They say it's a long way to Tipperary and today it was.
After a leisurely start with the extra hour gained by turning the clocks back, we headed for Cahir, via Borris, and Graiguenamanagh, and St Mullin's (from afar) and New Ross (which we didn't mean to visit but the GPS got weary and well, it's a pretty nice spot in any case).
Getting to Borris was easy and as it was a bright sunny day, the views of the viaduct didn't disappoint. We didn't take the walking path that would have led us across the top along the entire viaduct.
Just about a kilometre away is Borris House, but the grounds were not open today. The town has done a wonderful job placing flowering baskets all along the wall that surrounds the lovely property. But I was disappointed at being kept out.
From there we ended up on a scenic drive - or so said the signs. Of course we have yet to take a drive that isn't scenic unless you count the time we spent driving at night, not seeing anything beyond the road ahead, and of course the directional signs.
Rather than take a motorway, we'd thought that following smaller roads would be more to our liking. After leaving Borris the Autoadress app decided that it couldn't find an internet signal. Everything else on the phone was finding it perfectly well. So - out game the old Garmin and on we went.
Although not on our chosen route, we did get to New Ross where I could practically give the tour of the Dunbrody replica famine ship. Instead we opted for lunch at the Kennedy Hotel Carvery. We both chose the roast lamb but I declined to include the mashed potatoes (I did take the boiled ones) and the turnips (which I decline when possible).
From there it was on to Cahir - via a bypass near Waterford, on through Clonmel, which was much larger than I'd pictured. We did pass the Magner's cider factory where we'd never seen so many silos, full of the very tasty brew - and no tap in sight.
From there we drove through Carrick-on-Suir which was also lovely and quite a large town. It will be a destination for another day when time is available to merely wander in the area.
Eventually we came to Cahir and as soon as the sign to Swiss Cottage came into view we headed in that direction. There were a few cars in the parking lot but certainly no crowds. Our choices on this long weekend managed to take us to wonderful treasures that were seemingly being ignored by others. We made good choices for sure.
The path to the cottage led down a flight of stone steps and across an ironwork bridge, on whose end posts were sculpted vultures painted white. The bridge crossed the Suir and there were signs indicating this was a good fishing location.
There was another sign pointing up yet another set of stone stairs and we found ourselves in what turned out to be the basement of Swiss Cottage. That part of the house had once been the kitchen and wine cellar - and no, there was no wine to be found. After purchasing admission for the house tour we once again climbed a set of stone stairs which turned out to be the servants' entrance to the cottage. Photos are not allowed in any of the four rooms of the cottage.
At the top of the stairs was the entrance to the cottage which still has the original wood floor, laid out in a spider web pattern. The cottage was occupied, and maintained, at least part time, up to 1980. Then it was abandoned by the owner for five years during which time it suffered considerable damage.
The "music room" was actually used, without permission, by a local farmer to stable his two horses for a few years. Vandals did considerable damage to the windows in the other reception room. Despite all of that, some of the original wallpaper in the one room on the main floor, survived. They were able to replicate the exact paper through a company in Texas. The scenes on the wallpaper included views from Istanbul - quite popular at the time. There was a mix of classical and country in the etched and stained glass windows.
None of the furniture is original but is either a replica or came from elsewhere. The most amazing pieces are six matching chairs, elaborately carved to resemble intertwining branches, each carved out of a solid block of Beech. There are no joins at all, other than that padded seats were added. The work to make the 6 chairs took 2 workmen 2 years. Although fanciful, the chairs looked distinctly uncomfortable - although perhaps good for scratching your back.
A spiral staircase leads upstairs to the two bedrooms, each of which is covered in wallpaper, one a bold toile and the other somewhat more subdued in a diamond pattern of vines. The fabric matched the wallpaper, which even covered the oddly shaped and unmatched dormers around each window. No two windows are the same size or shape, nor are they symmetrical within themselves. Even the doors are oddly angled. This was absolutely by design.
Apparently from the balcony off one of the bedrooms the Butlers, also known as Lord Caher and family, could see all the way to Cahir castle which they also owned. However there were 32 peasants cottages in the way of their view so they had them moved. I guess if you are that wealthy you can do pretty much whatever you like. Yikes!
