Ireland Has Its Own Stonehenge? 🇮🇪 | Hidden West Cork

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:03]Can you guys hear all those birds?

[00:00:10]I feel like I've been living an episode of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds.

[00:00:21]Good morning and happy Monday.

[00:00:24]>> Hey everybody. Good morning. Uh these birds are outstanding. Um, we're getting a start on the road. We're going to just check out some local random things around where we're staying. Uh, I did want to say I just dropped postcards off at the post office and I bought more stamps. So, I'm really excited to be sending out some postcards and, uh, I'm really excited about some adventures for today. We are living in a beautiful little town. I will double check. It looks like the word leap, like a leap frog. I hope that I'm saying that correctly. Uh, taking Abber for a walk this morning was absolutely gorgeous.

[00:00:56]Michael went on an amazing run and we've just been telling each other about all the cool things that we've seen and you can probably hear little Abber back here is excited to hit the road.

[00:01:03]>> She is. Her tails wagging like crazy.

[00:01:04]>> Let's go see some cool stuff.

[00:01:06]>> Okay, let's do it.

[00:01:13]>> This is what we love about Ireland.

[00:01:15]>> Oh man, >> we are just pulling up to our first stop of the day and it is a beauty. Before we even get started, I wanted to correct myself. In the very last clip, I said we were staying in Leap. We are not. It is pronounced Lep. And we have come to visit Castle Donovan, which uh Michael's going to film a little clip so I can tell you the story and be sure that I get it all right. You are not allowed to take a dog in here. So, we have just given Abra a little walk on the premises and then she's going to wait in the car.

[00:01:43]We are at Castle Donovan, which was built in the 16th century by the Oonovan clan, one of the last powerful Gaelic Irish families in West Cork. The Odonovans traced their ancestry back to the ancient rulers of monster and this castle was one of their main strongholds during a time of growing English expansion into Ireland. The towerhouse was constructed around the 1560s in a remote valley near a river. Like many Irish tower houses of this period, it was designed both as a family residence and as a defensive fortress with thick stone walls, narrow windows, and elevated upper floors intended to withstand raids and warfare. During the late 1500s and early 1600s, Ireland was engulfed in conflict as the English crown attempted to bring Gaelic Irish lords under tighter control. The Odonovans became involved in the political and military upheavalss of this period, including the wider struggles connected to the Confederate Wars in Ireland. According to local tradition and historical accounts, Cromwellian forces attacked this castle around 1650 after the Odonovans supported the Irish Catholic cause. The castle was reportedly damaged with explosives and archaeologists have found evidence of a major fire and destruction event dating to that period. The damage was severe enough that the castle was eventually abandoned and fell into ruin.

[00:03:14]Today, the restored remains of Castle Donovan are considered one of the best surviving examples of a Gaelic Irish clan castle in County Cork.

[00:03:23]This This is why we came to Ireland the second time. There are no signs for this castle. This was looked up on the internet to find something local here in the county that we were staying in West Cork and it's 25ish minutes on back roads to get to this place. Super excited to go explore this castle.

[00:03:47]>> Oh, one more thing. I know it irritates some people when I hold the microphone.

[00:03:51]I'm very sorry if you're irritated. I don't like to clip it on my clothes because then my hair gets caught in it constantly and sometimes that's actually not a pleasant sound. So, I prefer to hold it. I'm sorry if that gets on your nerves. Let's go explore the scapul.

[00:04:03]>> Okay.

[00:04:03]>> It's funny. I'm going to say this right off the bat. Your foundation is rock.

[00:04:09]This is not level. Look at this. You could see where it sits.

[00:04:12]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:04:12]>> Right on the edge.

[00:04:13]>> They really built it.

[00:04:14]>> Built up over the stone that was here. I >> This one's a be.

[00:04:20]>> I find that fascinating. Yeah, this one is >> This one's a be >> gorge. Look at that. Oh, I can't even get the camera up there.

[00:04:29]Oh, man.

[00:04:31]>> They won't let you actually enter this castle.

[00:04:33]>> Boo.

[00:04:34]>> I know.

[00:04:35]>> All right, we can't enter. But you know what Michael's going to do? It doesn't say you can't climb on the rocks here.

[00:04:41]It does say that the National Monument Service is carrying out extensive conservation efforts in trying to stabilize this place and prevent it from collapsing further. So, probably it's for the safety of the castle, not for us.

[00:04:54]>> George, come up here. I'm coming.

[00:04:55]>> Come on. You can see come up this rock.

[00:04:57]>> Yeah, you can get up here. It's dry enough.

[00:04:59]>> You need help.

[00:05:00]>> Um, let's see. Don't make fun of me.

[00:05:04]>> I'm not making fun. You're all right.

[00:05:06]You got it. Okay. It's >> had to use all four limbs here. There we go. Full-wheel drive.

[00:05:10]>> Okay, we can stick our head in.

[00:05:11]>> Yeah, we can stick our head in.

[00:05:14]>> Yes.

[00:05:16]>> How cool would it be if you could buy this and turn it into a home you could live in?

[00:05:20]>> Oh, it would be amazing.

[00:05:21]>> Wow, look at that old stone work.

[00:05:29]>> Okay, that's all I can zoom in there.

[00:05:30]>> There better be a special place in heaven for me because I am a law-abiding citizen, >> right?

[00:05:37]>> But I wish More than anything else, I could throw caution to the wind and just go in here. I would Oh my gosh. But I will >> We are We are foreigners. We don't want to do anything that might >> I will not trespass. But I don't know if I've ever wanted to enter a castle more.

[00:05:53]Look, the floor is the rock that is on.

[00:05:57]That is so cool.

[00:05:59]>> Yeah. Let's go around to the side.

[00:06:00]>> Okay, hang on. There's quite a big >> Yeah, there is quite a drop here.

[00:06:04]>> Quite a drop right here.

[00:06:06]I wouldn't do this if I were me.

[00:06:09]>> What you're going in the What is that?

[00:06:11]>> It's a peep hole.

