Wednesday 21 August - Doublin’ down on Dublin; north to Navan (which feels like Alaska)

We arrived in Dublin about 9.30am today after three long but uneventful flights, except that on the 12-hour overnight leg from Singapore to Munich we were alongside a family of mum and dad and their two toddlers, aged three and two.  The kids took it in turns to scream the place down, so sleep was not really an option for us.  Nevertheless when we arrived in Dublin we put sleep deprivation to one side, collected our Toyota hybrid and headed north, avoiding the toll roads so we could take a leisurely drive through the countryside while we became accustomed to our car, and visit a few sites that are on our list for today.

It was a bit chilly when we arrived, and a bit overcast, but it was generally a pretty good day and we congratulated ourselves for bringing some good weather to Ireland.  That was to be short-lived and we were soon to find that Ireland truly can have four seasons in one day.

Our first stop was the Hill of Tara, about 50km from Dublin, where we entered the 17^th century church that is now used as the information centre, purchased our Heritage Cards and were treated to a private viewing of a 20-minute video describing the history of the site, which dates back to Neolithic times.  Over the past sixty years or so, archaeologists have found evidence of sophisticated earthworks, over many, many hectares to form patterns and natural fortifications for primitive religious rites and burials.  As late as the middle ages, the site was used as the venue for the consecration of Irish kings.

Unfortunately in that twenty minutes the weather changed completely. When we came out it was raining, windy and cold.  So we had a quick walk across the site and back into the warmth of our car.  We headed in the direction of our next stop and on the way passed a delightful little country pub, Crocketts Bar at Bective (dating back to 1756), so we went in to get some lunch.  We had a good chat with barman Declan, who has recently returned from three months working on the Sydney Light Rail project.

Refreshed and replenished, we continued on to the ruins of the 12th century  Bective Abbey, then on the gorgeous village of Trim, with flowers growing on all sides along the narrow roads that snake through the village.  We again braved the elements and had a walk around the imposing ruins of Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, built over a thirty-year period by Hugh de Lacy on land given to him by King Henry II.  A most impressive site, bounded by the river on one side and surrounded by extant walls.  In its hey-day boats would come up the river to deliver goods and the castle walls were also surrounded by a moat.

We then made our way to Navan and the Ardboyne Hotel, most impressive, with bars, restaurant and conference facilities but an Olde-Worlde atmosphere.  We have already had a hot bath and will have an early dinner in the hotel before early to bed to catch up on our beauty sleep.