The family would arrive by carriage from their home, which was a manor house near the castle. They'd spend the day entertaining friends with parties or fishing, then be returned to the manor house afterwards. I have no idea if the servants were brought by carriage or made to walk from the town.
It is a gorgeous setting and by far the most enchanted-looking building I've ever toured. It is certainly unique in Ireland and probably in the world. Swiss Cottage is now owned and maintained by the Office of Public Works.
Eventually we made our way back to Cahir where we took the odd photo of the castle and the river, which was perfectly still above a sort of tiny waterfall, and provided mirror-like images of the foliage and a nearby church. Gorgeous.
We were so exhausted by all the scenic views we had to stop in a little cafe for cappuccino or tea and cake. Suitably refreshed we noticed the nearby shop was open and of course we made a small contribution to the local economy.
The drive back to Bunclody was facilitated by the Garmin once more. My phone had pretty much run out of juice by that time. Since it got dark shortly after we left Cahir, we allowed the GPS to tell us the route and of course it chose the main motorway. When you come to the end of a perfect day, it's with gratitude that you simply follow directions.
What I have not figured out is why Lord Caher spelled his name that way, and his castle and the town were/are spelled Cahir. If you figure it out please pass along the info.
Paddy is already tucked into bed and I'm headed to my own shortly, with my book. We are not going to be so ambitious with our travels on the morrow and shall possibly enjoy multiple cups of coffee and tea before making any moves towards the great outdoors.
Apparently the sun is getting fatigued from being out all day every day, and is staying behind the clouds tomorrow. We can hardly complain as it has not rained in two weeks.
I will post some pictures in the morning.
Slan
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Saturday, October 27, 2018
And we're off again on another adventure
Today was not really an adventure but filled with several hours of lovely discoveries.
Our destination was Leighlinbridge (locklinbridge) which is quite nearby in the grand scheme of things. It's a very old town/village with some very interesting points of interest.
The sun was very bright, the sky was virtually cloudless and it was rather nippy - perfect for a drive and a wander. Route 724 was our 'highway to happiness' for the day.
Minimal research with a map last night showed Ballymoon Castle was on our proposed route. ABC - another bloody castle - but I can't seem to get enough of wandering about ruins of centuries old buildings.
Indeed there was a sign indicating we would soon be there. In reality, the gate providing access was barred. There was no place to park the car. The following link must be from some time ago because while driving each way past the castle we found no way to access it. But for those interested, here's a link:
http://www.megalithicireland.com/Ballymoon%20Castle.html
After passing the 'gate' we saw another entrance gate, swung wide open in very inviting fashion and it led up towards Ballymoon House. Once on the laneway we noticed the surveillance cameras. At that point we availed ourselves of a place to turn around and make our gracious and quick exit. It did not appear that the owners of Ballymoon House would be offering us tea and biscuits, so it hardly seemed worth the risk.
Back on the road, designated as a scenic route, we drove through Bagenalstown and on a couple more kilometers to Leighlinbridge. Our first stop required Paddy to do a bit of "Irish parking". In other words, just sort of pull over and get out of the car. We spent a few minutes at the Vivaldi Garden which has four statues, each with a small hedged plot, representing each of the 4 seasons. On the wall was a Treble Clef with some musical notes. Delightful. We happily endured the sneers of motorists forced to go around the car. Everyone seems to find a spot to park wherever they wish, facing whichever way they want on either side of the road.
On we went past the crumbling Black Castle to the Arboretum Garden Centre. It was better than I'd remembered. The garden centre itself had fabulous displays of multi-flower-filled pots, boxes and individual plants for sale. They were beautifully displayed around an assortment of garden statuary. We were also entranced by the various standalone fountains. And of course there were fairies.
Outside the open doorway you are enticed to wander a lovely pathway through the outdoor plantings. They've endeavoured to include a lot of colour, more statues and a pond. They even have a resident crocodile and almost-buried hippo. Both are made of metal of course.
For me the loveliest statues were of children on piles of rocks in the pond as if they were on stepping stones. Absolutely charming. We wound our way along the entire pathway and back past the lion and gorilla to the garden centre again.