[00:06:12]>> A peepphole >> just big enough for an arrow to come out of, >> but very hard to shoot.

[00:06:18]>> That would be a good shot. Yeah. To get in the hole.

[00:06:21]>> Can you imagine living way Okay, I can't even look up. I'm going to fall there and having this view.

[00:06:27]>> No.

[00:06:29]>> Wow.

[00:06:30]>> I mean, that window right there, looking out at that view. You could definitely see the enemies coming, man. for sure.

[00:06:37]Let me go down this other side. Wow, look out there.

[00:06:42]>> All right, we'll not enter. This is the hardest.

[00:06:45]>> I know. We have to keep passing sign I've ever obeyed in my life.

[00:06:49]>> I'm going to come down this side and see if I can get in. Maybe >> don't forget the camera can go places.

[00:06:57]>> Can the Can the arm go in a little bit?

[00:07:00]>> What are you guys seeing in there?

[00:07:02]>> Rotate it around up and down and stuff.

[00:07:04]At least I can watch the footage later.

[00:07:05]>> I know, right? I don't know if I can get it around that little corner. I think you're just seeing Oh my goodness.

[00:07:14]I wish I wish I had some sort of extendable arm to at least get in this entryway and pan it up.

[00:07:21]>> I won't trespass, but my camera on an extension rod can't.

[00:07:25]>> Yeah. Right there, you can see the beginnings of a second floor where the beams would have come out.

[00:07:31]Wow.

[00:07:31]>> Wow.

[00:07:33]And look, look at how thick this is where the door would have went.

[00:07:37]>> I read online that the walls of this castle are six feet thick.

[00:07:42]>> What steel blew up?

[00:07:45]>> Yeah, it's Well, gunpowder does a lot, you know.

[00:07:47]>> Yeah, gunpowder is Yeah. Wow.

[00:07:52]Can we say favorite part of the trip so far?

[00:07:55]>> I Let me see if I can It didn't say you couldn't climb on it.

[00:07:59]>> This is my favorite castle yet. I think so.

[00:08:03]Oh man, then they did put Even if you do jump over, you can't get past that gate.

[00:08:08]So, I guess this is the foyer here.

[00:08:12]Gosh, >> let's go on the back side.

[00:08:14]>> That's awesome. Okay. Yeah, let's go on the back side. Pause. I'll be right back.

[00:08:18]>> I want to play a fun little game with anybody who's watching our Ireland travel blog series. Are you ready for this?

[00:08:23]>> Ready.

[00:08:24]>> Okay. Every castle that we go to >> Yeah.

[00:08:28]that is not a paid tourist attraction like you know Rock of Castle or that kind of thing.

[00:08:33]>> Yeah.

[00:08:35]>> I would love to hear in the comments down below if it if you could own this castle and make it your own home.

[00:08:42]>> Okay.

[00:08:43]>> With the restrictions of you can't blow it up and put a house here. You must >> live in the space.

[00:08:49]>> Yes. You must save the castle and turn it back into some type of a fortress and a home.

[00:08:54]>> Nice. Which one would you choose of all the castles that we're able to show in this Ireland vlog series?

[00:09:01]>> Okay, >> cuz this one is now new tops on my list.

[00:09:06]>> Same.

[00:09:07]>> Malo Castle I thought had the nicest grounds and it was just absolutely lovely. But >> no, this one's cool. You can't vote. You can't vote for the Donagle Castle because it is a tourist attraction and you know obviously it's here to for people to come and visit.

[00:09:25]>> Yeah.

[00:09:26]>> And this one is protected and that's wonderful that they're trying to save it. But I just mean >> we have to come back to see when it's open. Maybe we can go climb in it at some point.

[00:09:36]I just found a piece of I think it's a piece of jewelry, but it I don't I don't rec Does anybody know what this might be?

[00:09:43]I don't think it's real gold.

[00:09:45]>> What that is, huh? Interesting.

[00:09:47]>> I don't know what that could have possibly come off of.

[00:09:49]>> I wonder though if anybody's done some some digging and found relics out here on the property.

[00:09:55]>> Oh, for sure.

[00:09:56]>> I mean, you would assume so, right?

[00:09:58]>> Day number next of Julie saying, "I want to be an archaeologist in my next life."

[00:10:01]>> I know. Well, that's okay. It's it's your saying now. It's your thing. This castle is built on this super big rock.

[00:10:07]>> That's what I try to keep showing.

[00:10:09]That's the foundation it was built on.

[00:10:10]Like, why didn't it just fall off the side?

[00:10:15]>> Are we capable of building buildings like this in 2026?

[00:10:20]>> Why? I mean, this is an outstanding structure.

[00:10:27]>> Yeah, it is.

[00:10:29]>> The things we build today will not last like this.

[00:10:34]Oh, no. Absolutely not.

[00:10:37]>> Still see some rock.

[00:10:39]>> Oh, it's a ring.

[00:10:41]>> Is it a ring?

[00:10:42]>> Yeah, it's like a kids ring or something.

[00:10:43]>> Okay. You know, with the explosion, I'm assuming some of this rock has to be from that building, right? That went out.

[00:10:51]>> Is this an example of finders keepers or is this an example of leave it here?

[00:10:56]Because I picked it up and now I feel like if I put it back, I'm littering.

[00:11:00]Tell me how it wouldn't be any different if you picked up that feather over there. There's >> Well, if I picked up a piece of pottery or a bone that belongs to, you know, the site where it came from.

[00:11:10]>> I mean, yeah, but this that's not this.

[00:11:13]>> Okay. Well, I'm going to call this Finder Keepers because it feels like a little momento that was given to me to remember this castle.

[00:11:19]>> I think that's perfect. I'm I'm just looking around for other things here.

[00:11:23]>> Oh, man. This is my new favorite.

[00:11:25]>> Yeah, this one.

