The second day

Day 2 included Glasnevin Cemetery, Trim Castle, Knowth and Newgrange, and Crogy Rocks Nature Preserve (in Northern Ireland). We dealt with rain all day, off and on. After all , it's Ireland. The fields don't get green without lots of rain. 

Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery was an unscheduled visit on our way out of Dublin. It is the largest (Catholic) cemetery in Ireland and the resting place of many people who shaped Irish history over the past two centuries, including Michael Collins. Glasnevin Cemetery contains the world's largest collection of Celtic crosses. The tower you see is a memorial to David O'Connell, a 19th Century Irish Nationalist Leader.  While at the cemetery, we met a man who told us about the "Forgotten Ten" and some other Irish revolutionaries. The Forgotten Ten were ten members of the IRA who were executed by the British. They were reburied 80 years later at Glasnevin with full state honors. We saw their graves.

O'Connell Tower

The Forgotten Ten

Celtic cross

Trim Castle

Trim Castle is the largest, best-preserved and most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. It was built In 1172, shortly after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in Ireland. It took 30 years to build. The 1995 film Braveheart with Mel Gibson was filmed at Trim Castle, with the buildings doubling as a number of Scottish and English castles. We enjoyed walking around the expansive castle grounds. Unfortunately, our time was limited because we were due at our next stop. Lara always kept me on schedule.

A war trophy from the Crimean War (1854-1855)

Clogy Rocks Nature Preserve

The last stop of the day after visiting the passage tombs (another post) was Clogy Rocks Nature Reserve on the A2 in Northern Ireland. It was supposed to be a great place for viewing wildlife, especially seals. We didn't see any in the boggy waters. We did see sheep grazing beside the reserve. I took the first of many pictures of sheep (just ask Lara!). 

No seals, but sheep

There was a tower-house castle nearby: Kilclief. It was built in the 14th century. It was four stories high. According to the web, it is probably the oldest datable tower-house in the region.