Lunch was enjoyed at a window table. Paddy had the cod and chips with mushy peas and I had Quiche. Delicious. We were well fortified for a bit of retail therapy in the Edinburgh Woollen Mills shop. I can't explain why a Scottish store was part of the complex, but there you go. Each of us bought a pair of gloves - mine of the soft furry lined wool variety and Paddy's were leather.
When we went to leave we found that we couldn't get out where we had come in. Finding the exit led us to a whole other series of shops. First we pranced right into Christmas world - it seemed mostly to be white, silver and gold and very very sparkly - each decoration was lovelier than the one before.
Walking farther along we came to stationery, home goods, kitchen goods, some clothing and lots of interesting 'stuff'.
Eventually we left and hopped back into the car to find a parking spot from which we could view the old bridge, the crumbling castle and the river views. Parking looked like a problem until we turned a corner and found a beautiful hotel - Lord Bagenal I think. It had a convenient and spacious parking lot, far from full, so we took advantage. On our way back we walked into the lobby, gazed at the chandelier and sauntered back out to our Nissan Micra. Not really a convincing show of being hotel guests, but there was no ticket.
On the way back to Bunclody we stopped in Bagenalstown where Paddy got a cash transfusion from an ATM. We visited St Andrews Church and then headed on to Fenagh, Myshall and Kildavin. We did make a stop opposite a cemetery to enjoy the view of Mt Leinster and take a few photos - just for a change. We'd only taken a few dozen at the Arboretum! Time for more.
We're now home, fed and relaxing our way to bedtime. Tomorrow it's Swiss Cottage in Cahir, Tipperary. It's not such a long way and more sun is predicted. We'll also visit Cahir Castle and the town before turning around. Stay tuned.
Here's a peek at some of what we enjoyed today:
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| Warnings should be fun - don't slip on this banana peel |
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| Leighlinbridge - built about the year 1300; look at that sky |
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| Mt Leinster with its head in the clouds - later in the day |
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| My favourite pond at the Arboretum Garden Centre |
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| If you're going to fancy up the lamp posts - do it right |
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| The River Barrow from Leighlinbridge |
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| Fairy getting a piggy back ride on a bunny |
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| Musical notes in the Vivaldi garden |
Friday, October 26, 2018
Even less news
Well I would bore you if I were to recount the past couple of days. Trips to the grocery store and library are far from exciting. The best I could do would be to recommend the books (I'm re-reading all of Louise Penny's books) and the tea (Twinings Peppermint).
While Paddy has been exploring Dublin, I've been working on the family history which is really of no interest to anyone else. I cannot even report progress other than to discount some things I had thought to be true, and some interesting insights from a local researcher which are making my brain do flips. I have to figure out the best way to 'map' the data in order to draw conclusions.
The weather continues to be just about perfect. It's getting cooler but is still sunny and dry. Our days, like everywhere else, are going to get markedly shorter with the arrival of Standard Time on the weekend.
Tomorrow and subsequent days should bring a bit of touring and thus something to retell.
While Paddy has been exploring Dublin, I've been working on the family history which is really of no interest to anyone else. I cannot even report progress other than to discount some things I had thought to be true, and some interesting insights from a local researcher which are making my brain do flips. I have to figure out the best way to 'map' the data in order to draw conclusions.
The weather continues to be just about perfect. It's getting cooler but is still sunny and dry. Our days, like everywhere else, are going to get markedly shorter with the arrival of Standard Time on the weekend.
Tomorrow and subsequent days should bring a bit of touring and thus something to retell.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
No news is, well, no news
The past couple of days have been quite unremarkable. The weather is lovely although there's a definite chill in the air now. Apparently the weekend will be on the nastier side - at least in terms of the temperature.
Paddy did some touring yesterday and I stayed put, digging through online databases.
Today, Paddy left for a couple of days in Dublin. I have set myself a puzzle, and picked up a couple of Louise Penny's books to re-read in case the puzzle isn't sufficiently enticing at any given moment.
I walked into town - so easy going down that steep slope - and wandered for a bit. I had wanted to exchange my leftover money from Northern Ireland, for Euros. Well, it seems that you can only do that if you have a bank account. And you can only have a bank account if ... well you get my drift. My 'landlords' here will take the money to that same bank, where they have an account, and change it for me tomorrow.
