Today was the highlight of the trip for Jo. We visited Waterford Crystal!!! Did she leave her credit cards with me? No!!! Instead she had a wonderful time in the sales department. We did the tour first of all and after witnessing the process to make the crystal, blow, cut, engrave it is no wonder it is so expensive. Some of the pieces that they have on display are so beautiful. In the factory entrance, there is a grandfather clock, made from crystal. The Church of Ireland here in Waterford has 3 magnificent Waterford crystal chandeliers.
We then did a drive to Graiguenamanagh. It has a 6.5 km walk along the river to St Mullins. Unfortunately we did not have the time to do the 13km walk (we would have had to walk back to the car) so we drove to St Mullins where there are ruins of several monasteries one dating from 9th century. There was also a Norman fort. The high dirt mounds were used before they eventually built the stone Norman castles.
In the Lonely Planet they talked about a café at an old grain store and we ended up there for lunch. The owner asked us how we found out about it so told him we saw it in the book. Had to go and get it and show it to him as he did not know that it was in the book. Martin & Elmer O’Brien were their names – lovely people and tasty lunch.
It was a really pretty drive back to Waterford as we passed along several ridges and you could see out over the valleys to the picture postcard green pastures, separated by hedges.
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