Sheela na Gig - National Museum Dublin



 

Sheela na Gig

A Sheela Na Gig is a carving of a woman with exposed and/or exaggerated genitalia, usually found on religious buildings.

 

 

See:

http://www.sheelanagig.org/index.html#http://www.sheelanagig.org/SheelaTheories.htm

 



Ferns St. Mary’s Augustinian Abbey *FREE SITE**

Parking close on road
not ideal for rainy days
Not Staffed - E-mail for a free tour
Dogs on Lead
Toilets in village
very magical area nice to sketch and photograph
Best Bit - lovely setting

See:
http://www.majestic-castles-in-ireland.com/ferns-castle.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferns,_County_Wexford

http://www.fernsvillage.ie/ferns-heritage-page53902.html

Knowth Passage Tomb

Parking in Centre's Car Park, Then a long walk to centre entrance
Mention you are disabled and if you have gone with a carer, you will get a discount
From the centre you get buses to both Knowth and New Grange both site are visited with a tour guide
Great for rainy days
The staff here are lovely
Only Guide Dogs
Toilets in village and centre
there are very few resting places at the sites but plenty at the centre
very magical area just enjoy the energies
Best Bit - Going in the passage ways

See:
http://www.newgrange.com/knowth.htm

New Grange Stone Age Passage Tomb

Parking at centre then long walk to ticket office
Make sure you tell them you are disabled for a reduction and if you have taken a carer
Ideal for rainy days
Staff great and very welcoming
Guide Dogs
Toilets in village and Centre
Not much resting area at sites but plenty is Centre
very magical site
Best Bit - They turned off the lights in the passage way and simulated how it would be to see the sun light up the passage tomb on sunrise of the summer solstice - EPIC!

see:
http://www.newgrange.com/index.htm

St Mary's Abbey Duleek * FREE SITE*

Parking close on road
not ideal for rainy days
Not Staffed
Dogs on Lead
Toilets in village
A few benches and resting area's
very magical area nice to sketch and photograph
Best Bit - Pretty seaside village

See:
http://www.meath.ie/Tourism/Heritage/HeritageTrails/DuleekHeritageTrail/

Dublin Castle * FREE SITE*

Parking close on road
not ideal for rainy days
Not Staffed
Dogs on Lead
Toilets in city
A few benches and resting area's
Not very much to see but worth a look
Best Bit - Norman Tower

See:
http://www.dublincastle.ie/

Ardmore *FREE SITE*

Parking close on road
not ideal for rainy days
Not Staffed
Dogs on Lead
Toilets in village
A few benches and resting area's
very magical area nice to sketch and photograph
Best Bit - Pretty seaside village

See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardmore,_County_Waterford

Rock Of Cashel

Parking is not easy, there is 2 disabled car parking half way down the hill but still you have to walk up the hill
there are steps but once you are in the complex it's mostly on the level
Would be good for Rainy Days
Staff are not very helpful
Guide Dogs Only
Toilets in the main car park only which is such a very long walk a way - we had to drive to it!!
Benches and resting area's although great film to watch on the history
They don't offer reduced rates for disabled people but I pleaded and we got a small reduction
Best Bit - The Views

See:

http://www.cashel.ie/tourism.php?sect=Rock%20Of%20Cashel

Blarney Castle *FREE SITE*

Parking close to the castle is rather difficult and crossing the busy roads is also difficult
Would be good for Rainy Days
Staffed
Guide Dogs Only
Toilets at the castle
A few benches and resting area's
Because of the admission cost's we didn't go inside but it is free to walk the garden
Best Bit - View over the river

see:
http://www.blarneycastle.ie/

Kilkenny Castle

Parking close to the castle is rather difficult and crossing the busy roads is also difficult
Would be good for Rainy Days
Staffed
Guide Dogs Only
Toilets at the castle
A few benches and resting area's
Because of the admission cost's we didn't go inside but it is free to walk the garden
Best Bit - View over the river

see:
http://www.kilkennycastle.ie/en/

Reginalds Tower

There is parking is difficult, although there are 2 disabled bays opposite the tower