When I was here in 2017 I found two pairs of Joseph Seibel shoes that were much to my liking. So, I just had to wander back into Murphy's shoe store and ... drum roll please ... found a nice pair of warmly lined boots. They lace up but have a cheater zipper on the side. They seem to fit but I will return tomorrow with the orthotics that will have to live inside of them.
Then it was on to the library where I checked out two more of Louise Penny's books. These are not in order, but as I've read them all, I'll take them as I find them. The shopping bag had the first deposits.
Off to the grocery store to buy a litre of non-dairy milk, some oatmeal and a small (by Irish definition) loaf of white soda bread that was still warm from the oven. Each of these items is somewhat weighty.
All I had to do was lug that now-heavy bag back home - up that blasted mountain. Finallly managed and the bread didn't disappoint. I've had to freeze half of it because I won't eat it quickly enough to keep it fresh.
And that's about as exciting as the day got.
Genealogy alert
The following is of no consequence to anyone else. In fact, it might be of none to me. You can stop reading now.
The goal of this trip, aside from touring and socializing, remains the tracking down of information on the ancestors, and possible living relatives, of one set of my great-great grandparents: David Walsh and Eliza McDonald. I found the record of their marriage in the Drouin Collection on ancestry. At the time of this discovery I was searching for the marriage of James Morgan and Mary Kane - another set of gg grands. They remain lost in the incomrehensible writing and poor quality of images.
The large signature of David Walsh more or less leapt off the page, which despite lots of writing in the margins, still holds some secrets. The image has deteriorated. I suspect the writing was pretty awful in the first place. However, I was able to discern that David Walsh's parents were James Walsh and Anne McMahon, both deceased by the time of David's marriage in 1861. The bride's parents were James McDonald and Mary Walsh - just to keep things rather confusing. They must have been living somewhere in the general vicinity of Aylmer QC, which is where the marriage of David and Eliza took place.
The information from that register entry, propelled me back to Irish records where I found the marriage of James McDonald and Mary Walsh in 1825. Not only that, but that record led to the marriage register with the date of the marriage of James' parents: John McDonald and Kitty (Catherine) Bulger in 1794. Yay. I also found a few baptisms of some children of James and Mary (Walsh) McDonald.
All of these marriages took place in County Carlow. One of them was just a short drive from where I'm staying, in Bagenalstown. The other was in Borris, a short drive further down the road.
So that's what I have now. The Carlow records are mostly online - which of course is where I found them. However, the Carlow library has a good local archive and I shall probably be spending considerable time there. They have access to other online resources that I don't, as well as printed publications. I've made an appointment with the genealogist - another Walsh, of course!
So - today I have spent a good deal of time reading and will shortly turn back to the Irish resources to see if I can dig anything more out of the databases.
And now for some soup.
Paddy did some touring yesterday and I stayed put, digging through online databases.
Today, Paddy left for a couple of days in Dublin. I have set myself a puzzle, and picked up a couple of Louise Penny's books to re-read in case the puzzle isn't sufficiently enticing at any given moment.
I walked into town - so easy going down that steep slope - and wandered for a bit. I had wanted to exchange my leftover money from Northern Ireland, for Euros. Well, it seems that you can only do that if you have a bank account. And you can only have a bank account if ... well you get my drift. My 'landlords' here will take the money to that same bank, where they have an account, and change it for me tomorrow.
When I was here in 2017 I found two pairs of Joseph Seibel shoes that were much to my liking. So, I just had to wander back into Murphy's shoe store and ... drum roll please ... found a nice pair of warmly lined boots. They lace up but have a cheater zipper on the side. They seem to fit but I will return tomorrow with the orthotics that will have to live inside of them.
Then it was on to the library where I checked out two more of Louise Penny's books. These are not in order, but as I've read them all, I'll take them as I find them. The shopping bag had the first deposits.
Off to the grocery store to buy a litre of non-dairy milk, some oatmeal and a small (by Irish definition) loaf of white soda bread that was still warm from the oven. Each of these items is somewhat weighty.
All I had to do was lug that now-heavy bag back home - up that blasted mountain. Finallly managed and the bread didn't disappoint. I've had to freeze half of it because I won't eat it quickly enough to keep it fresh.
And that's about as exciting as the day got.
