July 3, 2004: Our next stop was at the Minnocks Farmhouse B&B just outside Birr. This is a working farm, and the dog shown was rounding up the dairy cows and bringing them in just after we arrived.
July 3, 2004: Our next stop was at the Minnocks Farmhouse B&B just outside Birr. This is a working farm, and the dog shown was rounding up the dairy cows and bringing them in just after we arrived.
July 3, 2004: This is the Minnocks Farmhouse, where we stayed for our second night.
July 3, 2004: This is Roz in front of The Thatch bar and grill, where we ate dinner.
July 3, 2004: Cows grazing near the Minnocks farmhouse
July 3, 2004: After dinner, we set out to try to find Leap Castle (shown here, one of the most haunted castles in Ireland) so that we could visit it the following day. The central structure was built during the 1200s, and the two wings on either side were added during the 1700s or 1800s. It was burned in 1922 during Ireland's war for independence.
July 3, 2004: Part of the wing that has not been restored.
July 3, 2004: Part of the wing that has not been restored.
July 3, 2004: Another building sits to the side of the castle, and possibly once sheltered livestock or slaves.
July 3, 2004: The driveway coming into the entrance to the castle.
July 3, 2004: The driveway coming into the entrance to the castle. There are a couple of flights of steps sitting to the side intended for future rennovations.
July 3, 2004: Part of the wing that has not been restored.
July 3, 2004: Rosalind by the gates to Leap Castle.
July 3, 2004: Part of the wing that has not been restored.
July 3, 2004: The owner's dog finally went inside and found the owner. He agreed to show us the inside of the castle the following day.
July 3, 2004: A tree grew in part of the wing that has not been restored.
July 3, 2004: Sunset outside our window at Minnocks Farmhouse.
July 4, 2004: When we returned the following morning, we saw some of the inside of Leap Castle. This sits just inside the front door. The owner, Sean Ryan, plays the tin whistle. He gave us a history of Leap Castle and the clans that occupied it, as well as some of the history of Ireland.
July 4, 2004: Building ruins
July 4, 2004: Part of the wing that has not been restored.