We have a routine in Study Abroad Ireland. Our first Monday is always a bank holiday in Ireland. That means that the classroom we use at the Athlone Institute of Technology is not available to us. So, even though it’s the first day of summer school in Arizona, we always take a bus trip to somewhere interesting and beautiful.
But . . . the bank holiday is always the first Monday in June. Given the vagaries of calendars this year our first Monday was the last Monday in May. We had the bus all reserved so we went ahead and took the trip anyway.
We visited Emo Court and The Rock of Dunamase. Emo Court is a beautiful Georgian estate with fabulous grounds. Dunamase is the ruins of Strongbow’s castle in southwest Leinster.
Dunamase was glorious. The views from there are panoramic, a fact that was not lost on Strongbow. From the top of the hill it was possible to see every shade of green that the eye can perceive. Add to that image all the hawthorn trees in full riotous bloom with masses of white and pink blossoms.
Barry gave a great lecture that tied Emo Court, the estate of an English lord, with Dunamase, the stronghold of the first Norman ruler. It was Strongbow’s rule that broke the tradition of the election of provincial kings and opened the door to eventual British rule.
Carol and Mike Kearney arrived in time to hear most of Barry’s lecture. The picture at the top is of Charlie Belk pondering the landscape and the lecture.
