Powering through Powerscourt

Today we toured the gardens at Powerscourt.

The statuary was very impressive. I’m afraid my photographic composition skills aren’t up to the challenge.

Sugar Loaf Mountain in the distance.


Snakes on an urn:

I told mom we need to stop and smell the roses. So we did.


The gates were very impressive.

Powerscourt House in the distance.



For me one of the highlights was the pet cemetery. I’m including only one of the graves marking the final resting place of a champion Aberdeen Angus and a Jersey cow who gave over 100,000 gallons of milk. Most of the graves were for dogs and horses. The epitaphs were touching. I think I like these Wingfield people, who owned the estate until the 1960s, when the descendants of the Slazenger sports empire bought it.



Japanese garden.



I took a ridiculous number of photos. This is a small sample.

Today we had lunch at the Avoca cafe, just like yesterday. Then I got some very simple directions to get me to the famous Glendalough monastic site, roughly a half hour’s drive. Except the route I was given, through the Sally Gap, was closed due to a fire on the mountain. Sigh. As I retraced my way down windy roads to Powerscourt Hotel, I saw a sign for Glendalough pointing in the opposite direction to the way I’d been. The person at the Powerscourt entrance kiosk said that’s the main road (why wasn’t I sent there first?). I tried following that road and found that, at the third fork, there was no sign telling me which way to Glendalough. I took a detour that took me to a large Avoca store my friend had told me about in Kilmacanogue (totally wrong direction). We had a look round then, with better directions, went to Glendalough, maybe 45 minutes. Scenes along the way:


I’d like the record to reflect I do ask mom whether we are doing too much and she always is up for the next adventure. So,

We get around. We didn’t get to Glendalough until 5 or so due to my first two failed attempts.

I took some photos before dinner and some after, when the light was softer.

I’m not providing much in the way of history here b/c the tour continues each day.

Me being artsy after dinner.


Names that predominate in the graveyard: Byrne, D’Arcy, McGeoghan, Cullen, Doyle. One stone was for a doctor whose patients thanked him for his tireless efforts on their behalf.

And here’s me after dinner at Casey’s Bar & Bistro, where mom and I shared a pizza.

The day began with an elaborate buffet at the Powerscourt Hotel and ended with us in a black tiled, dimly lit cool pool. Cool in every sense. Lovely way to end the day.
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