Our second day in Ireland began with breakfast at the Kilkenny Design Center, next to Butler House and once the grainery for the Butler family and Kilkenny Castle. Then we had a nice guided tour of Kilkenny Castle, home to the Earl of Ormond, Chief Butler of Ireland and the Butler family for over 700 years. The family moved out in 1932(?) and the castle fell into disrepair until they sold it to the city in 1967. Now it is beautifully restored.
We made a quick visit to the protestant cathedral in Kilkenny, where Barry and Jim climbed the 100 foot round tower and took in great views of the city before driving to Waterford. There, we toured the Waterford Crystal production facility and got a fascinating look at that process. Did some shopping, too!
After checking into the Dooley Hotel, we walked around the city looking for a restaurant, finally finding a little Italian wine cafe. We just finished watching the Irish national soccer team lose to Greece in the hotel bar. (We were in the bar, not the soccer match.) Next we plan to head to a local bar which has been brewing it's own "No. 9" whiskey for years.
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