The Dying Breed 'Family Butcher'

Like most, I wouldn't give a hoot on old churches and ruins like most people do. But then again as I begin to mature through time and seeing the changes from politic to religion, from a humble farmland migrate into the top IT and Scientific industry country, all with the expense of EU negligence which our politician played. Little did we realized these could be our downfall. So we better leave this subject to the  Bertie, as he knows what best for Ireland.

Lets not talk about fables and folklore's but the importance is really a nice Sunday Roast. Ireland has a very fascinating culture, without the English and their greed that leads to potato famine, there won't be USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others. So we consider that a blessing as we can't be farmers all our lives. Its so funny, deep in the forest of Borneo you wouldn't be surprise see a short curly hair aborigines with dayak or dusun blood with a name called Michael Murphy. The picture above show how the Irish cares about the origins. They don't simply demolished the 17th century stone house instead they extend it generations after another. Why? It leave a landmark that one day their forefathers will come back and hardly recognized his land he once lived in. Unfortunately they won't.

Here we are the land of last Leprechauns, I am not really good at pin point the exact history or care about how the town is built and why there are leprechauns. My main intentiuon is to find the best piece of steak in the entire Emerald Isle. The last time I had a real good one that lingers in my brain was in the year 1993. A small town up in the north called Ballymena., where Liam Neeson was born.

Time stood still, just like Orson Welles 'Twilight Zone' movies, nothing chance except some new weighing machines and the rules of HSE cleanliness procedure.

Simple packaging, no fancy M&S nutritious info, you pay for the the real organic price, no frills from over exaggerated photo marketing temptations. Just plain food old stuff from local abattoir. In fact they raise, they slaughtered, the sell.

  
True Irish, just like Guinness the flavors. All prepared goodies goes back to the same method of production. Unlike stuff from the supermarket, If you ever live in Ireland and savor the real Irish meat from the family butcher, you will never ever find the comparison even its Dawn meat, Denny or Superquinn sausages.

Have you notice, even to this date with the IT age, they still use the Imperial measurements.  I am pretty sure if you ask the bottle babies to grab a pound of nuts, he will have no idea how many handful should he gather to get a pound...lol. But you ask them a pint they will easily tell you by saying I get piss on the 4th pints....lmao.

When we talk about Family Butcher, I mean the entire business is run by the family. Here you see a father and daughter team and at the back of the house his son and running the farm the mum. I've travel the entire 29 counties and 5 city council many times over for the past 2 decades. This is the last Mohigans of Ireland.

This is not a paid advertisement  nor am I related with the owner. It is my passion to seek the Best steak in Ireland. It is not based on my personal view on how good his steak was. Considering if you travel to all the counties every week and taste the steak yourself, you would know who is best. And make sure you don't cook it at home. Do it in the wilderness. NO Salt, No preservative, No pepper, No Sodium glutamate, No enhancing, just charbroiled or barbecue with whatever wood you fin in the forest. 

Wild Mushroom Soup tonight.

Life is great, after all we only live once, we seek fame and fortune, and by doing so we neglect some love ones left behind to fend for themselves. All in all, we have one thing in common the longing for the place we once grew up. But in search for monetary stability, many have sacrifice and leave their motherland. So at the end of the day, A piece of real Irish Steak will keep your memories left behind. A time to call home, be it Skype, Whatsapp or even a simple audio conversation shows that you care.
To all young and old that have left the country in seek for financial stability in faraway foreign land.
We miss ya.... Sláinte

Castletown The Wonderful Barn

 Goggling on images lead me to find out something so unique and hidden in Ireland. I've been living here for more than 2 decades and didn't realize there is a hidden gem right at my doorstep which is about 1/2 an hour drive. Before we get to the point, I light to share with you on the journey. from M50 heading to Leixlip and Celbridge, pass a place call Salmon's Leap. But I don't see no Salmon leaping after standing here for more than an hour. So I go ahead and in search for this Wonderful Barn. There are no maps, it just said between Celbridge and Leixlip on the edge of Castletown.

The info was Castletown, so I have to pass through Leixlip and Celbridge which is the birthplace of Sir Arthur Guinness, stop by to take a shot of this statue of him. Looks like this village never change since his time.

Well, I reach Castletown House, but I can't see any wonderful barn, this house was build in 1722, a Palladian design. As usual lots of windows, maybe there are no electricity during that time. So I walk around asking for direction with everyone I come across but in vain.

