We’re now skipping ahead four days. After our jaunt to Belfast, we departed Dublin the next day by air to Amsterdam. After a couple of days in Amsterdam we boarded Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship Brilliance of the Seas. From there we headed straight back to Ireland, making port in Waterford. Then it was onto a tour bus into the Irish countryside. First stop: the 16 century ruins of Jerpoint Abbey.
Jerpoint Abbey has quite the history behind it. Established in 1180, this Cistercians abbey flourished until 1541. That was the year the abbey fell victim to King Henry VIII’s 1536-1541 Dissolution of Monasteries. Which just goes to show that some men will do anything for a divorce.
Today we’re going to concentrate on enjoying the exterior of this 12th century (constructed in 1180) abbey. On Wednesday I’ll reveal to you some of the interior appointments of this fusion of late Norman and early English architecture.
As you can see, the early Gothic influences abound everywhere here:
But the Norman fortification influence is equally evident:
I’ll leave you today with this final image:
Decisions — Murder in Paradise
The Globe — Murder in Luxury
