Author: Rose

Rosehttp://www.phoenixrosedesign.com/

Jedward Candy Bar

Things that make you go humm.

Folks, Jedward has come out with a candy bar. It just makes me want to cry, because it’s so painfully pop culture, punny, laughable and sad all at the same time. Someone else bought it for me as a gift, and my first thought was that I *Had* to blog about it and post pictures, because this is something that is lost in translation (and I’m sure didn’t make it across the pond). So here they are.

Jeward candy bar 4 (Jedward Twin Bars - Popping Chocolate Bars)
Jedward candy bar – twin “popping” chocolate bars

Jedward "popping" candy bar 3 (Full on, Crazy, Jeadly!)
(yes, it says that it’s FULL ON, Crazy, JEADLY)

Jeward "poppin" candy bar 2 (want to Meet Jedward?)
Want to Meet Jedward? Get the golden ticket! (Thank Goodness I didn’t get the ticket.)

For those of you who don’t know who Jedward is, let me explain (although I’m not sure there is any explanation for these two). They were twin contestants on “x factor”, which is basically the “American Idol” for Britain and Ireland. They’re 17 year old blonde teenagers who, for lack of a better word, are stupid – and famous for it. They can’t really sing, and they (like Bieber fever) are everywhere here in Ireland and one doesn’t really know why. You can’t get them gone. They’re on TV (doing ads for a local cell phone company), starring in Celeb Big Brother House, and earlier this year – were Ireland’s entry for the Eurovision song contest (please don’t get me started on the contest).

They’re voted one of the year 2011’s most annoying…

and deservedly so.

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Glendalough Ruins and Lakes

Back in March, and again the beginning of June, I decided that I needed to get out of the city and go see a bit more of Ireland. I had heard many lovely things about a place called “Glenda-lock”, which is situated in the Wicklow mountains. I have to say that after taking a friend there in March, I had to return in June (when the weather was better) and take my mom and a bunch of photographs.

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(Sunset at the Upper Lake at Glendalough)

Glendalough (Irish: Gleann Dá Loch, meaning “Glen of Two Lakes”) is one of the most visited places in Ireland. It’s located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has lots of walks and trails. The Glendalough Valley was carved out by glaciers during the Ice Age and the two lakes, from which Glendalough gets its name, were formed when the ice eventually thawed.

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(House ruins with foggy mountain in the background)

It is also renowned for its Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin, a hermit priest (now in ruins). Kevin was born to one of the ruling families of Leinster, and studed under several early Christian leaders. During this time, he went to Glendalough and was enchanted by its beauty.

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(St. Kevin’s Cell)

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(Looking through the interior of St. Kevin’s Cell)

Shortly later, St. Kevin returned with several monks to found a monestary. As his fame spread, the settlement grew. Kevin died in 618, but the settlement continued for nearly 600 years – surviving through Viking Raids and deaths of many Abbots. In 1398, English troops finally invaded and destroyed the peaceful monestary for good.

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(Cemetery with 30 meter high Round tower to watch for raiders – Lower lake of Glendalough)

Since then, the place has remained one of pilgrimage, and I can see why as it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s mentioned in many manuscripts and there are remnants of cemeteries, workshops, guest houses, infirmaries, farm buildings and dwellings all over the upper and lower lakes. Most of the buildings that exist today are from the 10th and 12th centuries.

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(St. Kevin’s church)

For More information, please see http://www.glendalough.ie/heritage_of_glendalough.php

For more pictures of my trips there, please see my flickr set.

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Powerscourt Estate and Gardens Day Trip

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In the end of May, my mom and step dad came to Ireland to visit. We took several day trips about the area and had a really great time seeing each other. On May 31, mom and I went to Powerscourt Estate and Gardens because I had a discount ticket for the bus trip down which included the entry.

Bus tour with a long winded guide...
(me and mom on the upper deck of the bus – don’t we look happy)

Powerscourt is situated in the Wicklow mountains about 35 minutes south of Dublin, and was originally built as a country castle estate around 1300 by Baron La Poer (Anglocised to Powers). The castle’s position was of strategic military importance, in that the castle’s owner could control access to the nearby Dargle, Glencree and Glencullen rivers. The original home built here was 3 stories and had some 68 rooms. Over time, the castle changed hands many times.

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In the 1700’s, the castle was remodeled to have the current palace built around the remnants of the castle which had been gutted by fire. In the 1800’s, the house underwent renovations to “modernize” the estate. Mervyn Wingfield, seventh Viscount Powerscourt, decided that the grounds needed redone as well.

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He had the grounds were laid out include a walled garden (above), tower valley (with stone tower – below),

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fish pond, grottoes,

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(Grotto looking into the Japanese Gardens)

and terraces – all of which were said to have been inspired by a visit to Versailles. A century later, the Japanese garden

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and a pet cemetery (below)was added. The entire parkland was completed around 1880.

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Today, the home is a tourist attraction, has a 18 hole golf course, a beautiful waterfall, and even has a Ritz Carlton hotel nearby commanding some of the best views of the mountains.

More information about the Powerscourt House & Gardens can be found at:

www.powerscourt.ie

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For more pictures from the gardens, please see my flickr site here.

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