2Gl and 2W Visit to Dalkey Castle, Wednesday 16th dec’09

When we went to Dalkey Castle we learned a lot about medieval life. First we were brought in to a hall and we saw a movie about Dalkey’s history and how for some time it was the main sea port in Dublin. We went out to the graveyard, to St. Begnets church. There we met the archer. He told us that he guarded the castle form the Irish who lived in the hills. He also told us that his master was Lord Cheevers. We saw the flag on top of the castle. It has three goats on it. This is because Cheever comes front the French word for goat. The archer showed us how to hold a bow and arrow properly. We then went upstairs to meet the cook. He was very unhygienic, he was scratching  himself with the spoons and knives he was cooking with, and spitting on things to clean them. He was cooking for the Christmas feast. He also showed us the stocks that people were placed in when punished. We went up to the battlements, to look out at the views of Dalkey. There were ramparts here so the archer could take cover and use his bow and arrow easily. We then talked to the barber surgeon’s wife. She was very interesting. She drank and smelt peoples pee to see what their “humours” were like. She offered shaves, hair trims and bloodletting. Unfortunately for me I was chosen as a volunteer. She strapped me down to the chair and made me hold the red and white barber stick. She threaten to do a bloodletting on me from my wrists’ to let all the bad blood out! Their medical methods were very strange. After the tour we got the dart back to school.

Account by Charlie Jermyn 2W