[00:11:25]>> I wish it had the rest of the walls. We were sitting uh this morning and and making a plan trying to figure out ah do we want to drive? You know, it's an hour into Cork City. And I'll tell you, today was supposed to be about Cork City. And what I love is that I I get up in the morning. Hang on, there's some more stuff over here. I get up in the morning and I go to my good friend Chat GPT. I say, "Chat, today we're here." And we weren't really supposed to be here, right? I think there's some more pieces of the building here that were shot out. Let me turn this around.

[00:12:07]Is there anything more interesting to see locally? And he recommended this place. A 20 I say 25 26 minute drive.

[00:12:17]And this is now it's probably just a towerhouse, right?

[00:12:21]It's probably not an actual fortress, but god, this is cool.

[00:12:26]>> Well, don't underestimate a tower house.

[00:12:28]No, that's what I'm saying. If you had the money to build this, you still probably had enemies. You might not be crowned the high king, but >> you were no, you know, poor person. Did you see how many floors tall this is?

[00:12:40]>> Say it again.

[00:12:41]>> Did you see how many floors tall this is? I see doorways.

[00:12:44]>> We're going to go there, but I want to show you something first. Come come down here. I think we might we might have something else. You see this back in this little corridor?

[00:12:55]You see this >> now? That just looks like where a little fairy would live.

[00:12:59]>> Yeah, it totally looks like they did >> surrounded by the gor with the fern.

[00:13:03]>> Yeah.

[00:13:04]>> Be careful with the gorse, by the way. I knew they had needles, but I just learned I was today years old when I accidentally sat on one trying to trying to get down that rock.

[00:13:14]>> Denim is not that thick. Uh, these are uh >> Oh, no, never mind. That's Yeah, >> they are. Um, >> that's cotton.

[00:13:21]>> They are very super super sharp.

[00:13:24]>> Hey, look at this.

[00:13:25]>> Hang on a minute. This looks like it was placed here on purpose.

[00:13:29]>> Yeah, I'm saying I think they >> You think this is a well?

[00:13:32]>> I don't know. I don't know what it was used for, but this is straight up supposed to be here.

[00:13:36]>> Hang on. Well, it's not a well because it's Look, the rock is on rocks on purpose.

[00:13:42]>> That's what I'm saying. This is totally like some sort of of ceremonial structure, I think.

[00:13:48]>> If anybody knows, please tell us because we're just guesstimating. We when we look these things up online, it tells you all about the tower house. It doesn't tell you about things like >> Bear with us. We're just having fun here.

[00:13:56]>> We're dumb Americans.

[00:13:58]Careful of the Gorch. What did I tell you?

[00:14:01]>> Yeah, that was why I stumbled, guys. I now have thorns everywhere.

[00:14:05]>> The little yellow flowers.

[00:14:06]>> I was trying to Oh, I've got them everywhere. I was trying to show everybody whatever was down in this hole. What's down in there?

[00:14:13]>> Don't drop the camera.

[00:14:14]>> I won't.

[00:14:15]>> Doesn't that look like it used to be a well?

[00:14:17]>> Yeah, it does. Or at least that water ran underneath.

[00:14:21]You know, here >> we're kind of in a little bit of a valley.

[00:14:25]>> I need to pause. Can I hand the camera to you? I've got to get some thorns out of my thorns averted. I've got them out of my >> thorns removed.

[00:14:32]>> Yeah, removed.

[00:14:33]>> Thorns were not averted.

[00:14:35]>> The title of today's video, the gor attacked Michael.

[00:14:38]>> Yeah, right.

[00:14:40]>> I sat on it. You fell on it.

[00:14:42]>> I know this rock.

[00:14:45]Wonder what it's done. It's seen a lot, I'm sure. I'm going to go up this way cuz I want to see the view you were talking about with all the door. Oh, I see.

[00:14:55]>> Look at the railing. Do you see the railing that's in there?

[00:14:59]I feel like when they get this restored, maybe we can go in. I mean, there's railing there on purpose, right?

[00:15:06]I'm not sure what the long-term plan is here because I don't know that much about >> they don't I think that they're trying to reinforce the structure. I don't I don't I mean if the tower fell down on us, that would be tragic. Not because of us, but because of the tower being damaged.

[00:15:21]>> Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

[00:15:23]>> Look how high. Do you do you see way up there? Way up there. Door. Door. Door.

[00:15:30]>> Yeah. Or possibly window. I don't know.

[00:15:32]But >> it's a pretty skinny little house, isn't it?

[00:15:35]>> Yeah.

[00:15:36]>> My gosh, I love it.

[00:15:39]>> Hey, do you see there's an old I think it might be >> I don't know if I can get the camera zoomed in to show >> way up there. Gosh.

[00:15:47]>> Way up there, guys. On the far wall, center of your screen. It looks like there's a wooden there's still a wooden mantle up there.

[00:15:56]>> Wow. If that wood rots, the things that will fall.

[00:15:58]>> Yeah, I know. But you see the chimney.

[00:16:02]If you look down, I don't know how many floors up that's supposed to be.

[00:16:06]I'm on the other the other rock wall. By the way, >> somebody tell me, were the stairs back then made of wood? Because I just don't see any evidence. Like, I thought the stairs were stone. I don't see any stone any stone stairs anywhere. This right here is part of the wall that's gone. That's not >> Yeah, I see that part of the wall. Yeah, definitely. All right, bear with me. I'm going to walk over again a little bit further.

[00:16:30]This is how she's going to go, >> right? I know.

[00:16:33]>> I'm going to apologize now if this video is 17 hours long, and I'm going to apologize for the overly enthusiastic American tourists here. I can't I can't help myself. This is just >> Oh, I can't help myself.

[00:16:45]>> We don't have things like this, you know. This is just blows my mind. It's >> even if it is just a tower, just a tower house. We don't have this.

[00:16:53]>> This is gorgeous. I'm crack. This is so pretty.

[00:16:56]>> Now, think about it. It'd have to be CGI today, but the explosion, how much of that just I mean this whole wall >> from that gunpowder.

[00:17:08]>> I wonder what all the white is.

[00:17:10]>> I don't know.

