Ireland and Scotland – Errant Thoughts…

If I were asked to pick the country I have enjoyed visiting the most I would have to say it is a tie between Ireland and Scotland. This may be because these two countries represent over half of my ancestry, and if you add in Scandinavia, which helped populate both Ireland and Scotland, I’ve covered nearly 70%. It may be because they share a common language, although I have had my share of challenges with the various brogues, and they’ve had some challenges with my accent as well. It may be the history, being an old history teacher exploring castles, battlefields, museums, ruins, legends, folklore, heroes, villains will beat a day at a beach every time. It may be the beautiful cities and countrysides, even mentioning it takes my breath away. The forty shades of green, rolling hills, the highlands, mountains, coastlines, cliffs, forests, farmlands, Edinburgh, Dublin, Inverness and Galway. It may be the music, because I have certainly become a devotee of Irish and Scottish music and instruments (yes, I even love bagpipes and uilleann pipes). It may be because I love the food. Yes, I have heard folks say that the food in Ireland and the UK is boring… well, they just don’t like plain, hearty food in plentiful portions. It may be because I love the ales and stouts… which I do. I know that many folks enjoy hoppy beers like IPAs, or beers with additives increasing the alcohol or adding additional flavors like fruits, coffee, syrups, etc. For me there is nothing better than a fine malty ale or stout. It may be because I love pubs. Well, why wouldn’t I? The pubs are where I can eat the best food, drink the best beverages, and listen to the music I love. Finally, it may be the people who seem to me to be the kindest and most welcoming folk in all the world. Bottom line, no one thing makes Ireland and Scotland my favorites… everything does.

Ireland: Check out the gallery of pictures including people, places, castles, ruins, landscapes, churches and stuff I find interesting.

The Wicklow Mountains and the Wicklow Gap

The Rock of Cashel, the Abby of St. Patrick

A typical Irish street. This one is in Kinsale

Kilmainham Gaol, actively used by the English during the Irish rebellions.

The Chapel in Kilmainham Gaol where Joseph Mary Plunket and Grace Gifford were wed the night before he was executed for being a part of the Easter Uprising. Their story is told in Plunket’s poem, and the song “Grace”.

This is a fresco that Grace Gifford Plunket painted on the wall of her cell while she was imprisoned in Kilmainham Gaol.

Cliffs of Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Can you spot the woman sitting on the cliff?

Kim and I Sitting on the “Stone Outside Dan Murphy’s Door” made famous by the song of the same name

Kissing the Blarney Stone in Blarney Castle

The 9000 year lease granted to Arthur Guinness for the site of his brewery in Dublin.

Scotland: Check out the gallery of pictures including people, places, castles, ruins, landscapes, churches and stuff I find interesting.

Grayfriars Bobby Statue – erected to celebrate the loyal little dog who spent 14 years guarding the grave of his owner

Street in Edinburgh claimed to be an inspiration for Diagon Alley in the “Harry Potter” series

Edinburgh Castle - the best castle I've every seen.... so far — Edinburgh Castle – this is my favorite castle of all I’ve visited so far!

Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland who freed Scotland from the English.

Sir William Wallace a leader of the First Scottish War of Independence. He was declared the Guardian of Scotland after his victory at Stirling Bridge over the English. When he was tried for treason he said in his own defense, "I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject." — Sir William Wallace, leader of the First Scottish War of Independence. Later when tried for treason by the English he argued in his defense that “I could not be a traitor to Edward, for I was never his subject.”

Rosslyn Chapel – a Knights Templar chapel in Scotland. It was made famous in the Dan Brown Book, “The DaVinci Code”

William Wallace's Claymore located in the William Wallace tower in Stirling — William Wallace Claymore

A view from Stirling Castle — Stirling Castle

Kim and I having a wee dram of Glenlivet 16 year old Scotch aged in a sherry cask — Kim and I having a wee dram of Glenlivet 16 year old scotch aged in a sherry cask

Marker for the Battle of Culloden — Monument on the site of the Battle of Culloden where the English defeated the army of Scots lead by Bonnie Prince Charlie. I have no idea what kind of leader Prince Charlie might have been but I can tell you he was lousy at choosing the site for a decisive battle. This is one of the few flat pieces of land I saw in the Highlands. The Scottish troops charged across a flat field covered in thistle and gorse. Both of these plants have wicked thorns and the Scots were in kilts (just imaging it). The Scots were armed with spears, swords, bows, axes, etc. while the English (about a quarter of a mile away) were armed with muskets. Many Scots were killed before they even reached the English lines. The battle only lasted for about a hour with about 2,000 Scots killed to 300 English.

Urquhart Castle located on Loch Ness — Urquhart Castle Ruins on Loch Ness

View of Loch Ness from Urquhart Castle ruins — View of Loch Ness from the ruins of Urquhart Castle

Highland Coos, also called hairy beasties@

Kim and I surrounded by Gorse. This plant with its beautiful yellow flowers covers much of the Highlands and has a massive number of wicked thorns

Eilean Donan Castle located on Scotland’s western coast at the confluence of three lochs

Thistle, the flower of Scotland. The tassels on a Scottish sporran are intended to depict the thistle. — Thistle, the flower of Scotland. It is said that it became the flower of Scotland because it helped defeat the Vikings attempting to raid Scotland. As the story goes, the Vikings landed and the Viking Chieftain stepped out of his boat and took a few steps allowing a thistle to pass between his legs (note, thistle have plenty of thorns). He wasn’t wearing any undergarments so some thorns pricked and stabbed at his “manhood”. He decided the land was cursed and got on his boat and left.

A wide variety of Scottish eggs. — A variety of Scotch eggs

3 responses to “Ireland and Scotland”

Ken Isaac

August 29, 2023

Hello … my old friend Freddie & I, we are going on a road trip to Dumfries and Galloway next week & I thought of you because of your love of Scotland.
He’s 78 & I’m 75 … what could possibly go wrong?
I’ll post pics to make you jealous ???
1. Dave
  
  August 30, 2023
  
  Have a great time and please post pictures and suggestions of places and pubs I need to go to!
  
  Dave
Ken Isaac

August 29, 2023

Hello … my old friend Freddie & I, we are going on a road trip to Dumfries and Galloway next week & I thought of you because of your love of Scotland.
He’s 78 & I’m 75 … what could possibly go wrong?
I’ll post pics to make you jealous ???