Yesterday....

After breakfast we set off for Downpatrick to see the Centre and St. Patrick's memorial grave. Downpatrick is about 25 miles from Dundrum. The Centre has a nice gift shop, a new (less than 2 years because I missed it in 2011) audio/video display, and a 5 screen video presentation. I think I might want to read Patrick's Confessions (Of Faith). After the centre we went to the cathedral. It is Anglican/Church of Ireland and located behind and above (hill).

Entrance to Holy Trinity Church in Downpatrick

Bell Tower at Holy Trinity

Cemetery at Downpatrick

Stone that marks St. Patrick's Memorial Gravesite

Charlotte (Charley) Shilliday

 After the morning in Downpatrick we were back at RIOT for lunch.  Charlie ate a good lunch and then settled in with a Veggie Tale video...have you ever seen such curls? Such a sweetheart!!

 . After lunch we went into Newcastle for a bit of shopping. It was "soft  weather" (drizzling rain) but not enough to deter any serious shopper! We made one stop...at the Police Station...for a photo op for Tonda! Then we were off to the castle! Castlewellan is only 3-4 miles from Newcastle. We arrived after four and there was time for a quick look around. Then we met Andrew for "the Tour". He . showed us around outside and then we went in; first to the "cellar".

Jean, Bebe, Andrew

This is the lower level, a great gathering spot (it has a 40 inch tv on one wall) with comfy sofas all around. Belinda, one of the castle employees, used the cellar as a backdrop for her daughter's wedding photos. I saw them last week. Stunning!!

Fireplace and mirror in library now used as a dining room

 We climbed up to the top of one of the turrets. Andrew challenged us to count the steps as we went round and round and round. At the top, he asked. We answered with "74" "78" "76". Now how can 6 educated women have 3 different answers for such a simple question? Well...apparently the closeness of the turret and other things distract one's attention. And...there were 76 steps.

We learned the difference between family and servants' stairs and saw the difference in size in family and servants' room...family has oak stairs and banisters, servants have stone stairs and NO banisters. Family has a huge bedroom and a large dressing room. Servants have a tiny room.

One side of library/dining room. Massive doors open to ballroom

Andrew told us there was a secret passage out of the library . We looked and looked and finally our detective, Tonda, said, "these books are fake!" They were! So after saying the magic words....the door slowly opened! 

Watching the door open into yet another dining room...

Deirdre and David in the kitchen at Castlewellan. They prepared our meal and joined us for dinner and joined us for the presentation. We had a lovely dinner of Irish stew followed by our choice of either raspberry or caramel cheesecake. Jean and I took a slice of each! Yum!! After dinner, we gave our presentation. It was well received and our guests stayed to chat for quite a while. After they left, Deirdre brought out more dessert and made another pot of tea so the team, Deirdre, Richie and Jen, Alan Cousins, 

and the Forsons had the "party after the party." Jen left with the children and Rintchie took us back to RIOT. He came in and we "debriefed" for a while. He left at 1 am and then the six of us continued the conversation until after 2. Others went to sleep but there I was...doing FB until 3 am. Needless to say, I was the last one up on Friday morning!! 

Richie and Addy, Ladeana standing at left, Belinda, Lorna, Deirdre and Marlene at front of photo.