Genealogy alert
The following is of no consequence to anyone else. In fact, it might be of none to me. You can stop reading now.
The goal of this trip, aside from touring and socializing, remains the tracking down of information on the ancestors, and possible living relatives, of one set of my great-great grandparents: David Walsh and Eliza McDonald. I found the record of their marriage in the Drouin Collection on ancestry. At the time of this discovery I was searching for the marriage of James Morgan and Mary Kane - another set of gg grands. They remain lost in the incomrehensible writing and poor quality of images.
The large signature of David Walsh more or less leapt off the page, which despite lots of writing in the margins, still holds some secrets. The image has deteriorated. I suspect the writing was pretty awful in the first place. However, I was able to discern that David Walsh's parents were James Walsh and Anne McMahon, both deceased by the time of David's marriage in 1861. The bride's parents were James McDonald and Mary Walsh - just to keep things rather confusing. They must have been living somewhere in the general vicinity of Aylmer QC, which is where the marriage of David and Eliza took place.
The information from that register entry, propelled me back to Irish records where I found the marriage of James McDonald and Mary Walsh in 1825. Not only that, but that record led to the marriage register with the date of the marriage of James' parents: John McDonald and Kitty (Catherine) Bulger in 1794. Yay. I also found a few baptisms of some children of James and Mary (Walsh) McDonald.
All of these marriages took place in County Carlow. One of them was just a short drive from where I'm staying, in Bagenalstown. The other was in Borris, a short drive further down the road.
So that's what I have now. The Carlow records are mostly online - which of course is where I found them. However, the Carlow library has a good local archive and I shall probably be spending considerable time there. They have access to other online resources that I don't, as well as printed publications. I've made an appointment with the genealogist - another Walsh, of course!
So - today I have spent a good deal of time reading and will shortly turn back to the Irish resources to see if I can dig anything more out of the databases.
And now for some soup.
Monday, October 22, 2018
Some places close Monday but not where we went
The sun shone brightly and it was rather chilly - a perfect day for a little road trip. Our route was pretty straightforward - turn left on the N80 at the bottom of the hill, turn right onto N81 and keep going until you get there. Even I didn't get lost and I'd only been once before. Yay me!
We headed for Blessington in one of the most scenic areas of County Wicklow. At this point an argument could easily break out as to what part of the county is the most scenic. The loudest voice would win. You could not rate one area over another. Our journedy actually took us from Wexford, to Carlow, to Kildare, to Wicklow and back to Wexford.
Once we got to Blessington, we made a short stop at the tourist office. Parking was convenient and free - no need to dig out a 2 Euro coin this time. The lady working in the office was helpful beyond our requests. There were many many brochures for all the marvels thereabouts and beyond. We had mentioned we'd be visiting Russborough House. Bless her Irish heart - out came a brochure that gave us 2 for 1 admission. I think there are other similar coupons in the brochure but we haven't needed them yet.
First off we wanted to drive around Blessington Lake. At the moment it's closer to Blessington Puddle. The hot dry summer has left it much smaller and shallower than any time since the lake was created. It's a man-made lake, created by a dam to harness the water supply for Dublin. One can rue the damage to farmland, but as I'd not been there before this project several decades ago, I see it as a beautiful lake.
Drive around we did. The most difficult thing was finding a safe spot to pull over and admire the view - and of course, take photos. Finally there was a widening of the road on our side so Paddy parked and out we got. Not a single car went by while we ooohhhed and ahhhhed over the views. It really is wonderful to be here in the "off season".
That loop ended back at N81 and we drove the short distance to Russborough House. A new surprise awaited. We both qualify as seniors so we got our 2 for 1 at a reduced rate. Yay again. The tour started a few minutes later. George proved to be an excellent guide and docent. No question stumped him. He had a bit of humour to add without being corny. Our group was small and that's very nice also.
Check it out: http://www.russborough.ie/
The house has been lived in for centuries. Each era seemed to end when the owner died without leaving an heir. The various owners were all keen on art and the paintings, clocks, furniture and decorations were all marvellous. There is a fortune in oil paintings. Just for one example, there are two small Gainsboroughs in a grouping of six paintings. But it was always a family home, full of company.
