Irish Photo Rally
 

Hi All,
completed my third location on this years Irish Photo Rally. Finished work at 5pm and headed off to Kilcooly Abbey, near Urlingford in Kilkenny. Kilcooly Abbey was used in the making of the film by John Boorman "Excalibur" based on the tale of King Arthur and the knights of the round table.Did 175km's round trip with the little Keeway running along nicely. It had its first service on Saturday so it is starting to loosen out.
Here are a couple of photos I took.
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5...0424190123.jpg

http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/3...4241903242.jpg

Sounds like a great ride!

I love the scenery and your pretty blue bike. :D

Like I've said before, I'm amazed by castles and so forth, because we have nothing old by comparison. We might have a building that is two or three hundred years old, but that's it.

Thanks for the pics!

I love viewing your photographs from the Emerald Isle! Please keep posting them. :D

As always, your bike looks great. :)

Spud :)

Yesterday morning was bright and sunny so I decided to head off to my 4th destination on the Irish Photo Rally. My journey was to the small town of Bruree in County Limerick to the small cottage where former Irish Government Leader and 3rd President, Éamon De Valera, grew up. He was actually born in Manhattan, New York. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89amon_de_Valera.
Along the way I passed through some amazing towns and countryside. Here are some of my pictures from my 200km round trip on my Keeway.
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/478...ttagebrure.jpg
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4...ttagebrure.jpg


A gateway through the old town of Kilmallock. This is the only remaining part of the original town walls.
http://img706.imageshack.us/img706/7...7861458314.jpg

Lismore Castle, home to the Duke of Devonshire and former home to Sir Walter Raleigh the man who brought the first Potatoes(spuds as we call them :D ) to Ireland and quite possibly to America as well. The town of Raleigh on North Carolina was called after him. He should possibly have stayed there as he met with a nasty end on his return to England :cry:
http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/8...1117113519.jpg


http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/1...1117113554.jpg

The River Blackwater passes by the castle. 2nd best river in Ireland for salmon
http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/4...1117113600.jpg

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Thanks for the pics and the history lesson. :D

Great pictures, and interesting history!

Motorcycling is the best way to see the countryside.

Beautiful photos, and great history lesson as a bonus! How is the Keeway holding up on the long rides?

Thanks for posting the great photos and history lesson, IB. :D Your Keeway bike always looks great!

According to Potatogoodness.com:

"In 1536 Spanish Conquistadors conquered Peru, discovered the flavors of the potato, and carried them to Europe. Before the end of the sixteenth century, families of Basque sailors began to cultivate potatoes along the Biscay coast of northern Spain. Sir Walter Raleigh introduced potatoes to Ireland in 1589 on the 40,000 acres of land near Cork. It took nearly four decades for the potato to spread to the rest of Europe."

http://www.potatogoodness.com/all-ab...facts-history/

Spud :)

The bike is still not fully run in as it has only 1100km on the clock so everything is still a little tight. I traveled along at 80-90km/h and it is fine at this and the seat is comfortable. I find it ideal if you want a nicely leisurely spin which is the way I want to do this Photo Rally and also to prove that a little Chinese bike is capable of doing it. 8) I have a Royal Enfield 500cc and a couple of Jawa 350's if I need to move along at a quicker pace :D

I have a Royal Enfield 500cc and a couple of Jawa 350's if I need to move along at a quicker pace.

Taken out of the context of comparison, this in and of itself is a really funny statement. :lol:

I very much like the Enfields. I can see myself with one someday.

Mine is an Enfield Bullet 500cc but they need a lot of TLC.

Beautiful shots. I need to visit the home islands and spend some quality time there.

It's strange really when you live near all this you take it for granted. When I look at pictures like Fastdoc had of Washington State and others such as Spud had up of Idaho and Wyoming I think WOW I wish I lived there! For me if I could change one thing about Ireland it would be that we could swap a few more weeks of rain for a few weeks of sunshine! Other than that it is a lovely country to live in or visit.

Black clouds this morning but as yesterday was a washout I decided to take my chances and head for my 5th destination in the Photo Rally which is an old stone fountain called Stroan Fountain just outside Thomastown in County Kilkenny. This was a round trip of 180 km so not bad for a Sunday morning. Can't be doing history lessons every week so here is your own self train history lesson
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3...0512104122.jpg

This is it in real life almost 350 years old. The fountain not the bike!
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/579/20130512104102.jpg

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/3...0512104159.jpg

Visited Jerpoint Abbey on the way back and as you will see it is being renovated at present.
Holding up well after 830 years!
http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/5...0512102050.jpg

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/6...0512102213.jpg

History lesson 2 here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerpoint_Abbey
http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/2...0512102147.jpg