700 acres of meticulously kept gardens. Despite the attention to detail the gardens retain a real sense of nature. I felt a tranqulity and peacefulness even with others milling about the grounds. I will remember the special connection I felt towards this place. And, I will also remember the internal chuckle I had at the thought of ponies being buried in the on-site pet cemetery. The Earl of Wingfield built the Powerscourt House. It was Wingfield's children who insisted on burying their beloved pets on the grounds. Cows, dogs, cats and, yes, ponies were laid to rest here. The gardens have been designed and laid out in an Italian, Japanese and French style. Ireland's best, created during the Victorian era (1858-1875) have been called the 'grand finale' of Europe's formal gardening tradition. Bought in 1974, the Slazenger family now owns the estate.

A piece of Powercourt Estate history - On the grounds is a spectacular waterfall (highest in Ireland). When King George the IV visited the estate the hosts wanted the waterfall to have a more lavish effect. The waterfall was dammed. The idea being that when the water was released there would be a greater cascading effect. Thankfully the king and his entourage spent too long after dinner delving into the wine and sherry. Failing to visit the waterfall saved them from being washed away. For when the dam was removed the cascading water washed away not only the band stand but the viewing area where the king was to be positioned.

Having done this you could find yourself in County Wicklow in the Wicklow mountains. Glendalough, the glen of two lakes, the result of glaciation 200 million years ago. This monastatic settlement, founded by St. Kevin in the sixth century, consists of 7 churches with a round tower calling people to prayer. As the mist hovers, the site is borderline eerie. A shiver tells me I am in a magical yet mysterious place. There is definitely a historical energy here.

It would not be Ireland without a legend associated with Glendalough. For Glendalough the legend shrouds St. Kevin, the Patron Saint of Glendalough. Kevin of the Fair is said to have been so connected to nature that when a bird had laid an egg in his out stretched arm and he stayed like this holding the egg during the incubation period of 21 days until the egg was hatched.