We have a nice day to travel. We saw an Augustan Priory. It was in Kells. There is some restoration work going on. We think most of it is to ensure the walls remain standing. All the buildings in the priory were interconnected when it was in use. A walled section was added in the 15th century. It is thought that during this lawless time the monks wanted to keep their livestock inside the compound. The Augustan monks went out and helped the community. They also held Mass. There would only be about 9 monks in this priory.
Jerpoint Abbey was a Cistercian order abbey. It was a cloistered abbey. The monks stayed inside and prayed. Cistercians was supposed to be a simple order so that the abbey was to be simply decorated to not distract the monk from their prayers. The abbey was not simply decorated. It was quite ornate in the sculptures on the columns on the cloister arcade. As well the architecture was full of carvings and different styles. In its hay day there would have been up to 37 monks in this abbey.
We have noticed that all abbeys have a cloister area. Abbeys in which the monks stayed inside the walls all the time had a much bigger cloister areas. Also there were entry ways into the area. Friaries or priories where the monks went into the community and held mass the cloister area were smaller and had no entryway.
We decided to go the Cheek Point in Co. Waterford where Charles cousins live. As we did not have a phone number we just took a chance that someone would be home. We were not exactly sure which house was theirs. We were able to ask the neighbours. Anthony was home. We had a nice visit with him. The last time we were in Ireland we took Mom to visit her Cousin Elli here. Elli had passed away this July. It was a misty rain when we arrived but soon it cleared. We were so lucky that someone was home.
We settled in for the night in the town of New Ross. This was another port where many famine ships left from.
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