How It's Made

These exquisite pieces are made on site, following the practice developed over the centuries.

Specially shaped wooden moods are used to form the molten glass,

 as a glass blower forms the exterior do the vessel.  

He then puts the shape into a form in a water bath to create the inside of the vessel. 

The glass is cut and sanded to create the basic shape.

Grid lines, as guides for the glass cutters are drawn onto the vessels

and used by craftsmen to create intricate designs.

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This crystal piano required 11 blocks of crystal to create.

This is the beginnings of a People's Choice Award.

 

Crystal Palace

At the Waterford Crystal Shop and Factory in Waterford,  craftsmen take molten glass shape it and cut it into ornate and dazzling pieces.

The Player Tournament trophy, 2008

Beautiful!

 

Royal Welcome

Our lodging for the night, an 1800th century castle in the countryside, Faithlegg Castle. 

Treats on the Trail

On little sleep, driving in unfamiliar surroundings and hiking 3 km...of course we needed a treat. 

Til Death Do Us Part

Taking wedding photos in a cemetery gives new meaning to that phrase. 

Glendalough Monastery

In the valley of two lakes, aptly named Upper Lake and Lower Lake, the Glendalough monastery is a landmark testament to faith throughout the ages.  Little remains of its earliest times in the 6 century, thought the remain buildings date to the 10 th - 12th centuries.

Deers greeted us near the shores of the Lower Lake. 

While duck frolicked in the Upper Lake. 

The building of the Monastery are made of stone, creating striking edifices on this green landscape.

Without a roof the cathedral is now open to the elements.  Ancient tombstone line now line the walls of the nave, sanctuary and sacristy of this building. The oldest stones that we found dated to the 1500s.

The Priest's house is in the foreground, with the Round Tower behind. The Round Tower did double duty serving as a landmark for visitors and storage for the community.

St. Kevin's church features a roof made of layers of stone, while tiny St. Keiran's church in the foreground is likely the oldest surviving building on this site dating to the 10th century. 

Woke up in a New Land

Our 10:35 p.m. flight was delayed to 11:10, then 11:30, then 1:30 a.m. Tired we dragged ourselves onto the plane for a 6 hour flight, waking up to craggy coast lines and green land as far as the eye could see. 

Landing in at the Dublin airport we were north of the city. After collecting our vehicle and getting excellent instructions from Larry our driver, we set off on the left hand side of road into fast paced Irish traffic. 

Surprisingly we are alive to tell the tale.