[00:17:11]>> Is that bird? Is that rain residue?

[00:17:14]>> Bird. I don't know.

[00:17:14]>> And look, you can see I don't know if this was maybe a previous restoration attempt, but those rocks are different >> than these rocks. And it looks like that might be some type of mortar or something that they used. Yeah, maybe there was a >> how much different these rocks are than those.

[00:17:29]>> I do. Yeah, you can you can see that now that the sun's starting to come out.

[00:17:33]They can see it too on camera in a little more detail.

[00:17:36]>> Stunning. Oh, >> absolutely.

[00:17:39]>> So, the sign says this towerhouse was only four stories tall. So, maybe I was overestimating when I said there were like so many different layers, but um still, I mean, there's just maybe some of these things are windows and not doors.

[00:17:54]It doesn't really matter. It feels like No, it doesn't matter.

[00:17:56]>> It feels like it's a million stories tall to me.

[00:17:58]>> Yeah.

[00:18:01]>> You think this is the the tallest one we've seen so far? I mean, outside of the Rock of Castle.

[00:18:06]>> It actually does remind me a lot of the OD castle that we saw three years ago.

[00:18:09]>> That's true. Agreed. I think >> the OD castle has not been exploded. Um it is fully intact pretty pretty much.

[00:18:16]Um and it's shaped like this. It's kind of a small rectangle that's very tall and you have to take every there's only like one room on each floor and you have to just take stairs all the way to the top. Oh. Oh, look.

[00:18:27]>> Oh, what? Hang on. What?

[00:18:29]>> Go. Okay.

[00:18:31]The stone wall on the left, six feet thick. All All the way up, right? All the way >> all the way across the top. Now, you're looking at like a chimney thing, right >> at the very top of the chimney. Do you see those two really big rocks that are just like loosely stacked on top of each other?

[00:18:45]>> Yeah. Yeah.

[00:18:45]>> That look like they could fall at a moment's notice.

[00:18:48]>> Yeah.

[00:18:49]>> It's horrifying, isn't it?

[00:18:51]>> It is.

[00:18:53]>> But Julie, what I didn't capture on camera was was saying that she was almost tearyeyed because we feel so lucky to be here.

[00:18:59]>> I do.

[00:19:02]>> Cuz see, and there's not a soul in sight. The only thing we can hear are these little sheep across the road bleeding. That's it.

[00:19:10]>> I don't underestimate the historical significance of the Rock of Castle. I don't want it I don't want it to sound that way >> that I'm blowing off >> any type of historical significance there. But as far as a tourist, this is what I want to do. I want to be free to just geek out over how excited I am to be here and I want to be able to film it with no people and I'm I'm not in people's photos and and annoying them >> and they're not annoying me and I can just >> awesome. It's just awesome. It's going to be all downhill from the rest of the day from here, right?

[00:19:44]>> Oh boy.

[00:19:48]>> One last view.

[00:20:01]Now we are at Drumbg Stone Circle which is one of the best preserved prehistoric stone circles in Ireland that dates back to roughly 3,000 years to the Bronze Age around 1100 to 800 B.CE.

[00:20:16]The circle originally consisted of 17 standing stones. The site is sometimes nicknamed Ireland's Stonehenge because of its astronomical alignment and ceremonial importance. The most famous feature is the large recumbent stone on the western side of the circle, often called the altar stone. Archaeologists discovered that the monument is carefully aligned with the setting sun during the winter solstice in December, suggesting that the people who built it had a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and seasonal cycles.

[00:20:50]Excavations at Drumbg uncovered cremated human remains near the center of the circle along with evidence of ritual activity. Also on this site are the remains of two prehistoric huts and an ancient cooking site where water was heated with hot stones for communal feasting. Drumg is one of the most important Bronze Age ceremonial sites in County Cork.

[00:21:14]We're going to try to not be as loudly, effervescently enthusiastic as we've been all morning, but I don't want you to think we're not excited to be here.

[00:21:22]>> No, I'm super excited.

[00:21:23]>> But there are lots of people here. Not not a lot. Less than 10. So, I don't want to bother them. Um, they're actually all distracted right now watching a farmer feed his cows. So, >> so we said, let's get in this zone.

[00:21:36]>> Let's get it and get out really quick.

[00:21:37]>> So, it said on the sign that it was there were originally 17. How many are there now? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15. Okay, so there's still 17. I thought I thought when I looked this up, they said there were only 13 now.

[00:21:50]>> But each one is aligned to where it faces opposite a pair.

[00:21:56]>> Like I don't really get >> each one's aligned that it offsets.

[00:22:02]>> See this big one here, when you look straight ahead, there's two. You're looking right through two. So, if you were to get here and you look straight ahead, you're looking through, too.

[00:22:11]>> Let me do that. Let me do that with you guys. I I'll get >> this one and then turn.

[00:22:15]>> And it didn't really explain the meaning of that.

[00:22:17]>> Yeah. Right there towards you.

[00:22:19]>> Do you see how you're If you stand at the rock and look ahead, you're looking through rocks.

[00:22:24]>> Yep. Right there toward those two.

[00:22:27]>> I wish I knew what the exact meaning of that is. It didn't say >> you know what it is. Go watch ancient.

[00:22:31]>> Is there a solstice for this? I'm sure there's equinoxes and solstesses that line up.

[00:22:36]>> Some kind person actually sent us an email and I saw the email but I haven't had a chance to read it.

[00:22:41]>> Um it looked like it was a very large email and I can't wait to have a chance to read it but it was all about if you love megalithic things and ancient history and Graham Hancock.

[00:22:51]>> Absolutely.

[00:22:51]>> He's got a lot of things he thinks we will love. So >> well I'm all for that.

[00:22:55]>> This is I'm all for that.

[00:22:56]>> Thank you. I will certainly read that email when I have time because this is this is our thing right here. It is.

[00:23:02]Look at this view.

[00:23:06]Oh man, I can't get enough. What has set on top of this?

[00:23:12]>> Centuries, bu hundreds, thousands, thousands and thousands of years.

