I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth.

Let's go ahead and assume I make it to Longford in one piece... what shall I do once I arrive?

When I check in on the 11th (lets say around noon) the first order of business will be a shower and food. That should take me to, let's say 2-230. Then I'll ask the kind locals where in Gods name Columbkille is. (Go ahead - google it - you won't find a more descriptive location then County Longford.) I'm assuming I'll have time to find it that day ... depending on where it is. And I'll explore the local area.

I've used my trusty travel book to find a few interesting attractions for the rest of the time in Longford.

~***~ April 12, Sunday, Easter ~***~


Fore Abbey:
The ruins of the fore are about 5 miles from Tullynally castle (open only to groups ? weird). St. Fechin set up a monastery in 630... It looks nice and is a slight detour away from Kells. (open daily)







Kells:
Kells Monastery was set up in the 6th century but it's 'heyday' came after 806 when the monks fled there from Iona. (closed Dec. & Jan.)







Trim:
This is a Midland market town, or so says the book, but market day is Friday so I wouldn't be able to see that. Anyway - it is home to Trim Castle. It was founded in the 12th century by Hugh de Lacy and was featured in Braveheart. ^_^ (open Easter (perfect) - Oct and there is an admission charge)






~***~ April 13, Monday ~***~


Clonmacnoise:
It's a medieval monastery by the River Shannon founded by St. Ciaran in 545-548. Many kings of Tara and Connaught were buried there. There's something called the Whispering Door there. The books says: "Above the cathedral's 15th century north doorway are carvings of St. Francis, Patrick, and Dominic. The acoustics of the doorway are such that even a whisper is carried inside the building." Seems cool to me! (open daily, there is an admission charge)








Rock of Dunamase:
It looms 'dramatically' over the plains of east Portlaoise and has long been a military sight. The 13th century castle was originally crowned by an Iron Age ring fort and it was virtually destroyed in 1650 by Cromwellian forces. The books says that you can "reach the battered keep by climbing up banks and ditches through two gateways and a fortified courtyard." It's a little out of my way but I'm sooo going there. (doesn't mention a word about being open or closed... so I assume it's something you do on your own..?)





~***~ April 14, Tuesday ~***~


And last, but not least! This looks to be almost directly on the path back to Dublin, so I'll head out early and stop here on my way back on the 14th.

Mullingar:
It's a county town of Westmeath (prosperous but unremarkable it says) is encircled by a Royal Canal which links Dublin with the River Shannon. Blah blah - what I want to see is the Belvedere House. (I'll quote my trusty book once more...) "Just off the Kelbeggan Road Belvedere House, a romantic Palladian villa overlooking Lough Ennel (no idea what that is btw)." It was built in 1740 by Richard Castle but shortly after it was built the first Earl of Belvedere accused his wife of having an affair with his brother. He imprisoned her for 31 years in a nearby house. In 1760 he built a 'gothic folly' called the Jealous Wall. It blocked the view of his second brothers bigger mansion across the way.
Sounds like a novel, lol. Here's a picture of the wall...





There's a lot to pack into 3 and a half days! I'll have to figure in meals and all that also... do they have Red Bull in Ireland? ^_^ It's okay - who needs sleep!!!

After all that ... Dublin, here I come!