I began my trip with a few days in Dublin, Ireland - Dublin is a great city with a lot to offer, but for me, this trip was about unearthing the real soul in the places I was visiting. Dublin has unfortunately succumbed to the like-fate that many other culturally-significant cities of the world have - where the history and the soul have diminished greatly and been replaced with commercial modernization. Dublin wore my mind thin and I felt sadness after my brief stint. I began feeling as though all the time, effort and funding that I invested into this trip was all for waste.
I was a prisoner and I had to escape. I wished to see the world and experience all it had to offer - and another city like my own wasn’t my idea of how I wanted to go about that. To be completely truthful, it just wasn’t what I had in mind and I felt ‘off’ from the start. My first glimpse outside the city was the small town of Enniskerry, about 17 miles from Dublin’s city center - the instant change of scenery automatically uplifted my spirits with the beautiful yellow flowered bushes and handmade stone walls along every path.
Enniskerry is a tiny town with a few restaurants, a market, a pharmacy and an old Guinness brewery building - it’s charming to say the least. After an hour here and a small meal from the fresh fruit market, it was time to head about 4 miles south to the famous Powerscourt House & Gardens.
History in a Nutshell
Where Powerscourt House stands today there was once a 13th century medieval castle, owned by the Le Power Family from which ‘Powerscourt’ takes its name. Powerful Irish families, including the O’Tooles and the Fitzgeralds, battled for possession of the castle and its lands over the succeeding centuries. In 1603 a new era began at Powerscourt, when Richard Wingfield was granted Powerscourt Castle and its lands as a reward for his military achievements by Queen Elizabeth. The story goes that Marshall Wingfield visited Queen Elizabeth after battle to pay his respects. The Queen said to him: “Well Sir Richard, what is to be your reward?” He bowed, and said “The scarf that Your Majesty wears will be sufficient reward for me.” Upon which the Queen placed the scarf over his shoulder. In addition to the scarf, Richard was knighted and received Powerscourt Estate as his reward. His descendants were to remain at Powerscourt for over 350 years.
(cited from the history of Powerscourt House http://www.powerscourt.ie, 2012)
My thoughts
Walking up to the Powerscourt House brought me feelings of wonder and humbling - but once I stepped through the white double doors to the right of the drive, I was visually assaulted by grandeurs of quaintness. Inside, past the initial patio, I routed through narrow hallways and vintage shops. I came to the front desk in an open-windowed atrium. I carried on through one more room and I was whisked away into the highest point of the gardens. I’ve visited my fair share of parks, gardens and nature reserves - Powerscourt House & Gardens belongs in with the best of the best.
Directly outside exiting the house, I was greeted with a gate-lined courtyard with two sets of stairs leading down to an ascending staircase. Following the stairs down the hill lead me to the pond and fountain. I made sure to look outward toward the Wicklow mountains. I walked around the pond, snapping photographs and admiring the element this place had brought forth within me. Further paths lead me to the Walled Gardens, an impressive Japanese Garden and the petite Pepperpot Castle tower.
If you’re visiting Dublin or even central Ireland, making a trip to the Wicklow National Park is a must - and of course, DO NOT miss the chance to stroll around the Powerscourt House & Gardens. Even if it’s a likely rainy or shadowed day in Ireland, a day spent here is worth it’s weight in gold - with splendid memories.
Fun fact
The Powerscourt estate has been featured in many movies over the past 60+ years - such as the Count of Monte Cristo, Black Beauty, Ella Enchanted and King Arthur.
Travel information
Best time to visit - May to September
Prices - Adults €8.50, Student/OAP €7.50, Child (U12) €5.00, Child (U5) Free, Family €25.00 (2 adults & up to 3 children)
Hours - 9:30a to 5:30p
More travel information - http://www.powerscourt.ie/garden-location
Website - http://www.powerscourt.ie
My recommendation - I definitely recommend setting some time aside to visit Powerscourt and all of the splendor it has to offer - it's pretty legit, awesome!
Inspired to have your very own pond? See here:
www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-pumps-62.html
Enniskerry is a tiny town with a few restaurants, a market, a pharmacy and an old Guinness brewery building - it’s charming to say the least. After an hour here and a small meal from the fresh fruit market, it was time to head about 4 miles south to the famous Powerscourt House & Gardens.
History in a Nutshell
Where Powerscourt House stands today there was once a 13th century medieval castle, owned by the Le Power Family from which ‘Powerscourt’ takes its name. Powerful Irish families, including the O’Tooles and the Fitzgeralds, battled for possession of the castle and its lands over the succeeding centuries. In 1603 a new era began at Powerscourt, when Richard Wingfield was granted Powerscourt Castle and its lands as a reward for his military achievements by Queen Elizabeth. The story goes that Marshall Wingfield visited Queen Elizabeth after battle to pay his respects. The Queen said to him: “Well Sir Richard, what is to be your reward?” He bowed, and said “The scarf that Your Majesty wears will be sufficient reward for me.” Upon which the Queen placed the scarf over his shoulder. In addition to the scarf, Richard was knighted and received Powerscourt Estate as his reward. His descendants were to remain at Powerscourt for over 350 years.
(cited from the history of Powerscourt House http://www.powerscourt.ie, 2012)
My thoughts
Walking up to the Powerscourt House brought me feelings of wonder and humbling - but once I stepped through the white double doors to the right of the drive, I was visually assaulted by grandeurs of quaintness. Inside, past the initial patio, I routed through narrow hallways and vintage shops. I came to the front desk in an open-windowed atrium. I carried on through one more room and I was whisked away into the highest point of the gardens. I’ve visited my fair share of parks, gardens and nature reserves - Powerscourt House & Gardens belongs in with the best of the best.
Directly outside exiting the house, I was greeted with a gate-lined courtyard with two sets of stairs leading down to an ascending staircase. Following the stairs down the hill lead me to the pond and fountain. I made sure to look outward toward the Wicklow mountains. I walked around the pond, snapping photographs and admiring the element this place had brought forth within me. Further paths lead me to the Walled Gardens, an impressive Japanese Garden and the petite Pepperpot Castle tower.
If you’re visiting Dublin or even central Ireland, making a trip to the Wicklow National Park is a must - and of course, DO NOT miss the chance to stroll around the Powerscourt House & Gardens. Even if it’s a likely rainy or shadowed day in Ireland, a day spent here is worth it’s weight in gold - with splendid memories.
Fun fact
The Powerscourt estate has been featured in many movies over the past 60+ years - such as the Count of Monte Cristo, Black Beauty, Ella Enchanted and King Arthur.
Travel information
Best time to visit - May to September
Prices - Adults €8.50, Student/OAP €7.50, Child (U12) €5.00, Child (U5) Free, Family €25.00 (2 adults & up to 3 children)
Hours - 9:30a to 5:30p
More travel information - http://www.powerscourt.ie/garden-location
Website - http://www.powerscourt.ie
My recommendation - I definitely recommend setting some time aside to visit Powerscourt and all of the splendor it has to offer - it's pretty legit, awesome!
Inspired to have your very own pond? See here:
www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-pumps-62.html
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