[00:23:16]>> I walked up to it cuz I I wondered if if this was actually carved out.

[00:23:20]>> I'm here for a split second >> and then gone. But this rock will >> still be here.

[00:23:26]>> Yeah, absolutely.

[00:23:28]>> Every single sign, website, etc. has to tell us that it's older than the pyramids. It's like as if the pyramids are like the thing that determines age.

[00:23:37]Hey, did you see this one's got like Okay. I don't know. I'm not a geologist.

[00:23:41]It says quartz marble. I I don't know.

[00:23:45]>> Yeah. I'm not sure what all was in their limestone.

[00:23:48]>> I don't know.

[00:23:49]>> Is that what these are? Limestones?

[00:23:51]>> I thought so.

[00:23:52]>> I'll look it up cuz I don't know either.

[00:23:56]>> Okay. Abra, we talked about this. was any I wonder if any of them were more special than the other. Um, it doesn't appear to be, but I I what I like is >> the different sizes if these are the original height.

[00:24:10]Um, you know, the ones almost as an entryway here are are taller, right? And then it kind of shrinks as you get back toward I think that's an altar back there in the corner.

[00:24:20]>> That was mentioned on the sign, but it didn't say why.

[00:24:23]>> Oh, okay.

[00:24:25]>> It didn't mention anything about an altar. I thought the middle was the altar cuz the boy was found in the middle.

[00:24:31]>> Okay.

[00:24:32]The cooking pits. I think that's where this is.

[00:24:38]We got another sign up ahead.

[00:24:47]Are these the cooking pits, Jules?

[00:24:49]>> Yeah.

[00:24:49]>> Yeah. Okay.

[00:24:50]>> Just meat bathing, dying, and brewing.

[00:24:55]get back here and show you guys this.

[00:24:58]This looks like a two in one here.

[00:25:02]See that? Almost like a number eight. It looks like a number eight over here, babe.

[00:25:08]Um, so experiments conducted during excavation in 1957 show that 70 gallons of cold water could be brought to a boil in 18 minutes.

[00:25:22]What?

[00:25:23]>> They think it was used for cooking meat, but it could have also been used for bathing, dying fabrics, or even brewing.

[00:25:31]>> Wow. But here's the here's the question.

[00:25:35]What method? Nothing we have right now would be able to cook it that fast. Not that amount of water.

[00:25:41]>> It just says it's a trough with an adjoining hearth and well, which are all enclosed by a low stone bank.

[00:25:48]>> Wow.

[00:25:50]I know this may not be interesting to everybody, but we eat this stuff up because I want to know what tech they used, right? I'm not talking about computer chips. I'm talking about their technology. What technology did they use that we lost because we can't heat water that quickly today with the amount?

[00:26:10]Well, I'm saying in our homes, which is exactly what this was supposed to be.

[00:26:18]Look at you still.

[00:26:28]>> Wow.

[00:26:29]>> I know how many people have sit around this little thing, built a fire, looked at this view, talked about life.

[00:26:42]>> This is awesome.

[00:26:43]>> It is.

[00:26:44]Somebody left a comment and said, "If you guys like big piles of rocks, you're in the right country."

[00:26:49]>> Well, then >> I got a real kick out of that.

[00:26:51]>> No wonder it feels like home.

[00:26:53]>> That was funny.

[00:26:55]>> Oh, man.

[00:26:59]Wow.

[00:27:00]>> Look at little Abra checking it out.

[00:27:02]>> Oh, I know.

[00:27:08]>> Look. What is it, Abra? What's down there?

[00:27:10]>> Oh.

[00:27:11]>> Uh-oh. Okay, we're clean. We're not going to do Yeah. Let's not go jumping in the water, sis.

[00:27:16]>> This one's more like a figure eight.

[00:27:18]>> Yeah, >> it doesn't have anything in the middle like a trough.

[00:27:21]>> I know, but this is an entryway here, at least into the next chamber.

[00:27:27]And there's something over here.

[00:27:29]>> What's that? Oh, like steps.

[00:27:31]>> Yeah. I don't know if that's like Yeah, like steps or or what? Because it is built up just a little bit. It come you you walk up just a little bit.

[00:27:42]I don't know. This is This is so cool.

[00:27:46]>> This looks like you would sit here.

[00:27:48]>> That does look like you would sit there.

[00:27:50]You're right.

[00:27:51]>> Come on. Yeah.

[00:27:53]>> Yeah.

[00:27:53]>> Have role play on it.

[00:27:59]>> This dog. She's been to some wild places.

[00:28:02]>> I know. I know. I was telling Julie I found an aerial >> um photo from the property and the property.

[00:28:14]You can kind of see the edges here.

[00:28:16]It goes on because this is fenced off.

[00:28:20]This is not their original property. It goes on and creates a huge rectangle. I'm going to try to walk up this little way here and get to it looks like maybe a viewing spot and try to show you. I don't have a drone. We did not. We were debating on whether or not to get one. We didn't.

[00:28:41]>> This is our last international trip without a drone. I tell you what, >> I promise.

[00:28:46]>> Okay.

[00:28:47]>> So, if you look right here, see right beyond the pile of dirt. So, right here starts property line. You can see it back there as well.

[00:28:57]>> Over there. Did you see?

[00:28:58]>> Yeah. So, >> do you see way back there, though?

[00:29:01]There's a bigger one way back there.

[00:29:03]>> I do see the one way back there. Yeah, it looks like a big rectangle from over overhead.

[00:29:11]And then you can see it does come up and then right on the other side. All right.

[00:29:16]Right over here, it links back up with the fence.

[00:29:22]It's so awesome.

[00:29:25]So awesome. Is that ocean? Am I seeing ocean back there?

[00:29:27]>> I think it's the Celtic Sea.

[00:29:29]>> Oh, yes. I ran by the Celtic Sea. I'll talk to you guys about that in just a bit.

[00:29:35]Take a take a breath here.

[00:29:38]I mean, to just understand what civilization has been through.