Met a couple of ladies doing their daily walk and strike a conversation with them on where the wonderful barn was. And Susan the chatty box was so helpful, but her guidance leads me nowhere. But she did say something interesting. She ask me do you know where the word Gazebo comes from? Beats me! I am in garden design for so long I didn't care to ask this question myself. Picture above the gazebo is for Lady Louisa which she love to sit there for nice cuppa tea. Anyway, during the olden age, they called their man BO something like boy pr boyfriend. They ladies those days admire their man and proud of their achievement. So this structure is for ladies to sit and Gaze at their man....So that's it. I share with her on the Fcuk you stories of where the word come from with the Yew tree beside. Good laugh and we parted.

So before I begin for the search from Castletown house, I get myself a pot of tea and a scones in this cafe. I see none pamphlets or article about The wonderful barn.

Part of the Palladian House Design, great for wedding photography. It is build in such a way no matter how you align your camera you never able to achieve a vertical line. With your eyes you can align the 7 straight pillars. But when you use your camera it looks like slanting on one side, but if you look at individual pillar they are all straight. Strange.

Here you are, the cream of the crop. After asking more than 10 people on the direction to get here. I finally found it. It seem like no one really pay any attention on these buildings. You see lots of gret monuments, castles and bridges. But have you ever see these in your life. What is it used for? Why are the stairs outside?
Good question, you have to find out yourself then.

Here an image of what I see, I am not a fan of HDR, I like you to see what I see, no frills or to beautify.

The great entrance to The Wonderful Barn. I wonder why they call such a name? Unfortunately, the house been completely seal to prevent vandalism. The Guinness family should have do something like the Castletown House. OPW don't have the budget. I guess.

 Here from another angle. To view more go to my video.

Check here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Barn

Armagh The Saints Land

To be honest, I am not a religious person, but I have fate in religion after all its the only company in the world that never ever goes into liquidation. Here I am  taking a shot over looking the other St Patrick Cathedral (Church of England). I am at the doorstep of Roman Catholic St Patrick wondering if Paddy was here, which church will he go first.

As usual, the Roman Catholic are really impressive, more of a richness feel, what I am trying to say is basically they are loaded. Unlike the other church, you can easily define what church you're in as soon as you enter the main entrance. Until today, I still can't figure out why churches have a main door but to enter you have to go through the side door. Is that door only for Jesus or the Saints? 

 You gotta be kidding me, I wonder how many Brasso needed to polish this. I have hard time polishing my door bell which is smaller than an apple, let alone this.

Sometimes it's easier to introduce new ipad games than Jesus. He is asking for an upgrade IOS 7 on his Ipad mini. Well, that's the new generation. I wonder whether there is any game that focus on bible understanding for toddlers.

So as you go up the stairs, you are watch by 11 saints which I think they are and 2 more on the side. Don't recognized any of them as they look the same to me. I wonder why 11 not a dozen of them. Are they saints or apostle?

This Church here is St Patrick ( Church of England ) have been destroy 17 times. Its hard to understand mankind, destroy, rebuilt destroy rebuilt and why would  they want to do that. Why can't they just leave religion alone, they got nothing to do with power hunger politician. I begin to hate politics. Its all man made trouble. Here they are now refurbish to make it look good.

Met the Priest there and have a few chat. Life is simple why so complicate. If you have sorrow drop in the church anywhere you are, let god absorb all your trouble. No matter how hard you try and at the end of the day you are in the hands of God. 

The Last Supper unlike the Leonardo, its drawn in a different era. When was the last time you have supper with 12 people?

We didn't expect to get into 2 churches at the same time, and the it make me feel a traitor, first to Roman Catholic then to Church of England. But then think again, St Patrick have 2 big Cathedral to go to, why not us. Doesn't matter its RC or COE as long as religion is concern we can find solidarity there. While others find that in Facebook. At least, I feel great in any of them without the hassle of answering the mobile or checking my FB for the next 3 hours.

St Doulagh The Hermit

When you hear the rung of the bell, most of the time its the call for a prayer. For 3 times a day at a 6 hour interval it rings. But today, many don't notice it, except for some religious folks you see on the bus or walkway, some will do the gesture of respect. Now, we going to take you back to the 6th century where the practice of anchorite does exist in Ireland. Historian describe they are individually seclude themselves in caves or chambers. Here in Ireland few kilometres from Dublin city, there is an old church dated back 12th century where a Saint live.

Let me give you a guided tour into the world of Hermits, see the picture of the left a plaque, that's is Rev Richard  Meade Swift, first cousin of Johnathan Swift, the book you probably read when you were just a boy 'Gullivers Travel'. He is buried right here in the graveyard beside the church. Walk straight into the altar turn right, you will will be transported back to the past where most monks lived and pray during the early 12th century.

