I can apply for a voucher if the trip is cancelled. I was able to get my money refunded on my credit card last year from Air France for my flight to Madrid. I haven't seen an actual cash refund offer on Aer Lingus unless you bought a mega-expensive ticket. I guess a voucher wouldn't be too bad as long as there's enough time to use it. There was something on the website mentioned about COVID-cancelled travel and I think it said you could request a refund instead of a voucher. I still haven't been able to find anything cheaper non-stop and with my credit card miles, if I use them all at once would knock the price down to about one paycheck (and school bus monitors aren't well paid). I forgot the town I was going to spend my birthday in this year, but I'd be spending the evening of it this year in Waterford - in 2017 I was on the shore of the Sea of Galilee...I like to do big birthday trips, when I can afford to. I should be able to get my COVID shots within the next month or two and hopefully some positive news will come from the EU before June.

Kilkenny Castle (Irish: Caisleán Chill Chainnigh, is a castle in Kilkenny, Ireland built in 1195 to control a fording-point of the River Nore and the junction of several routeways. It was a symbol of Norman occupation and in its original thirteenth-century condition it would have formed an important element of the defenses of the town with four large circular corner towers and a massive ditch, part of which can still be seen today on the Parade. The property was transferred to the people of Kilkenny in 1967 for £50 and the castle and grounds are now managed by the Office of Public Works. The gardens and parkland adjoining the castle are open to the public. The Parade Tower is a conference venue. Awards and conferring ceremonies of the graduates of the Kilkenny Campus of National University of Ireland, Maynooth have been held there since 2002.

Kilkenny Castle has been an important site since Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, commonly known as Strongbow constructed the first castle, probably a wooden structure, in the 12th century. The Anglo-Normans had established a castle in 1173, possibly on the site of an earlier residence of the Mac Giolla Phádraig kings of Osraighe. Kilkenny formed part of the lordship of Leinster, which was granted to Strongbow. Strongbow’s daughter and heiress, Isabel married William Marshall in 1189. Marshall owned large estates in Ireland, England, Wales and France and managed them effectively. In 1192, he appointed Geoffrey FitzRobert as seneschal of Leinster and so began a major phase of development in Kilkenny, including the development of Kilkenny Castle. The first stone castle on the site, was completed in 1260. This was a square-shaped castle with towers at each corner; three of these original four towers survive to this day.

The castle was owned by the seneschal of Kilkenny Sir Gilbert De Bohun who inherited the county of Kilkenny and castle from his mother in 1270, in 1300 he was outlawed by Edward I but was reinstated in 1303, he held the castle until his death in 1381. It was not granted to his heir Joan, but seized by the crown and sold to the Butler family in 1391.

The Castle became the seat to a very powerful family, the Butlers of Ormonde. The Butler family (who changed their name from FitzWalter in 1185) arrived in Ireland with the Norman invasion. They originally settled in Gowran where James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond built Gowran Castle in 1385. The family had become wealthy and James bought Kilkenny Castle in 1391 and established himself as ruler of the area. The Butler dynasty then ruled the surrounding area for centuries. Many of the family, including James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond are buried in St. Mary's Collegiate Church Gowran.

Among the many notable members of the Butler family was Lady Margaret Butler (c. 1454 or 1465–1539) the Irish noblewoman, the daughter of Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormond. Lady Margaret Butler was born in Kilkenny Castle. She married Sir William Boleyn and was the paternal grandmother of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII of England.

By the 18th century, the castle had become run down, reflecting the failing fortunes of the Butler family. However, some restoration was carried out by Anne Wandesford of Castlecomer, who brought wealth back into the family upon marrying John Butler, 17th Earl of Ormonde. In the 19th century, the Butlers then attempted to restore it to its original medieval appearance, also rebuilding the north wing and extending the south curtain wall. More extensions were added in 1854. In 1904, King Edward VII of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and his wife Queen Alexandra visited Kilkenny Castle.

During the Irish Civil War in 1922, Republicans were besieged in the Castle by Irish Free State forces. The Ormondes, together with their pet Pekinese, chose to remain in situ in their bedroom over the great gate, which was the main focus of attack. There was a machine gun outside their door. Only one man was injured but a great deal of damage was inflicted on the castle, which took many years to repair.

In 1967, this Lord Ormonde sold the abandoned and deteriorating castle to the Castle Restoration Committee for a ceremonial £50, with the statement: "The people of Kilkenny, as well as myself and my family, feel a great pride in the Castle, and we have not liked to see this deterioration. We determined that it should not be allowed to fall into ruins. There are already too many ruins in Ireland." He also bought the land in front of the castle from the trustees "in order that it should never be built on and the castle would be seen in all its dignity and splendour". The handover ceremony also marked the foundation of The Butler Society, a still thriving organisation that connects, preserves and unites a family once dominant in the British Isles. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithfull turned up at the castle hand over party, with Jagger telling the newspapers "We just came to loon about." It now belongs to the people of Kilkenny.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilkenny_Castle

We only had time to walk around the parade, the gardens and the courtyard of the Castle. I hope you enjoy these images of the exterior and surroundings.
Mark

Beginning Photographer with limited budget ($1,000.00) who wants to move from point and shoot to camera for more control over resulting images. Have narrowed search to Nikon D5600 per weight and features BUT Nikon’s discontinuing its D5600 production (and its total workforce by 30% per restrictions placed by Japanese government). So, D5600 camera I ordered with two lenses in November 2020 may never be delivered. Nikon D7500 is too bulky, heavy for me; making videos is not my main focus. Taking classroom online instruction via Zoom with specific weekly assignments. How advise me: find D5600 now, stick with my Fujifilm EXR 660 point and shoot or do something else? Thanks!

I would like a recommendation for a lightweight travel camera. I have a Fuji system: First, an XE2 and then an XT2. I was disappointed in the results from both Fuji’s, particularly with the kit lens. I have a full Nikon system but it is too heavy to carry around. I do have a Leica Type 109, which is great but the range is short (24-70 equivalent). I was thinking of the Sony A series cameras like the A6600. I still am mystified about the Fuji reviews. I have a 23 f2; 27 f2.8; 50 f2 and 55-300 with an XT2. Thoughts? Could be me but I have been taking pix for over fourth years.