The artwork has been subject to several thefts over the years - some pieces involved in more than one of the robberies. Just this year a number of paintings were returned to the house. Four oval paintings that had been stolen, were actually bought back by Alfred Beit. He thought they had been sold to the gallery where they turned up.
The grounds of the house are beautiful. Nothing can be built between the house and Blessington Lake so the view will never be spoiled. The artisans who work and exhibit in the "annexes" on either side of this wonderful symmetrical building, seemed to have taken Monday off - like many businesses. Only the blacksmith appeared to be there. Of course the gift shop was open so we had a little 'browse and buy' experience after a great lunch in the cafe.
The museum in the basement, recounts the lives of those who lived in the house. Most of the displays are from the last owner/occupants the Beits. They had no children. Alfred Beit was widely travelled and an amazing amateur photographer. He even took 3D pictures. They were found, all catalogued and labelled, in the basement in 2008. It's amazing they were in perfect condition. Alfred had died in 1994. He and his wife created a Trust that supports the building. The Trust was supplemented in 2015 when a number of paintings from the house were sold to the National Gallery.
I could go on and on - well, I can always do that. Just check out the link and then plan a visit to see for yourself.
For our walk on the grounds, we followed the Fairy Trail where we delighted in the many and varied fairy doors, most quite high up on the trees. Some of the fairy homes were joined by aerial bridges, others had swings. Each was unique. Most had the "occupant's" name on a little plaque.
When we tore ourselves away from Russborough, we headed over the Wicklow Gap which is quite high. The views were terrific until we got to the overlook for Glendalough (Glen da lock). It's more like Glen da Loss. There's hardly any water. Tomorrow Paddy will explore Glendalough more carefully and will report on the depth of the two lakes. I am planning a visit to genealogy land - that might include a trip to the library but possibly I'll stay put. It will be a trek on foot if I go anywhere.
Driving back to Bunclody we repeated a previous route via Rathdrum, Aughrim and Carnew. Driving was right into the sun. It's hard to complain about a sunny day but a stray cloud here and there might have been helpful. This time we did not stop at Mucklagh but for once I recognized Kathy Doyle's farm as we passed.
Once home we had our supper of Lasagna and salad with a small shared piece of biscuit cake - basically bits of Social Tea cookies held together by chocolate. I've made it before. That seems to be a favoured dessert across Europe. I first encountered it in Greece but wherever it started I'll never know.
We declined to go to Clonegal for storytelling this evening and are having a quiet time "at home".
The photo issue. My camera can communicate with my laptop via the SD card. But, I usually use my phone which is not on speaking terms with this Mac. Never mind the Android to Mac app - doesn't work for me.
I'm coming to the conclusion that I get better pictures with the phone than the camera. The reason for this is that I can't remember the settings to use. More effort will have to be made once I have some time on my hands and the inclination to refresh my tiny brain.
In addition, the camera photos are not uploading automatically to Dropbox as they are supposed to, while the phone is charging.
So - here are just a couple of pictures from today that I took with the camera - before the battery went to sleep. Ugh.
We headed for Blessington in one of the most scenic areas of County Wicklow. At this point an argument could easily break out as to what part of the county is the most scenic. The loudest voice would win. You could not rate one area over another. Our journedy actually took us from Wexford, to Carlow, to Kildare, to Wicklow and back to Wexford.
Once we got to Blessington, we made a short stop at the tourist office. Parking was convenient and free - no need to dig out a 2 Euro coin this time. The lady working in the office was helpful beyond our requests. There were many many brochures for all the marvels thereabouts and beyond. We had mentioned we'd be visiting Russborough House. Bless her Irish heart - out came a brochure that gave us 2 for 1 admission. I think there are other similar coupons in the brochure but we haven't needed them yet.
First off we wanted to drive around Blessington Lake. At the moment it's closer to Blessington Puddle. The hot dry summer has left it much smaller and shallower than any time since the lake was created. It's a man-made lake, created by a dam to harness the water supply for Dublin. One can rue the damage to farmland, but as I'd not been there before this project several decades ago, I see it as a beautiful lake.
Drive around we did. The most difficult thing was finding a safe spot to pull over and admire the view - and of course, take photos. Finally there was a widening of the road on our side so Paddy parked and out we got. Not a single car went by while we ooohhhed and ahhhhed over the views. It really is wonderful to be here in the "off season".
