Our Trip to Kerry

July 4, 2013
This past weekend was a lot of fun and a lot of traveling. Also it was July 4th, the birth celebration of America! We didn't do much to celebrate but it was still fun being with fellow Americans.

We traveled first to Lismore on the way to Kerry. Lismore is a small town in southern Ireland. The name Lismore comes from the Irish words "lis" meaning fort and "mor" meaning big, referring to the fort/hill right outside of town. Lismore was established by St. Carthage in the 7th century. There's even a cathedral in honor of St. Carthage. Even though we weren't able to really see it, that cathedral itself is very beautiful with the pointed-arch window and the buttresses. The cathedral was built in the 7th centruy and was first used as a monastery and for Celtic tombs. Now it is a cathedral that holds services and other learning opportunities for the people of Lismore. I really like the beautiful pointed-arch window in the front of the cathedral and the buttresses going up the tower for support.

Look at that Flying Buttress

This is the flying buttress view from Lismore Castle

After Lismore we moved on to Killarney to see the Muckross House. The Muckross House was built in 1843 and served the Herbert family as a cozy mansion with over sixty rooms readily available for guests and entertaining. The home was being partially restored when we were able to see it but it was still very beautiful. The basics of the house's architecture is Tudor style and has a couple post and lintels around the outer ways. The house was actually bought by Arthur Guinness in 1898 to preserve the surround land's beauty.

The beauty that Arthur Guinness wanted to preserve

July 6, 2013
On our way back to Waterford, we stopped by St. Mary's Cathedral. It is a grand cathedral built to inspire and to teach those inside through stained glass stories as well as through scripture. The cathedral opened in August 1855 to honor the Virgin Mary. Mary is seen through out many different pieces of art in the cathedral. She is always in blue so she is very easy to point out. The cathedral has grand pointed-arches and is in the shape of a cross, like many other cathedrals. It also has a ribs added for stability and a beautiful rose window. By far this is my favorite cathedral we have been too, even though it isn't the most grand like Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, but the atmosphere and the almost calmness of the atmosphere created by the space and openness of the nave.

Beautiful

RIBS

Here in"The Nativity" Mary is depicted in blue

The rose window