[00:29:50]And at the heart of it, there's always an altar. There's always a ceremony, always an offering.

[00:30:20]All right. All right. I grew up on a farm and we had cows, but I swear they're bigger in Ireland.

[00:30:24]>> They're much bigger. You know what? Cuz they're grass-fed.

[00:30:27]>> They are taller and that's why their butter is so good, right?

[00:30:30]>> Yes, it is.

[00:30:31]>> And the milk's amazing.

[00:30:34]>> This is in our backyard. This is less than 10 minutes where we're currently staying. Actually ran by the entrance and didn't even know it this morning.

[00:30:42]Stop, too. Just as spectacular.

[00:30:45]>> I wanted to share this beautiful view here. I think this is the Celtic Sea.

[00:30:51]There's all kinds of buoys out there and little boats, little skipper boats.

[00:30:56]Uh we are in Oh Lord, it it looks like Glandor, but I'm sure that's not how it's pronounced.

[00:31:03]>> Um but I wanted to share this view. It's gorgeous.

[00:31:08]>> Michael came through here running this morning and he couldn't wait to show it to you.

[00:31:11]>> You know, we have been to many coastlines around the world, but this one, look at that.

[00:31:17]That's stunning.

[00:31:20]>> This one is just something else.

[00:31:24]>> Big beautiful church over here on the right.

[00:31:26]>> I'm going to give you a special little uh >> Let's look at the sea again.

[00:31:30]>> Okay. Yeah. Back and forth. Back and >> Wow. My head is on an absolute swivel here. So much to see.

[00:31:38]>> This morning I wasn't exactly sure what to do. You know, we got in late last night. I wanted to run. I told you we're going through a cave, but I decided to turn left. Literally closed our front door, turned left, and I stumbled onto this little seaside town, ran by this church.

[00:31:56]>> Okay, so it was consecrated to 1861.

[00:31:59]>> Okay.

[00:32:02]>> But >> but they they knocked out >> the side of the mountain, guys. The smell in here, it's like being in a cavern. You know what it's like if you've ever been on a cavern tour?

[00:32:16]>> Oh, absolutely. More limestone. Great for climbing.

[00:32:20]>> Oh, wow.

[00:32:24]>> It did say they still do services here July through August. I think every Sunday, >> like a little summertime beach community.

[00:32:34]>> Hang on, guys. Let me let me let me just turn. Let me just turn.

[00:32:38]I know there's an electric pole in the way.

[00:32:46]>> This is the church I just showed.

[00:32:48]>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We walked up on the hill. Look at that.

[00:32:52]>> Yeah. Look at this.

[00:32:53]>> I felt like we drove further, but we just went around the corner.

[00:32:55]>> Yeah, we just went around the corner.

[00:32:56]>> Wow. Okay.

[00:32:59]Look at this old door.

[00:33:08]Um.

[00:33:09]>> Mhm.

[00:33:10]>> Unless it's like nailed in. I can see a gap. There's no lock. Like it's not locked, but it may be barricaded or nailed.

[00:33:18]>> Yeah, it may be. It may be a blocked entrance. So, you can see, let me show you this side. You could see back back in there. They've just carved it out of the out of the mountain, out of the hill, whatever you want to call it.

[00:33:30]There is electricity. There you go.

[00:33:32]There's some There's some lighting that they've built in here.

[00:33:38]Man, I really thought this was abandoned this morning when I was running by it.

[00:33:42]Oh, what do what do we got in here?

[00:33:44]>> Go in there and tell us, Abra.

[00:33:46]>> Uh-huh.

[00:33:49]>> Yeah. Amber, what's in >> What's in there, Amber? Go do some ring.

[00:33:52]>> Yeah.

[00:33:53]>> I had a GoPro.

[00:33:54]>> Like a little What are they called? Are they not fox hounds? The >> Oh, which are the the hounds that go the ones that go after the rats?

[00:34:02]>> Hang on. What's in there? What do you see? Have to go back and watch the footage.

[00:34:07]>> Look at this water.

[00:34:09]>> Yeah.

[00:34:09]>> Okay. Don't get muddy, baby.

[00:34:12]Look at this.

[00:34:12]>> I mean, that's what you know, that's what the limestone does.

[00:34:19]>> Wow.

[00:34:20]>> Mhm.

[00:34:22]>> I know, right?

[00:34:23]>> Look at that pretty door.

[00:34:25]Hey, it's got a knocker >> and Well, >> yeah. And a lock >> on around. Can you see in?

[00:34:39]>> Um, yeah. If I was maybe a little >> Yeah, you can absolutely see in. You see in, guys? There you go.

[00:34:45]Wow.

[00:34:46]>> Okay. Do you see through a window?

[00:34:48]>> Yeah. Right here.

[00:34:49]>> Okay. This >> go look in.

[00:34:53]>> It's a church. It's a church.

[00:34:56]>> Here's the roof. Here's the steeple.

[00:34:58]>> We've already showed the steeple.

[00:35:01]Let me see if I can >> look through the glass, but there are no people.

[00:35:06]>> Okay. Okay.

[00:35:08]>> Uhhuh.

[00:35:09]>> If you put your nose >> Put my nose >> up to the glass.

[00:35:12]>> Yeah.

[00:35:13]>> This is the smell of an old church.

[00:35:17]I don't know how else to say it.

[00:35:18]>> Uhhuh. But it's the absolute smell of the inside of a very very old church that's been like locked up for a long time.

[00:35:26]>> Let's just go ahead and finish it. I told Yeah. I ran by this. I ran by the sea. I was like, I've got to bring Julie back.

[00:35:31]>> Did you run around up here?

[00:35:33]>> Not up here. No, no, no. But I I knew I had to bring you. Huh?

[00:35:36]>> Did you come through the cave?

[00:35:37]>> I didn't. I wanted to wait and do it with you. I was like, I'm not I'm going to wait.

[00:35:41]>> How did you know it would lead to the church?

[00:35:43]>> Uh because it had the Catholic church, the it had the the signage out front.

