Kilkenny

After Dublin, I hopped on a bus and headed southwest to the medieval city of Kilkenny.

Black Abbey

Kilkenny Castle

Smithwick’s, founded in 1710

Day 2 in Kilkenny I rented a bike with my new friend Alex. Alex and I roamed the countryside passing lots of farmland and taking in some picturesque views. Unfortunately after a pit stop for lunch we picked the wrong road. What was supposed to be a 39 km bike ride (24 miles) turned into something roughly more like 55Km (34 miles). Luckily we still made it to the desired destination and got to explore Kells Priory.

Kells Priory is the medieval ruins of a monastery founded in  1193. During its first century and a half the priory was attacked and burned on three occasions. Dissolution of Kells Priory took place in 1540 when Henry VIII disbanded Catholic monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland.