Friday, June 8, 2012

Picture Perfect!

Yesterday's sign was taken on our trip to Kilcrea Friary and Kilcrea Castle. If you click on them, they will take you to some info about them. The Castle isn't on Wikipedia, probably because it's in a farmer's cow field and we had to jump 2 fences to get there. My friend Jo took a group of us out to see it on Wednesday. The rain poured down on us when we first arrived and wandered around the Friary, so the photos do show lashing rain if you look closely and also the hint of my umbrella on the upper left corner of the second photo.











The last photo is the Friary from the top of the Castle. Thankfully the weather cleared up as we headed for the Castle and it was amazing! The inside of Kilcrea Castle wasn't hugely impressive as it's mostly an empty stone shell, but on top of the roof, there was almost like a secret garden and it was gorgeous!

 Walking across a field to get to the Castle. We started joking that tiny raptors would come out and nip at our heels since the field was like a mini version of the field in Jurassic Park 2.
 This is the smaller tower which you can't really climb up because it's pretty much hollow inside.
 On top of the roof of the large tower. This was like a secret garden.


 On top of the walls of the roof, looking into the 'secret garden'. It's about 70ft up so I didn't go very far out on the wall...
 It's a good thing you can't see my knees shaking. Branden looked terrified with me standing out there and he decided to stay in the stairway.

 A view of the distant landscape.

That's the tower we were up on. It was an absolutely amazing place and I was so glad we got to go. I also was shocked at how wide the spiral staircase was as most castles I've visited seem to have tiny, narrow and steep staircases that you practically have to climb like a ladder. There was nobody else out there except our group as this is pretty much off the beaten path and not widely advertised.

And now, for Joshua, some of the sky shots of the day.

 From the Friary looking over to the Castle

 The ledge on the top of the Castle where I was standing.
Looking up from inside the small tower.

Now that I have thoroughly rubbed in the fact that I live in a magnificently beautiful country, I hope you all have a good weekend and I will see you around blogland next week!

25 comments:

  1. You are naughty teasing me that way! You know I really AM jealous that you live there. What an amazing opportunity. I'm so glad you guys are sight seeing and not just staying put. Your pictures were beautiful and you and Branden are so stinking cute!

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    1. Think of it as me giving your eye some incentive to be nice and hang in there so hopefully you can come see it yourself ;)

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  2. You just don't see stuff like that here. Sadly. Maybe I need to move.

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    1. It would be fantastic having you in the neighborhood. And heck, your kids are so cute, I may just offer to babysit for free ;)

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  3. Replies
    1. That was pretty much the word of the day! That and "stupid rain!".

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  4. Oh wow! Thank you for sharing these amazing photographs, dear! They are just beautiful.

    I'm so jealous that you've gotten to explore a true un-commercialized castle! JEALOUS!!! The only castles I've been in were the ones where you have to pay for admission. :o(

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    1. All of the other castles I've been to, except for 1, I've had to pay to get into so this was wonderful...and very Irish! I have seen so many towers, churches, and castles in random fields all over the place here so there is still lots to explore! It would just be easier if we had a car...and if gas wasn't over $8 a gallon!

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  5. I'll have to go take a look at that the next time we come over to see the in-laws. Beautiful :)

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    1. It's surprisingly easy to find and get to. You just have to hop two fences to get to the castle but it's very worth it!

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  6. I second Lyndee. You two are stinking cute, but I mean that in a very good way. The photos are gorgeous.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. After climbing 70 ft of tight spiral staircase in my coat, I was pretty close to stinking! ;)

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  7. Replies
    1. Me too. I was wondering how it was going to turn out when I took it.

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  8. Wonderful photos Maggie. Old and decrepit buildings fascinate me and I enjoyed your photos. Those buildings are obviously neglected now and nature is taking back the area. Do you know how old the place is? - Dave

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    1. Thanks Dave. The Friary was completed in 1465 and the Castle is thought to have been completed before that. The Friary is being used as a cemetery currently so the government is 'taking care of it' technically. Since the Castle is in a farmer's field though, it's being left to just age as it will. There also was a big old mansion house a few fields over which looked amazing, taken over by vines. One of the girls in our group had checked it out years ago and said that unfortunately there was too much rubble inside to explore. I love decrepit buildings as well :)

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  9. Wow, those are beautiful! And your husband is adorable (don't tell him I said that).

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    1. Thank you and thank you! I won't tell him...but he does like to check my comments ;)

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  10. Oh wow! I can't believe how green it is. How gorgeous. But seriously? Get off the damn wall. You're making my hands sweat just looking at you standing out there.

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    1. The rain is good for something...the green! I was so nervous on that wall and I only walked about 5 ft out! Three other people in our group walked almost all the way around it and then sat on it and chatted away as if they weren't centimeters from death!

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    2. Please stop advertising this place to people all over the world!!

      As a local I know the owner and the more stupid foreign tourist keep walking out on the ledge the sooner someone will will fall off and be killed!

      The castle will also be then locked forever!

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  11. Gorgeous shots! Thanks for sharing them!

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Does this straitjacket make my butt look big?