[00:35:48]I don't even know how you open a door like this. Like there's no handle.

[00:35:52]>> There's a skeleton key somebody has somewhere. There a little path we can go back down. Look at that, guys. I mean, what do you say?

[00:36:00]>> This reminds me of Greece. I don't >> That's what I thought, too. I was like, "Oh, this is this is Greece here. This is what we what we had seen." But then you see the the the rolling hills and all the grass and then you realize, no, this is unlike any other part >> Yeah.

[00:36:15]>> of Europe that we have ever seen. But it is >> I think it's a normal thing for your brain. I wanted to say this about something else we said. I think it's a normal thing when you see something that just kind of overwhelms you. Your brain starts trying to make connections with what's the closest thing that I've ever seen to this.

[00:36:32]>> Watch this. Yeah.

[00:36:33]>> Like when we were at that old mill and it was covered with ivy and I was like this reminds me of the secret garden >> which was a book that I like in a film that I loved when I was a kid.

[00:36:43]>> Yeah. It's like your brain is trying to tell you what connection do you already have to this place and the answer is really nothing. This is this is different.

[00:36:52]>> This is 5 minutes from the house.

[00:36:55]>> 5 minutes from the house. Just stumbled on it today.

[00:36:58]>> This is so different than Donnagal.

[00:36:59]>> Yeah, >> Dunagal.

[00:37:02]Um just as beautiful. It's amazing how different the climate is. I am way too hot in this coat.

[00:37:08]>> Yeah, I'm I'm warm.

[00:37:10]>> We have been so lucky with the weather.

[00:37:12]It's such a beautiful day. This This is a pretty church and all, but where it's located is just outstanding.

[00:37:21]>> All right, what's next?

[00:37:23]>> I know. What's on What's next on the list?

[00:37:25]>> Day of adventures.

[00:37:26]>> Yes, it is.

[00:37:26]>> Let's go back through the cave together.

[00:37:28]>> Okay, we'll go back through the cave.

[00:37:29]Yeah, >> this is like something in Lord of the Rings, you know, like there should be a gigantic spider on the other side of the Yeah.

[00:37:39]Next stop, >> we are at a just a random church I saw this morning when I was out walking Abra. I don't know anything about it, but I thought it was beautiful. This morning when I was here, it was the skies were gray. It was overcast. It wasn't raining, but it was like damp, you know, and there were a whole bunch of big black crows. They were just flying around here and they were calling. It was so ominous.

[00:38:07]>> You had the camera for that. I didn't have my phone or anything and it just felt like something out of a horror movie. Yeah.

[00:38:13]>> And when we say that, by the way, when we say something feels like it's straight out of a horror movie, that's like a high compliment for us because those are our favorite kinds of movies.

[00:38:22]>> We love anything that's creepy or ominous.

[00:38:25]>> I just wanted to show you this church.

[00:38:27]>> No, it's cool.

[00:38:27]>> I thought you would be super excited to see it. I had no idea you were going to come home with a story of another super cool church, but your church has a cave.

[00:38:36]So, this one's just so nicely manicured, so nicely landscaped, and it was kind of terrifying >> at that time of day. I'm sure >> it was the crows. There were like a hundred of them. I think you filmed a little bit of them before we set out on our adventures today.

[00:38:54]>> I like the fence, too.

[00:38:55]>> All of these things we have done today.

[00:38:57]>> Yes.

[00:38:58]>> Except for the towerhouse have been so close to our our home for the week.

[00:39:03]>> Yeah.

[00:39:04]>> It's been awesome.

[00:39:06]front door there.

[00:39:08]>> Your church was cooler.

[00:39:09]>> Well, no, but I like what I like about this is that it looks like it was built regardless of what year with the stone that was right here, you know?

[00:39:18]>> Well, over here squares and rectangles and so forth.

[00:39:23]>> A little river.

[00:39:23]>> This one might even be original on the back. Maybe this was the church in the beginning.

[00:39:31]Yes.

[00:39:31]>> Lovely little river down here. Your church didn't have a river.

[00:39:37]>> I hear.

[00:39:38]>> Isn't that lovely?

[00:39:39]>> Running water. That may be where we're headed to next.

[00:39:42]>> I'm so impressionable. I pick up words from people I have been hanging out with.

[00:39:47]>> And we were hanging out with Mike all weekend. Z.

[00:39:50]>> We were.

[00:39:51]>> And uh he's English and he he says things are lovely. And that's probably when I would say something's like really cool.

[00:39:58]>> I know.

[00:39:58]>> So now I've been saying lovely non-stop.

[00:40:00]>> Same. I I've been doing that choice as well when something's cool.

[00:40:06]>> We're going to take a little hike and see if we can find a waterfall. It says it's 11 minutes up the street.

[00:40:11]>> Apparently, it's a legendary for this place.

[00:40:21]>> Well, it's a challenge for her.

[00:40:24]>> So, that's mental stimulation, but also I feel like she's safer cuz she's not near the traffic.

[00:40:29]>> Yeah. And she doesn't get to be up high and see things much, you know. She's Can you imagine how big she must feel right now?

[00:40:35]>> Oh, yeah. She's got to feel >> how important.

[00:40:39]>> Yeah. Big girl.

[00:40:40]>> Okay. This is where I have >> This is our little downtown area >> of Le >> of Le. It's a very small town, but we are loving it.

[00:40:52]>> Look at that cute train.

[00:40:54]>> Oh, yeah. Look at that train.

[00:40:58]By far the busiest morning that we've had yet on the trip. Checking mark checking off activities. And this is where we're headed to last for today.

[00:41:09]The Lep Historic Waterfall.

[00:41:17]Wonder how long that sign has been there. It says Merry Christmas.

[00:41:21]>> All the neon has fallen off of it. We are headed to visit the historic Lep Waterfall this way.

[00:41:32]>> There's some Christmas decorations still left out.

[00:41:39]>> Grim Reaper here. His sickle is gone.

[00:41:45]>> And Babra's trying to sniff the donkey.

