Storming the Castle!

Last weekend Adam and I decided to get out on a little day trip.  We drove North to County Tipperary to the town of Cahir (pronounced "care").  Cahir is home to one of Ireland's largest and most well-preserved castles.  As it is still early in the tourist season, we had the place pretty much to ourselves.  We received a private tour and then had fun running around and checking out every nook and cranny!  

We took lots of pictures.  One in particular I'm not sure I really want to share.  It seemed pretty funny at the time, but now I'm hoping not to offend anyone with this bit of crude humor.  I did promise to share the good, the bad, and the ugly, so you can decide which category this one falls under.  

Obviously, indoor plumbing was not invented when this place was built in 1142. Sanitation was very primitive in medieval castles. Early toilets or "garderobes" were typically built in to the outer wall with a long drop below to the moat or river. Alternatively, a long shaft into the ground would suffice.

Our guide actually told us that when they needed to clean their clothes they hung them above these toilets because the natural ammonia that built up killed lice, and disease. YUCK!  The guide also informed us that it was common to go to the toilet in a group because castles were often under attack and attempts to break in  through the toilet shaft were quite common.  Not exactly the same reason women go to the ladies in groups now a days!  

Here is another funny picture that is far less offensive.

That's Adam standing in the great hall under the ancient giant deer antlers.  

 I also like this picture of Adam standing outside at the other end of a musket hole.

Here are the rest of our pictures in and around the castle.

Knock, knock

Big door!

Little door!

View from inside the castle walls.

Please do not touch the furniture!

The great hall

deep thought... yeah right!

This one may also be a tad inappropriate too!

I'm on top of the world!

So picturesque with swans swimming in the river Suir which surrounds the castle.

Now we have two castles under our belts!  I'm sure over the course of the next two years we will visit more castles than necessary, but for now the novelty hasn't quite worn off.