As expected, the breakfast at Faithlegg was top-notch, served in their elegant dining room. It was a treat to stay in this stately manor. While there, we imagined it might have felt a bit like staying with The (late) Queen at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, had she extended us an invitation.
Our first stop was the Rock of Cashel in Moor, Cashel, County Tipperary. "The former seat of the Kings of Munster, the Rock of Cashel was handed over to the church in 1101 and became the seat of the Archbishop. Today, five buildings remain, including an impressive a round tower, 12th-century chapel, 13th-century cathedral, and the Hall of the Vicar's Choral." To learn more and see photos of this historical monument use this link: https://www.cashel.ie/rock-of-cashel/
From there we headed to our next destination, Kilkenny City, County Kilkenny in the South-East region of the country. Our hotel, the River Court, is on the banks of the River Nore, with a stunning view of Kilkenny Castle.
Our first stop in town was Kilkenny Castle. According to their official website, "Few buildings in Ireland can boast a longer history of continuous occupation than Kilkenny Castle. Founded soon after the Norman conquest of Ireland, the Castle has been rebuilt, extended, and adapted to suit changing circumstances and uses over a period of 800 years". To learn more about this castle use this link: https://kilkennycastle.ie
After spending a few hours at the castle, Catherine and I headed into town, leaving the boys behind to unpack the luggage, so we could look at the stores before they closed (usually by 5:30 or 6:00 each evening in most towns).
For dinner, we headed to the Left Bank restaurant, on The Parade, in Kilkenny City. The restaurant is an architectural landmark, formerly the Bank of Ireland building, which was constructed in 1870. With great Irish music playing and a cool vibe, a nice evening was had by all.