| Ireland is a
country with many layers of history. Charlie here is at the old medieval
monastery of Glendalough in County Wicklow. This tower helped to protect
the monks from marauding Vikings. Charlie thought the whole thing a bit
of a waste of time, all they really needed for protection was a nice snug
shell! |
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| A passing circus
performer shows Charlie the ancient Browne' s Hill Dolmen, built 4,000
years ago as a burial place for an important chief. How did they lift that
100 tonne rock with no machines?? |
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| Charlie and a
windswept Kaye at the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary. |
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| Happily, although
clams lack limbs, they do have big luscious lips, which Charlie used to
full effect in kissing the Blarney Stone. It is supposed to help with the
gift of the gab, but many have cruelly suggested that Charlie needs no
help with spinning unlikely stories! |
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| More Stones!
These ones are the Drombeg Stone Circle in County Kerry, which worked like
a primitive calendar. On the Winter Solstice, which is shortest day of
the year, the setting sun shines on the low, flat stone behind Charlie. |
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| As with most
self-obsessed beings, Charlie tends to see himself reflected in just about
everything, so the ancient Staigue Stone Fort (caher in Irish) was
described by Charlie as"no more than a sad attempt at creating an artificial
shell for envious humans". |
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| Charlie enjoying
the view while driving around the scenic Ring of Kerry. |
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| The guide book
describes the magnificent five thousand year old burial mound at Newgrange
as "one of the most important passage graves in Europe", whereas Charlie
describes it as "like a big clam". |
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| The Hill of Tara
was the old centre of the High Kings Of Ireland. I suppose this must
also be where Ms Kelly's daughter's name comes from! Here Charlie
sits on the "stone of destiny" (Lialh Fail), an old fertility symbol. |
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| Charlie and Tim
visit Trinity College in Dublin, to see the place where Tim's Grandfather,
Jack Page, studied medicine in the 1930's. They also stopped in to see
beautifully illustrated illuminated Books, made by monks in the 9th Century.
Charlie lost interest when he found out the most famous one was called
the "Book of Kells" and not the "Book of Clams", as he had thought. |
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| Charlie and Tim
relax in the pub after yet another trip comes to an end. Tim enjoys fermented
apple cider, and Charlie goes for the classic Irish drink, Guinness ("the
black stuff"). Although Charlie is only 3 years old, that's 30 in clam
years, so, yes he is old enough to be in a pub!
Click
here to see Charlie starring in some Guinness ads
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