Athassel Priory

Athassel Priory in Ireland is a little outside a small town called Golden and not so far from Tipperary. It dates back to the 12th century when it was founded by Augustinians. Many alterations were carried out over the next three hundred years which are still evident but it was dissolved in 1537 and then neglected by its owner and fell in to ruin. It is a National Monument of Ireland but has no commercial or managed side to it. The Priory is in the middel of a field, used for cattle, with no parking and access is over a stone wall and a grass path. In many ways this made it a more satisfying visit than some of the more commercialised attractions and, apart from the cattle, we pretty much had the place to our self almost as if we had stumbled across a forgotten ruin.

Kilkenny Castle

Staying with Kilkenny we have Kilkenny Castle, a grand structure that can trace it origins back to the 13th century. It has been rebuilt and remodelled over the years partly due to changing family fortunes but also due to conflict - Oliver Cromwell damaged the castle in the siege of Kilkenny in 1650. It underwent some rebuilding in Victorian times with an attempt to restore its medieval appearance. Over coming years the castle suffered with death duties taking their toll and was heavily damaged in the Irish civil War in 1922. Come the mid 1930s the owners auctioned off the contents and the castle was abandoned for 30 years. In 1967 it was sold to a Restoration Trust for £50 and is now managed by the Office of Public Works and open to the public.The contents largely represent the period around the Victorian remodelling.

St Marys Cathedral, Kilkenny

I have to confess to entering such places primarily for historical and architectural reasons. This particular structure is not so old being commenced in 1843 and opened in 1857 and the grey stone facade is almost a little dull but if these should be minor complaints then the interior more than compensates.