As you enter, we are facing the altar and beside there is a fireplace, note the stones are pretty small as to compare with the later version of  churches or monasteries. If you look carefully, the design is about the same as Mellifont, Monasterboice and St Kevin in Glendalough. Under need the floor which is covered with Liscannor flag stone lies many skeletons exhume from the graveyard. Its not really a big church from inside. But from outside it seems like a castle or fortress. Probably the walls are very thick. You see gallant in this old church. There are no tainted glass, no huge murals or richness of a church. I guess its the way of the Hermits. Chairs, Windows, Lectern and everything is slightly smaller than average size. Probably its a way of life during that time, however these are all replicas. Its very simple church, and pretty eerie too.

On the right side of the altar, you see a hole. Interesting isn't it? Why? It was during the medieval time, there are lots of Lepers in Ireland, they are not allow to enter the church for prevent the disease to be spread to others. That's where Leopardstown name came from. Most of are damn. But the church don't. The little hole there is for receiving their sacrament.

 At the back of the hall, a strange hole. The hall is actually not big, didn't measure but I guess its about 18"x10", we still in ground floor. This hole suppose to have super healing power. It was said to cure many illness with regards to headache. So I pop my head in and kiss the black stone, like what I did in Blarney Castle. I got a tumor remove years ago, but the headache still lingers in my head. Strange but it works for me till now as I write. Will see  what happen for the next few days.

After what I did, David our guide told me its the tomb of St Doulagh, I am kissing the side of the stone tomb.

Going up was scary, I wonder why the steps are so narrow and small, probably those days the people are either small or very skinny due to less food or maybe it was design to keep the invaders with armor suit from going up. The steps are uneven, and it seem all the stones are well polish through centuries of walking up and down. Piece of advice, its not an easy climb. If you overweight or have babies its not advisable to do it. There are three stories flight of stairs up and going down in different direction. Its like a maze inside, although its small but the interior are made in such a way that makes you feel lost inside without a guide.

 Here suppose to be the bedroom of St Doulagh, there are no beds, it was believe they sleep on hays, its quite cold in here. Stop complaining about your bed now.

See something odd about this seat. Its not round neither its straight forward. Suppose to be the seat for the Abbot of this church, slightly angle to a small window to the left. It give a view directly to the Well, where the Abbot can see the happenings going on down there. The Well is pretty small with 2' of water during that time and overflow to a kind of a bath where they do the baptism. I guess they must have lots of baptism going on during those days. Now the water have run dry, its a ruins.

 

Imagine how small and steep the spiral stairs are, not easy to hold a camera and the other hand to catch my little boy in case he falls. Its design in such a way which is not good for left handler. Its build clockwise from bottom, so the right handler wants to invade by climbing up, he will in for a big surprise, the monks from the top can defeat him from the right. Pretty complicate isn't it. Experience it yourself.
They don't open for public on normal days except Sunday from 3pm to 5pm. for visitation. NO charge but some contribution are appreciated.

This is called the 'Murder Hole', and from the top if anyone dares to fight the way in, they will be splashed with hot oil or arrows. I thought most religious people are calm and kind. But they have no choice, they need to stop intruders or invaders. I bet they are probably rich and powerful those days, maybe not the hermit or monks but the Abbot. It is so strong that this building still survives till today probably due to the design.

Its not a steps, this lead you to nowhere, but under here lies the infamous St Doulagh, the opposite side is where my head was shove in to received cures from his grave. There are no evidence of his body lies in there as excavation of this part are prohibited. If a stories lasted so long and historians can provide so much details, there is no reason for me not to believe. Rox felt some presents in here, maybe she is psychic.

When you travel back in time, you learn a lot from  the old ruins, churches, breweries, monasteries and others. From the frontage, you won't see much history except an old church. As you get in deeper into the history, you will be amaze of what have taken place long before we arrived into this world.

If you travel to Malahide castle, you won't notice this strange building on the road side. Its a well which I have mention earlier. Just beside the St Doulagh Church. At medieval time, the water plate are pure and  and this particular well comes from nature, the over flow of the water lead to the next picture.

Strange right? This suppose to be full immersion Baptism. Now imagine you are there to be baptized during the 12th century. I think those days to convert Pagans to Catholic is very hard and if they want to do it, They will do it in Glory.

Front and back of the tree. This is called the 'Thorn Tree'. Trust me the locals here still believe in superstition just like most Eastern people. They never cut down any trees for a good reason and if the can prevent it, they rather  avoid every way. Here you see the a wall have to be reconstruct around the tree.

And in the old map you see 'Catherine's Well' beside here.

If you want to know what was the place you living in right now, you can go to osi.ie

Try decoding this, click the above picture to find out more.

Imagine you were sitting there during the 18th century.