Millifont Abbey - our overnight parking spot
26th of May 2023
We spent the night in the car park of the Millifont Abbey, or what remains of it. During the tourist season people pay 5 Euros to visit, we had a free tour. Great place to stay and the groundsman was very friendly.
High Crosses and Tower
After a very peaceful night we decided to take the advice of the groundsman at the Abbey who suggested that we have a look at the High Crosses and the Tower which was only 10kms away. We drove through a narrow road thinking we would be the only ones there, to find that there were busses at the site, full of French tourists and that they had come in another much wider road. They converged on the site, so we waited patiently until they all left speeding to their next photo opportunity. The place was a cemetery, and remnants of a monastery and the two crosses are Celtic crosses. A few days ago in the Ulster Museum we saw a replica of one of the crosses so it was good to see the real one in its intended setting. The Tower dates to Viking times and was used as a defence from the marauding invaders.
Could this be the door of the day on the tower. To keep out the Vikings
Battle of the Boyne and free entry, bargain.
We didn’t know much about the Battle of the Boyne but it was a possible visitation site that back home we had bookmarked. It was very interesting, and we learnt a lot about English history and how the battle changed the fate of the English throne. The site of the exhibition is on the original site of the battle. This took place between King James II and King William III back in 1690. I won’t go into all the historical detail, Google it. We entered the display building and were told that due to technical difficulties they couldn’t charge, and it was free, no complaints here. They had some excellent displays and a cinema with a film about the battle. We treated ourselves to coffee and scones and strolled through the gardens.
Drogheda, not the most exciting town we have visited.
The closest town was Drogheda and we were told that it was worth a visit. It had a couple of highlights but overall, not an interesting place. We started out with a visit for a drink at a local pub, then a walk through the main street for some takeaway lunch, I had the worst sausage roll ever. At the end of the main street there was an old gate of the town. The highlight of our visit was in the church, where in a ornate display case was the head of Saint Oliver, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of all of Ireland. He was the last victim of the Popish plot. Executed for high treason and condemned to death. On the 1st July 1681 he was hung , drawn and quartered, the last catholic martyr to die in England. Why they kept his head since 1681 ??? After this walk around it was back to our carpark and on the road to our overnight spot.
Man O War, Traditional Irish Pub
Our very handy “Park for night” App told us of a pub stay not too far away where we could have a meal and stay in the carpark. This was not a new pub as it was established in 1595. It was situated on the old Belfast to Dublin road and it was about halfway, so a convenient place to put a turnpike (toll booth) and to have a place for refreshment. After inquiring at the bar, we made a dinner reservation, had a drink and parked up in their carpark. The meal was excellent, and the ambiance was what you would expect in a pub that has been around for this time. Later the band played and after another drink it was time to retire to the Bunyip for the night.
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