Photo Credit: Katie McQueeney
This weekend when I was in Killarney, I ended up on a boat.
Killarney National Park has over 25,000 acres of land spread between mountains, lakes, and forests. In short, it’s beautiful.
In long, simply driving and walking does not give you a full picture of the park. My traveling companion and I decided by remedying this by getting on a boat.
Gliding around the lake on the boat let us experience the park, the sun, the water, and all the various shades of green in a new way. I’d definitely recommend it!
Photo Credit: Katie McQueeney
We just finished up our first three day weekend during the trip and one of the other students and I (the, much better photographer than I, Katie) rented a car and drove up to Killarney, around the Ring of Kerry, and up around Dingle Peninsula this weekend.
Side Note: The best 30 Euros I’ve spent on this trip was the optional full liability insurance I got on the rental car…the ring of kerry has some very narrow roads and let’s just say I scrapped up the side of the car a bit.
Anyway, people might say that the Ring of Kerry is a “tourist” destination and I won’t deny that it isn’t. However, there are usually reasons places become tourist destinations (unless you are Wall Drug in which case it was just a good marketing campaign) and the Ring of Kerry is definitely popular for a reason.
For several hours we drove around and left and right, all we could see was the gorgeous countryside. Pictured is Ladies’ View named thusly because of one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting who thought it was the prettiest place in all the realm.
It was absolutely lovely (even if the roads were a bit narrow).
Photo Credit: Katie McQueeney
Muckross House is famous mainly for a three day (two night) visit by Queen Victoria in 1861.
That being said, it is a gorgeous 18th century home with even prettier gardens. But the often ignored (but none the less amazing) side of Muckross, is the Traditional Farms section.
In the traditional farms section they have working farms that exemplify what a small, medium, and large size farm would look like in Ireland’s past along with the supporting industry (harness makers, blacksmith, laborer’s cottage, etc.) that would have co-existed with the farms.
It’s a fascinating trip and well worth the few extra euros (all total I spent 6 euros to get in for the house, garden, and farms and I was there for a better part of a day) to get access to the farms.
Also, if you are at Muckross house take sometime to see Killarney National Park that it is situated in…it’s absolutely gorgeous!
Today is the start of the first long weekend that we have as part of the eLSI program. During the three weeks of classes there are two such 3 day weekends.
So where is everyone going? I took a random poll and people are scattering to all parts of Ireland and beyond. Some of the destinations include:
- London
- Kinsale
- Killarney
- and Dublin
One of the great things about being over here is that bus, train, plane, or even car is available to explore for a decent price. And with that, I’m off! See you on the flip side of Killarney.
So, yesterday I mentioned the fact that UCC was on the former site of St. Fin Barre’s monastery and school. What I failed to mention is that the accommodations that most of the eLSI students are staying at (Deans Hall–Crosses Green) is in the shadow of St. Fin Barre’s cathedral.
It’s an absolute treat to wake up every morning and see that the first thing that I see on my walk into school every morning is this lovely gothic cathedral. Well, I decided to stop in yesterday and it’s almost prettier on the inside then it is on the outside. There are mosaics on the floor; stained glass in the windows, gold leaf, marble, word carvings and ceiling paintings. Looking at the whole thing, inside and out, I am struck by how much was achieved by the sweat of the human labor.
But, the two absolute best things about the cathedral? First, the organ (I adore organ music) and the canon ball that was embedded in the spire of the old (destroyed) cathedral and is now hanging decorative in the cathedral. I’m thinking of heading to the Choral service this upcoming weekend.
University College Cork
I’ll admit that I didn’t really know a lot about the place that eLSI was taking place at prior to arriving in Cork. But University College Cork (UCC) is actually quite a big school–there are over 15,000 students!
Other fun facts about UCC:
- It was founded in 1845
- It is said that St. Finbarr (the patron Saint of Cork) founded a monastery and school in in 6th century on the same land that UCC stand on now.
- It receives over 74 million Euro a year in research funding
- And George Boole (the father of Boolean logic) used to teach at UCC
Kind of neat to have all that at the same school that I’m taking classes at.
I’ll admit it felt like the first day of school today–even though I know a good number of the people here. But a new town, a new University, all new classes and my new notebook decidedly had that whole “first day” feel. Because of that I got up extra early and got to school extra, extra earlier (even though I had done a dry run of the walk to the building yesterday I was still, irrationally, worried I would get lost).
I had nothing to be worried about.
So far the faculty seem really nice and the course material is very interesting. We even got to talk about seals and the statutes of frauds as they apply to electronic signatures today! As crazy as it sounds, I’ve always had a soft spot for the statute of frauds and sealed contracts. Maybe, if electronic signatures truly catch one the sealed contract can make a come back–that would just be amazing (it’s still a legal consideration equivalent or similar in 13 US jurisdictions*). After all, some of the reasons the seal fell out of use (ease of forgery and lack of distinct seals) would be gone with an electronic signature as seal.
*Curious about which 13 jurisdictions still hold a seal as a valid consideration equivalent or as a valid consideration equivalent when combined with nominal consideration? Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Today I’m putting Dublin behind me and traveling out to Cork!
There are many ways to go from Dublin to Cork–trains, planes, and automobiles will all take you there. But I figured a train ride would be nice. After all, for the train ride all I need to do is settle in and watch the scenery fly by.
So, in a short moment I’ll be dragging my suitcase out of my hotel heading down to Dublin Heuston station and hoping on the train to Cork.
Glendalough Monastery
If the hustle and the bustle of the city is too much for you (or if, say you just want a break from the city and want to see some of the countryside that comes to mind when you think of Ireland) Wicklow county has some amazing jems.
One of these is the Glendalough Monastery founded by Kevin in the 6th century.
I know that when there is not only a set of monastery ruins as well as two lakes (and six hiking trails) the desire to go to the visitor’s center is small–but go. The tiny museum using av well and there is a whole short film on the history and evolution of Irish Monasteries.
Also, if you would just prefer to hike you can get the details on the six hikes around the area.
I’ve been mulling this over in my mind for a few days and when I went to Guinness they had what looked to the be original (though I would certainly have been more at ease if it was a copy instead of the original in front of all those people) lease that Arthur Guinness signed for 9,000 years.
My first thought then and still an issue that I’m pondering is–is a lease for 9,000 years really valid? And if in the 8,953rd year of the lease the contract is breached are they going to apply 1760s law?
My second thought was that perhaps, just perhaps, I had been a tiny bit corrupted by law school (only in a good way of course).
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