Classic Ireland

There are several things that you think of when you think of Ireland, those being the rain, beautiful countryside, the blarney stone, and alcohol. I experienced all of these in one day on the drive from Kilkenney to Dungarvan. We drove through the countryside until we got to Blarney, which is where I debated if I needed the gift of gab or not. I had that decision made for me (by me) as I climbed up the castle steps without realizing where I was going. I decided while I was up there to kiss the stone and make that memory, giving myself the gift of gab, although Im sure I already had it on a good day. While at the castle grounds I also saw the poison gardens and the blarney house. Both were also wonderful and I had a great time.
After we spent some time there, we continued our journey home and stopped in Middleton, which is a smaller town just outside of Cork to see the distillery there. This distillery is home to the biggest whiskey names in Ireland, most noteably Jameson. We explored the old distillery and saw how advanced it was for its time and got to test some older whiskeys as a flight. I tried them, but didn't enjoy them and so I just relaxed until we were supposed to drive back to Dungarvan. On the drive back I contemplated this all as it didn't feel real how beatiful everything was, so I was thinking of the poem When You Are Old by W.B Yeats in which reflection about lost things is found and how I have rediscovered my connection with nature through this country and how I will return to this ground when I am old.

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