Dunmore Caves
Joyce, Ciara, Beatrice, Michelle and Aoibhin
Justice and Peace Fitness Training!
Woodstock Gardens, Inistioge
Lunch time for steerage class! Dunbrody famine ship
OK, let`s see if we can get this thing to New York!
To mark the visit of two Kenyan Loreto students, Beatrice and Joyce, the Justice and Peace Group undertook a tour of some historical sites of Kilkenny. First stop on the day was the Dunmore Caves. The group were shown a tutorial video, which explained the formation and historical significance of the caves. Then we descended the several hundred steps into the mouth of the cave. Donal, our tour guide, told us about the Viking massacre of an estimated 1,000 people in the caves in the Bronze Age. Then we were shown some of the unusual calcium carbonate structures that are the main feature of the caves, some that date back millions of years. When Donal turned out the lights deep into the cave, we got some real insight into how it must have been for the women and children who sought refuge down there during the siege. Needless to say, we were relieved to return to daylight!
The next stop was the Woodstock Gardens in Inistioge. Our tour guide John gave us the history of the hollow Victorian house, last occupied by the Black and Tans, which was burned in 1922. The rest of the tour consisted of a walk of the beautifully landscaped gardens, which were full of paths, fountains and exotic trees. After a quick break for lunch, we boarded the bus again and continued on to New Ross.
Our final stop on our day trip was in the picturesque town of New Ross. As the town sits on the Barrow, it was the ideal site for large ships bringing Irish emigrants over to New York during the Famine. Now, a replica of one such ship, the Dunbrody, is docked on the quay. We were given a tour of the ship, which consisted of a video documentary on the building of the boat and its history, including John F. Kennedy’s visit to New Ross, from where his great-grandfather emigrated during the Famine. The group were taken out onto the ship and shown its three decks. This was an especially beneficial tour for Beatrice and Joyce as they got to experience one of the most significant events in Irish history.
It was a day thoroughly enjoyed by the entire group and we hope that it will help the two girls to remember their time her in Kilkenny when they return home to Kenya.
Article by Niamh Tuohy