Has many steps so really isn't suitable for disabled people
Brilliant On Rainy Days
The staff are really friendly and very helpful
Guide Dogs Only
No Toilets
A few benches and resting area's
It is a small tower and museum
Best Bit -  a very interesting history documentary on the top floor

 

see:

http://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/reginald-s-tower/601

 

 

 

Woodchester Mansion

You park in the entrance and wait for a mini bus to take you down to the mansion
Brilliant On Rainy Days
The staff are really friendly and very helpful
Guide Dogs only
Toilets
A few benches and resting area's
very photographic, lovely to sit & sketch
Best Bit - The legends and tales!


see:
http://www.woodchestermansion.org.uk/HomePage.aspx

Pembroke Castle

There is parking below the castle but also a few by the castle it's self
Brilliant On Rainy Days
The staff are really friendly and very helpful
Dogs allowed and very welcomed
Toilets at the castle
A few benches and resting area's
very photographic, lovely to sit & sketch
Best Bit - All off it as this is my number one castle ever!

See:

www.castlewales.com/pembroke.html

Criccieth Castle * FREE SITE*

Parking was a bit of a nightmare, finally snuck in close to the castle but on the road
You have to walk up to the castle and this isn't very even
This site during high season is a pay site
Not ideal for rainy days
Dogs allowed
Toilets in the town - also lovely ice cream shop!
Not many resting points
Best Bit - Views over the coast


SEE:
http://www.castlewales.com/criccth.html

http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/criccieth-castle/?lang=en

Dolwyddelan Castle

 

The walk up to it was beyond me!
There is a large car park just of the main road
There isn't very much to see here but if your a castle hunter like me its got to be done!

No good if it's raining!
Guide Dogs Only
No Toilets
Best Bit - Views  

 

See:

 

http://www.castlewales.com/dolw.html

 

http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/dolwyddelan-castle/?lang=en

 

 

 

Dolbadarn Castle *FREE SITE*

Access is a bit of a hike from the car park which you have to pay for however if you drive up the hill a little there is parking for 2 cars and the walk is not so bad but still a hike!

No Staff
ok on a wet day
Dogs Welcome
No Toilets
No seating area
Stunning views not much to sketch in the castle
Best Bit - Views of the valley

See:
www.castlewales.com/dolbd.html

Conwy Castle

Access is very good via ramp

WATCH! when you get to Conwy there is a main car park which even with a blue badge you have to pay, I asked the guy taking the money, is there parking near the castle for disabled, no this is the only car park, I said ok and decided to leave it because I wasn't going to pay the £4 parking and be able to walk all that way as I drove through the one way system, there was heaps of parking and right by the castle FREE disabled parking!!

Staff lovely but I had to remind them of the cadw disabled deal
Brilliant for a wet day
guild dogs
Toilets
sitting area

So much to sketch and photograph it really is very dramatic
Best Bit - sheer size and it's setting
See:

http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html


 http://www.conwy.com/

 

 

Lamphey Bishops Palace

Great Access the car park is just outside and it's all on a level

Staff  extremely friendly and towards our dog
acceptable on a wet day
Dogs welcome
Nice Toilets In the grounds
Lots of seating and picnic seating provided.

I got some classic photos and did lots of sketches
Best Bit - The arch way's
See:

http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/lampheybishopspalace/?lang=en

 

 

http://www.croeso.com/lamphey.html

 

 

Beaumaris Castle

 

Access is very good, There is parking for a couple of car's right by the entrance to the castle which is all on a level

Be careful there are private parking area's which you have to pay for even with a blue badge!
Staff  welcomed us and gave good instructions
okay for a wet day
Dogs welcome
Toilets near castle
Limited sitting area

I got some amazing photos on my visit
Best Bit - there is something rather magical about this castle, Rated one of my favourites in Wales
See:

 

http://www.beaumaris.com/

 

http://www.castlewales.com/beaumar.html