Ireland Archives • Folksy Travel by Bill Smale

if you are going off to Kells you will pass through a number of small towns which are very interesting and very beautiful with local shops which are very old and a lot of old signage. Many of the churches are not open unless they have services which is understandable nowadays. You can find the Irish sense of humor outside in many places so keep your eyes peeled. The town of Kells itself is where the book of Kells (the old Bible from the ninth century) was transferred when they Vikings pillaged the islands off Scotland. And then this very old Bible was moved to the library in Trinity College to protect it from the invading saxons and Normans which are now considered the English.

Café sign off to Kells — A youth café signage

Church accounts — The churches accounts for 2024

Heavens gate — I went around the corner but I did not see heaven

Book makers off to Kells — It’s all legitimate

My childhood nickname — The store named after my childhood nickname

Italian and Chinese food — This makes sense. Italian cuisine next to an “oriental restaurant”

Cattle auction — I heard the auctioneering on the sidewalk and decided to come in to watch the cat auction, reminding me of my young days helping my dad at his auctions

Auction board — The auction board representing the cow currently in the ring

Old Cross — The cross in Kells. I was told it is probably 1200 years old

Story of Jesus — These carvings are the story of Jesus and Christianity

Low clouds — The low clouds rolling in reminded me of the fog rolling into the city (San Francisco)

I walked up here for the view but also to go to see an ancient relic but the grass was wet and slippery and when I got up on the hill it was clear I would have to walk a long distance more and decided it was a great place to slip and fall so I went back to the car

Beautiful view — The rain keeps Ireland green

Around and in Inniskeen you see some typical and historical building and things, giving you a cross-section view of rural Ireland. Be prepared to eat before you arrive since there isn’t really anything open to provide food that I could find. But you can always sit by the river, listen to the sound of the rushing water and just enjoy a beautiful walk around town.

Telephone booth in Inniskeen — Atypical telephone booth still standing

A Caesar salad in Inniskeen — I stopped in Naul Village to get something to eat. The Caesar salad was not bad and had bacon pieces in it which gave it some flavor and the bread was very good and filling, a thick and nutritious brown bread

The pipe man in Inniskeen — He must’ve been very good on the pipes since he is now permanently sitting here in Naul

My guest house — This is the very nice guest house B and B, Gleneven guest house in Inniskeen

Rushing river — The rushing river from the bridge

River path — Taking a walk on the Patel along the river

Old church ruins — From the golf course, a pitch and putt, the older church and ruins of the very old church

Pitch and-putt — I didn’t check to see if this was the long hole

I tried to pump — I tried pumping water but it did not work

Poem machine — You turned the handle until the light turns red next to the poets name and a poem comes out the top speaker

Old church — The old church tower from the ninth century and a newer church

Cemetery — Hey neglected cemetery but it did not feel bleak. I got the feeling the residence were used to be left to their own entertainment.

Old design — A very iconic Irish design on an old headstone

Preserved graveyard — A preserved graveyard area with a harp in a traditional Irish crest

Member only pup — A typical small town pub except that the entrance was posted “members only bar“ so I didn’t go in since I’m not a member.

Direction signs — Informative direction signs

Poets museum — The Patrick kavanaugh museum for a famous local poet

Category: Ireland

Off to Kells

In an Inn in Inniskeen

Share this:

Share this: