Kilkenny and on to Dublin

It was hard to find time to write, so today's entry will be short. There were quite a few businessmen and women at our hotel this morning. We found out that all the hubbub was because Enda Kenny, Ireland's Prime Minister, stayed at the hotel last night and was holding some meetings there. Joe was kind enough to bring me down to where he was and introduce me - he was very kind - double kiss on the cheeks and everything!

There was security and such with him, but nothing like what we have for our President or I am sure we wouldn't have even been able to get a room in the hotel!!

After all that excitement, we were off to Kilkenny where we toured the Kilkenny Castle, took a walk through the old past of town to see the church of St Canice and enjoyed free time for lunch and other shopping or sightseeing.

We then headed to Dublin taking the longer, more scenic route through the Wicklow Mountains. We also stopped at Glendalough a beautiful area nestled between two lakes. Here we got a tour of the monastic settlement that was founded by St Kevin. Our tour included the remains of the round tower, a church and cathedral - all from the 10th-12th centuries.

Late in the afternoon we arrived in Dublin-our final destination. Today we have our guided city tour including a visit to Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Some of us are also planning to tour the Guiness Brewery. For our final evening we enjoy dinner and traditional Irish dancing at Taylors Three Rock.

I most likely won't have time to post until our return and sometime next week will post pictures too.