Europe and Cruising 2016: Thomastown and surrounds

22 and 23 October

Our bed and breakfast accommodation just outside of Thomastown is set in a really beautiful rural location next to the Nore River. It is a historic mansion built in 17^th century and occupied by our host’s family ever since. There are lots of family portraits on the walls and antique furniture throughout. We were welcomed with a cup of tea by the fire in the library and have breakfast in the huge dining room looking out over the river. It is a special place to stay.

On our first day here we explored Jerpoint Abbey, built by Cistercian monks in the 12^th Century. The ruins are peaceful and atmospheric especially as we visited early in the morning while the mist and fog still hung around.

We then drove south to Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city and founded by the Vikings. Reginald’s Tower was a key part of the city’s fortification and is now an interesting museum. However the Medieval Museum was underwhelming and the city’s old walls are hard to find, uncared for and used to dump rubbish on which was disappointing.

Next we visited the very quaint village of Inistioge, situated on the Nore River and built around a village green. We wandered around the village, took a walk along the river, watched the local hurling team practice session and had dinner sitting outside the local pub overlooking the green. Gary had his first pint of Guinness and Dale drove home!

On the second day we went into the lovely city of Kilkenny and saw the castle, which is more large manor house than castle. One of the earls was exiled to France for a while and, on his return, remodeled the castle so there are many French influences, making it feel like a mini Versailles. We again sought out the city walls and towers which were somewhat better maintained than Waterford’s, and walked through the town to St Canice’s Cathedral and round tower. Lovely cathedral, second largest in Ireland after St Patrick’s in Dublin.

We then drove back to Thomastown for a look around and dinner. Unfortunately the place where we wanted to eat was closed so we bought pizza and ate it in the park overlooking the Nore River by the bridge. The local ducks definitely thought we should share with them!