was to meet with my distant irish cousin named Philomena, you cant get much Irish than that! We had a wonderful lunch at the Chapter One Restaurant. (Former home of John Jamason himself) Getting to know each other with talks of the past, the current and the future while sipping the BEST Irish coffee ever was all 40 Shades of Green!

God Bless the Irish!