Our last full day in Ireland! :( :( 

We decided to head south to the port cities of Waterford and New Ross . Waterford was a Viking city, then a Norman city, before it became an English/Irish city. After the Normans, it gets a little muddled, but it was always a trading center to the rest of the world.

Our first stop was to the Medieval Museum. It is a great museum with some outstanding displays, artifacts, and basic history information. It was probably one of the best museums we have visited and was well worth our time.  

Waterford is a very nice city -- clean and easy to walk around. Across the street and around the corner was the Waterford Crystal factory and store. Contrary to guidebooks, Waterford is back in business again and making fine crystal here in Waterford. We had no trouble leaving their showroom without purchasing. The grizzly bear I am standing next to costs a mere $40,000! After a quick visit to the Christ Church Cathedral and we were on our way.

Our next stop was New Ross, another port city . For centuries, Waterford controlled all the trade along the bay and up the rivers feeding into the bay. It was royally decreed. New Ross puttered along, probably due to smuggling, until the 1800s when they got the decree removed. The port became a grain center and was also a departure point for people fleeing Ireland due to the famine during the 1840s. We stopped at the Dunbrody Emigrant Ship which is an exact replica of the ship. The captain was a prolific writer to his employers so a great record exists of the ship and its activities. After the usual five minute film and walk through the displays, the guide, in character and costume, guided us through the ship introducing us to two passengers who told us about their experiences on the ship. Fun! (It would have been about 80 years earlier than Dayna's ancestor would have boarded a ship to America.) We both enjoyed that stop.

On our way home to the cottage we stopped just outside of town to view a 13th century castle . Grennan Castle was built by the founder of our little Thomastown, Thomas FitzAnthony.

Can you believe it? We had dinner at a Chinese restaurant here in town. It was surprisingly good and a very classy place, as Chinese restaurants go. A nice diversion.

That puts us in our usual evening stop. It's real name is the Bridge Brook Arms . . . we have finally seen the name above the door in the daylight! The regulars are filing in. We will soon be filing out to pack and get ready to set off early tomorrow AM.