On the highway between Roscommon and Athlone, in Ireland, we see a sign pointing down a small country road, that reads "Rindoon Castle". So we take the road a few miles, and end up at a long, gated driveway. There is a plaque that tells of the history of the castle. Upon entering the gate, a posted sign reads, something to the effect, "If the bull kills you, we're not responsible". We walk about a half a mile, past a farmhouse, through sheep and cow pastures, to almost the end of a small peninsula jutting out into a lake. Giving the bull a wide berth, we first come upon the church ruins. A little bit past comes the castle ruins. The moat is dry and covered with trees and brush. The inside of the castle also is, the most prominent plant being nettles. This special little plant stings and irritates the skin upon touching ANY
part of the plant. Skirting these plants, the castle offers the greatest climb anyone can ever have. It doesn't get any better than climbing centuries-old castle ruins in Ireland. As I am sitting on the outer wall, i look towards the point of the peninsula, which is thick, green, Irish woods, and just make out a single watchtower a little ways into the woods. This is too alluring. I thought castle ruins in Ireland didn't get any better; a watchtower ruin in the woods on a peninsula jutting into a lake in Ireland was is as good as it gets. I'll make my way back there someday, and camp out on the in
that watchtower, and explore those woods entirely.
On the highway between Roscommon and Athlone, in Ireland, we see a sign pointing down a small country road, that reads "Rindoon Castle". So we take the road a few miles, and end up at a long, gated driveway. There is a plaque that tells of the history of the castle. Upon entering the gate, a posted sign reads, something to the effect, "If the bull kills you, we're not responsible". We walk about a half a mile, past a farmhouse, through sheep and cow pastures, to almost the end of a small peninsula jutting out into a lake. Giving the bull a wide berth, we first come upon the church ruins. A little bit past comes the castle ruins. The moat is dry and covered with trees and brush. The inside of the castle also is, the most prominent plant being nettles. This special little plant stings and irritates the skin upon touching ANY 
part of the plant. Skirting these plants, the castle offers the greatest climb anyone can ever have. It doesn't get any better than climbing centuries-old castle ruins in Ireland. As I am sitting on the outer wall, i look towards the point of the peninsula, which is thick, green, Irish woods, and just make out a single watchtower a little ways into the woods. This is too alluring. I thought castle ruins in Ireland didn't get any better; a watchtower ruin in the woods on a peninsula jutting into a lake in Ireland was is as good as it gets. I'll make my way back there someday, and camp out on the in
that watchtower, and explore those woods entirely.
