V5 travels: By car to Kilkenny

The Irish trusty steed is a Hyundai i20 that we collected from Dublin airport this morning. Using Google maps, we found ourselves leaving Dublin quite quickly, travelling through some southern suburbs before seeing the green fields open up before us, although once we were on the Motorway there wasn’t much to see until we left it at Kilkenny a little of an hour and a half away.

Driving into this town that is known as a medieval village, we drove through the obligatory high street with stores and services a metre from the kerb, and the road barely two lanes.

Our hotel is called the Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel - across the river from Kilkenny Castle. As soon as we checked in and unloaded our luggage we walked across the river, finding a farmers type market for lunch. I enjoyed a smoked sausage bun from a local artisan meat farmer (very yummy!) before we ventured further to the Castle. We opted for a self guided tour and did our best to review all the different forms of information but found ourselves skipping parts to escape from other tourists that we found annoying! Heaven forbid someone should find us annoying as tourists!

After viewing some great rooms and architectural features, we went for a walk in the beautiful gardens. Rolling green hills covered with meadow flowers, paths lined with ancient elm trees and a duck pond with several duck island houses are there for all to enjoy. With very little notice the heavens opened and we found ourselves running for cover - finding an outdoor tent cafe where we had a warming brew before the rain stopped and we continued our walk back toward the hotel. Looking north from the bridge that joins the west and east side of the town is very picturesque.

Supplies were gathered before we found ourselves being very comforted from shoes off and sitting on our beds, writing and reading and relaxing…..Day 2 done and dusted!