PK at Jerpoint Abbey. A well-preserved Cistercian abbey from the 12th to 15th centuries, about 40 minutes away.
Slim in the cloister at Jerpoint
St. Jude with the axe that beheaded him on the side of a sarcophagus at Jerpoint.
Mill near Kells, County Kilkenny.
Kells Priory, with the most complete medieval walls in Ireland. Massive.
Kilree High Cross and round tower, down the road from Kells.
Kilree moastic site.
PK on the Beara Peninsula, Dursey Island in the background. Scarlet Tanager not pictured.
Hook Head PK
Flip, 007, and PK on the Dunmore cliff walk. The last of summer.
Slim and celebrity chef Darina Allen. I took an all day barbecue class at her cooking school: a Christmas present frpm PK.
We headed off to Dublin to watch the Waterford hurlers in the national semi-finals; but a boat would've been a saner choice of travel. Weeks of torrential rain and the roads were in bad shape.
National highway under water
National highway under water again. Passable one direction at a time.
The night before the hurling semi-finals was an eclipse. Rain, of course, threatened.
But the moon did come out. I took this photo with my phone through a telescope.
Outside Croke Park prior to the match
The good guys won in a thrilling match! Waterford's in the finals for the first time in 45 years!
A team day out. We took a dy trip to Wales to visit a theme park called Oakwood. This is the ferry arriving in Wales.
Part of the team in queue for a ride.
Midday beers.
Deishe-boy and friend well-soaked after a waterslide.
"Speed". A 95 kmh ride that features a more than vertical drop of 7 stories. Rode it twice. Brilliant.
A car dropping on Speed.
Close up drop.
Favorite fish & chips in Waterford, the Gingerman, downtown off the mall
Random stone arch and scenic overlook on trail near Cheekpoint, Co Waterford
Chillin' at Brownstown Head after getting up at 3:00 am to participate in a walk celebrating National Dawn Chorus Day
Looking out over the opening of Ballymacaw cove in Co Waterford
PK's day at the Crystal Factory: working the wedge cut wheel. These guys (I think there is one woman) learn thousands of patterns by heart. When they get the piece, it has a grid in washable ink and the pattern number, and they just know where to cut.
PGA trophy at top right made by Waterford Crystal Factory, for my favorite golf fans.
Slim and the lads contemplate Man Utd's approaching demise.
There is hope yet for the brave lads of Man Utd.
PK wonders why she is here on such a nice afternoon... But enjoying herself regardless.
Disgust begins to replace optimism.
Sneaky Peek checks to see if the solicitor has left.
A Waterford lunch: a blaa, cheese & onion crisps, and some "red lead."
Brownstown Head, there were lots of birds, but, regrettably, no manx shearwaters.
Ballymacaw Cove, complete with crazy people swimming laps in wet suits.
PK on Ballymacaw Head; still no manx shearwaters.
Portally Cove: Slim standing under a natural arch without a manx shearwater in sight.
2 big towers at Brownstown Head. The cows use them to communicate with the mother ship.
Trombone!
St. Mullins Well, we stumbled across this medieval church site on our way back from hiking Brandon Hill
Sound cliche but rain and sun together is very common here
Lovely hike up Brandon Hill (519 meters) until we got to the top and the rain swept in!
Brandon Hill summit
Kilbunny Church. That's what I said: Kil-bunny.
Grossermann on the treasure hunt
PK and Slim on the treasure hunt
At the pub for the going away party for an AOL colleague
Sedge Warbler
Birder Lad 2 (who joined us but was not the primary bander) holding a Willow Warbler (between his index and middle finger - he isn't hurting it, they just have tiny necks - we saw it fly away, so no animal cruelty we promise)
Willow Warbler
Blue Tit trying to peck at birder lad's thumb
Stone age hut re-creation
(Our first St. Pat's) Our new friend Musician Lad
(Our first St. Pat's) Big truck
(Our first St. Pat's) Little Pips
(Our first St. Pat's) Crazy float
(Our first St. Pat's) Crazy float watcher
(Our first St. Pat's) Crazier float watchers
(Our first St. Pat's) Did we mention the big truck?
Snow in the nearby Comeraghs needed investigating.
Snowy Comeragh waterfall.
Snowy Comeragh valley.
Look carefully and you can see the sea in the background.
Lady's Island churchyard, County Wexford. Out on a birding jaunt, we stumbled across this graveyard, blooming with wild garlic.
Waterford Wildlife Trust sponsors bird walks every now and again, this was one to southern County Tipperary. On the trip we visited St. Patrick's Well, a holy well with religious significance dating to pre-Christian roots. Slim is standing next to the spring.
15th century church at St. Patrick's well.
Pool at the well.
The spring at the well.
Church and pool at the well.
Bachelor Lad getting surly.
Bachelore Lad mid-rant.
Who is the gorgeous ginger gal on my lap?
Engaged Lad being gross: that's spilled Guinness cream. As one of 9 children, he's not letting it go to waste...
Slim's wellie-clad toe near Helvick Head, County Waterford. The area is a Gaeltacht: Irish-speaking district. He was there to see seabirds, but it was a bit early in the year.
The top of Helvick Head, looking at the Comeraghs in the distance across Dungarvan Harbour.