[00:41:48]>> This is creepy.

[00:41:48]>> This is creepy.

[00:41:50]>> I love it.

[00:41:50]>> Look his jaw. Yeah, >> he's he's made of wood, by the way.

[00:41:54]>> Mhm.

[00:41:55]>> Wonder why the donkey has to be out there.

[00:41:57]>> I don't know.

[00:41:57]>> Is he behind a fence like in a pasture?

[00:42:05]>> Okay. More creepy wooden structures.

[00:42:07]>> This one is um not upright. What is is she?

[00:42:14]>> Uh she maybe it looks very similar to Native American structure.

[00:42:22]which could be >> that one. Is that missing a head?

[00:42:25]>> Um, I don't know.

[00:42:29]Not sure.

[00:42:30]>> I'm just a little bit creeped out. Did you see >> just a little bit?

[00:42:35]>> Did you see the big snowman behind you?

[00:42:37]>> Uh, >> somebody busted his nose off.

[00:42:38]>> Oh, no. I did not see that snowman.

[00:42:41]>> No.

[00:42:45]>> Yeah.

[00:42:47]Seems to be getting creepier the further. going to be interesting. You might want to leave it rolling.

[00:42:53]>> Okay.

[00:42:53]>> To visit the waterfall, we have to walk out there.

[00:42:56]>> The fairy village and the waterfall.

[00:42:59]>> But uh wait, do you see what the floor is? Abra big assumption here. The prettiest thing I have ever seen.

[00:43:08]>> Some really pretty things. All right.

[00:43:10]Abra's not going to like this.

[00:43:12]>> So I'm not going to make her think Abra can come out. Babe, >> good girl. Wait.

[00:43:19]Oh, it is beautiful though.

[00:43:22]>> Here we go.

[00:43:22]>> Should I carry her? I should carry her.

[00:43:24]Come here.

[00:43:24]>> Yeah. I'm going to have to really hang on to the camera, too, because the grates here >> Yeah.

[00:43:29]>> are wide. So, let me get a good grip on the camera.

[00:43:33]>> This is beautiful.

[00:43:36]>> You guys are seeing it >> when I'm seeing it.

[00:43:43]There it is. I don't know if you can hear Arab, but she is a nervous wreck.

[00:43:48]Wow, >> that's lovely.

[00:43:50]>> It is >> a lot of love.

[00:43:54]>> That not the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, but that's definitely kind of reminds me in Lord of the Rings right before the nine broke up.

[00:44:05]>> I forget the name of where they were, but they were in boats, three each boat, >> and they were going between those two big sculptures.

[00:44:12]>> Yeah.

[00:44:13]>> And there was a waterfall. You remember that part?

[00:44:15]>> I do. I'm I'm like you, though. I forgot where they were going.

[00:44:19]Me go to the other side here.

[00:44:23]>> Wow.

[00:44:28]>> Said there was a fairy village here as well.

[00:44:34]This is really pretty.

[00:44:38]Hey, look at that stone thing down there. What do you think that is?

[00:44:40]>> Let me see if I can zoom in.

[00:44:46]Little more.

[00:44:49]Talking about that right there straight in the center of the screen.

[00:44:54]Yeah, it looks like a little outdoor oven. Julie said maybe that's where the fairy >> the fairy garden is.

[00:45:01]And one more view.

[00:45:03]>> That is absolutely beautiful. Those vines coming down these rocks, the ferns.

[00:45:10]>> Yeah, sun is out. Gorgeous day, man.

[00:45:16]>> What a great day to be alive.

[00:45:18]>> Great, great day today. Yeah, >> it seems kind of early to end the vlog, but the work day is just getting started. It's about 1:30 and Michael's got to get to work. So, >> and we've already had a full day.

[00:45:31]>> We won't be doing anything else interesting. We'll just be cooking here at home tonight. And last night's vlog took the entire night to upload.

[00:45:39]>> And this morning, too.

[00:45:40]>> Yeah, I know. When we woke up this morning, it still wasn't uploaded. So, I want to go ahead and get a jump start on uploading it. I promise if anything exciting happens, we'll make another video >> always.

[00:45:49]>> But, I think it's just going to be work.

[00:45:51]>> Yeah. I'm still a little bit hung over from all the driving yesterday, too.

[00:45:54]>> In a bit, >> but so happy that we found so many things locally here, so we didn't have to drive too far today. So, that was great.

[00:46:01]>> You planned an awesome day.

[00:46:03]>> It was literally by the seat of my pants. It wasn't anything.

[00:46:06]>> This might have been the most fun day we've had yet. It was really fun >> except the day we got to spend with sea.

[00:46:10]That was >> Yeah, of course. Of course. Uh lastly, I just wanted to talk about these are the sparkling waters that were 85 euro 85 whatever it is. Um at le picked up another six-pack today. I love these.

[00:46:26]They're they're really >> It's not tonic.

[00:46:29]>> No, it's not. No, but I like tonic water with lime sometimes. I'm not drinking it for hydration. I drink a gallon of water by itself. These are treats. Uh, but yeah, this one this one is very, very good.

[00:46:39]>> Everything we've gotten at LLE so far has been fantastic >> for real. Yeah, >> meat's good. Eggs are good. All the eggs, I think, are even better than Aldi. Everything has been fantastic. But we knew that about Ireland before we came here. We knew their food is amazing. And I It's a treat to be able to cook at home and grocery shop and have a kitchen and make it all here.

[00:46:57]>> Yeah.

[00:46:58]>> Speaking of, I think somebody's ready for me to feed her.

[00:47:00]>> I think that's what that's about. Yes.

[00:47:02]>> We're going to sign out here. If anything wildly exciting happens, you'll hear about it. Don't worry. But otherwise, we'll see you tomorrow with more Ireland adventures.

[00:47:09]>> Hope you had a great Monday.

[00:47:10]>> Thanks for watching.

[00:47:11]>> Thanks. Bye, guys.

[00:47:12]>> Bye-bye.