Every visitor to Ireland eagerly anticipates kissing the Blarney Stone. Obviously, it comes as no surprise that I would desire to experience this myself. During my final full day in this beautiful country, I joined a tour group that would indeed present this opportunity to me.

Our bus made an early morning stop at a roadside convenience shop so that we could get some snacks for our road trip. I purchased a raw juice and a fruit bowl for my breakfast.

The first destination on our itinerary was the celebrated Rock Of Cashel in county Tipperary. This was the seat of the Kings of Munster for several hundred years before the Norman invasion. Church buildings from the 10th century were excavated upon the grounds. However, the complex grew as a Christian center during the 12th century. In the year 1101, the King Of Muster gave the Rock of Cashel to the church. Guests arrive and enter The Rock through the Hall of the Vicar’s Choral. The grounds include a grand cathedral containing enclosed tombs, a church with Romanesque wall paintings, a round tower a cemetery with high crosses, and a Dominican friary at the base of the hill.

Onward we headed toward the city of Cork. The English Market is a large indoor shopping area where vendors offer a variety of products including food vendors, crafts, housewares, fruits and produce, and much more. I found vegan chocolates, eco-friendly household cleaning products, and a smoothie bar.

Our group was given time in Cork to visit the English Market, wander the shops in town, and grab some lunch.

After strolling about the shops, I paid a visit to Quay Coop Restaurant(Quay Coop Restaurant) for lunch. Quay Coop is a vegetarian/vegan-friendly cafe in a charming old townhouse. Its just a quick jaunt over a scenic canal with an arch bridge. Prices are reasonable for the eclectic “comfort food” offered.

My entree was the luxury nutroast with nuts, cranberries, breadcrumbs, onion, quinoa, and gravy, with cabbage, and a side salad of beetroot and greens in a balsamic dressing.

A ginger juice washed down my meal.

For dessert, I selected the avocado chocolate torte with soya cream. Wow! What a delicious treat. The entire meal was absolutely fabulous.

We left Cork an hour later, to begin our journey to our final destination of the day: the famous Blarney Castle and Stone! Built in the 10th century, Blarney was eventually demolished to the foundation. Cormac McCarthy, a King of Munster, built the third and final version of the castle during the 15th century. He supplied several thousand soldiers to assist the forces of Robert the Bruce at battle of Bannockburn. Robert gave half of the Stone of Scone(i.e the Blarney Stone) to McCarthy in gratitude for his assistance.

Visitors may walk through the various rooms of the castle including the kitchen, dining hall, young ladies quarters, priest quarters, and the Earl’s bedchambers.

Atop the castle, reached by many winding stairs, lies the Blarney Stone. Kissing the stone is tradition for all visitors to the castle. A staffer helps visitors grasp onto railings, as they bend backwards, in order to kiss it.

Once outside, visitors may wander over to the side of the building to access the underground dungeon where prisoners were held.

A lovely Irish Garden greets guests as they stroll about the grounds behind the castle.

Our tour had completed for the day. We arrived back in Dublin in time for dinner. For my final evening in Ireland, I elected to splurge a bit and dine at the elegant “Fallon and Byrne Restaurant”(Fallon and Byrne Restaurant). The restaurant has a few offerings for vegans on their menu.

My appetizer was a fig & pistachio bruschetta.

For my main dinner entree, I chose the spicy lentil ragu with baked rutabaga, puffed wild rice, and tomato gastrique.

The entire meal was divine! Everything was so flavorful. I really loved my gourmet dinner.

My final day on the Emerald Isle had come to an end. I truly enjoyed visiting the Rock Of Cashel, strolling around the town of Cork and its markets, experiencing Blarney Castle, and kissing the renowned Blarney Stone. I called it a night, while looking forward to the next morning’s visit to the “Book of Kells” at Trinity College in Dublin.