Rugby and Castles

Hi everyone, Sorry it has been a while since my last post. I get busy and time flies by. So last weekend five of us guys went to see the Ireland vs. France Six Nations rugby match, and it was great. The whole game was exciting and it was a wonderful game to see for my first professional rugby game. The French scored the first try, but Ireland scored shortly after. The Irish kept it close throughout the first half, but it was the French who looked the most dangerous and most determined to win. I think it was like 13-10 at halftime with Ireland narrowly leading. The most memorable part of the first half was when one of the Irish forwards, the guy who eventually got man of the match, scored a try in right in front of us. We got tickets for the Standing Only section, which for those of you who have been to Croke Park is the section on top of the horseshoe shape of the rest of the stadium. We were pretty close to the field as you can tell by my pictures. Anyway, at the very beginning of the second half, the Irish came out with new determination, with Brian O'Driscoll (one of the all-time greats of rugby) scoring a magnificent try. The French kept it close with a try of their own, but the Irish never relinquished the lead. It did come down to the wire, though, with the French only two scores behind and knocking on the goal line for several minutes. Sorry to bore any of you with details, but for those who know a little bit about rugby it might make interesting reading. The game was extremely close, and both sets of fans were fired up. Unfortunately there were a lot of French in our area, but the Irish play spoke for itself. The only thing more satisfying for Irish rugby would have been to beat the English I think because the French haven't lost to the Irish in several years. So I just got back this afternoon from a day trip to the Mitchelstown Caves and Cashel Rock. The Mitchelstown Caves were kind of interesting, but they didn't allow any pictures inside, and I've definitely seen more impressive caves. Nonetheless, it was a fun experience. Cashel Rock, on the other hand, was by far and away an amazing sight. It's a 12th Century castle in the town of Cashel. We got to tour inside of it and walk around inside some of the buildings. Anyway, I've attached some pictures, which will speak for themselves. I'm about to head out to dinner with Laura for Valentine's Day. I want to wish all of you a happy Valentine's Day as well, and I hope you enjoy the pictures. Talk to you soon. Love, Jamie Croke Park from the street. The streets were packed with people the whole afternoon and night. The view coming out of the tunnel up into the seats. The Irish team warming up.More of the Irish team before the game. This is the only picture from the Mitchelstown Caves because they wouldn't let us take pictures inside. The Rock of Cashel from below. It belonged to the Church so it was mostly for religious purposes. The inside of the castle was littered with graves, most of them adorned with Celtic crosses. A replica of St. Patrick's Cross. Irish legend states that if you can reach around it and touch your fingertips together, wou won't have any toothaches ever again. Also, if you hop around it 9 times on one foot, you will be married within a year. I succeeded in reaching around it, but I did not attempt the hopping bit. This is some very wealthy family's tomb, built originally with a Celtic cross at the top. It was struck by a bolt of lightning and a good portion of the top was destroyed. Read into that what you will. The round tower. An old abandoned abbey viewed from Cashel Rock. The Round Tower from another view. Some stone carvings on a bench inside. The departing view of Cashel Rock.