That loop ended back at N81 and we drove the short distance to Russborough House. A new surprise awaited. We both qualify as seniors so we got our 2 for 1 at a reduced rate. Yay again. The tour started a few minutes later. George proved to be an excellent guide and docent. No question stumped him. He had a bit of humour to add without being corny. Our group was small and that's very nice also.
Check it out: http://www.russborough.ie/
The house has been lived in for centuries. Each era seemed to end when the owner died without leaving an heir. The various owners were all keen on art and the paintings, clocks, furniture and decorations were all marvellous. There is a fortune in oil paintings. Just for one example, there are two small Gainsboroughs in a grouping of six paintings. But it was always a family home, full of company.
The artwork has been subject to several thefts over the years - some pieces involved in more than one of the robberies. Just this year a number of paintings were returned to the house. Four oval paintings that had been stolen, were actually bought back by Alfred Beit. He thought they had been sold to the gallery where they turned up.
The grounds of the house are beautiful. Nothing can be built between the house and Blessington Lake so the view will never be spoiled. The artisans who work and exhibit in the "annexes" on either side of this wonderful symmetrical building, seemed to have taken Monday off - like many businesses. Only the blacksmith appeared to be there. Of course the gift shop was open so we had a little 'browse and buy' experience after a great lunch in the cafe.
The museum in the basement, recounts the lives of those who lived in the house. Most of the displays are from the last owner/occupants the Beits. They had no children. Alfred Beit was widely travelled and an amazing amateur photographer. He even took 3D pictures. They were found, all catalogued and labelled, in the basement in 2008. It's amazing they were in perfect condition. Alfred had died in 1994. He and his wife created a Trust that supports the building. The Trust was supplemented in 2015 when a number of paintings from the house were sold to the National Gallery.
I could go on and on - well, I can always do that. Just check out the link and then plan a visit to see for yourself.
For our walk on the grounds, we followed the Fairy Trail where we delighted in the many and varied fairy doors, most quite high up on the trees. Some of the fairy homes were joined by aerial bridges, others had swings. Each was unique. Most had the "occupant's" name on a little plaque.
When we tore ourselves away from Russborough, we headed over the Wicklow Gap which is quite high. The views were terrific until we got to the overlook for Glendalough (Glen da lock). It's more like Glen da Loss. There's hardly any water. Tomorrow Paddy will explore Glendalough more carefully and will report on the depth of the two lakes. I am planning a visit to genealogy land - that might include a trip to the library but possibly I'll stay put. It will be a trek on foot if I go anywhere.
Driving back to Bunclody we repeated a previous route via Rathdrum, Aughrim and Carnew. Driving was right into the sun. It's hard to complain about a sunny day but a stray cloud here and there might have been helpful. This time we did not stop at Mucklagh but for once I recognized Kathy Doyle's farm as we passed.
Once home we had our supper of Lasagna and salad with a small shared piece of biscuit cake - basically bits of Social Tea cookies held together by chocolate. I've made it before. That seems to be a favoured dessert across Europe. I first encountered it in Greece but wherever it started I'll never know.
We declined to go to Clonegal for storytelling this evening and are having a quiet time "at home".
The photo issue. My camera can communicate with my laptop via the SD card. But, I usually use my phone which is not on speaking terms with this Mac. Never mind the Android to Mac app - doesn't work for me.
I'm coming to the conclusion that I get better pictures with the phone than the camera. The reason for this is that I can't remember the settings to use. More effort will have to be made once I have some time on my hands and the inclination to refresh my tiny brain.
In addition, the camera photos are not uploading automatically to Dropbox as they are supposed to, while the phone is charging.
So - here are just a couple of pictures from today that I took with the camera - before the battery went to sleep. Ugh.
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| How does your view compare? |
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| A shame I don't have room for one of these |
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| This is a clock. The snake, which doesn't move, points to the time. The two rows of numerals revolve. It was about 12:15 when we were there. |
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| Always wanted a four-poster. Inside the canopy it has a dome. |
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| Just one of the marble (marvel?) fireplaces at Russborough |
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| The music room. The smaller piano at the back was re-covered to match the large one. Photo is of Paderewsky (sp?) who played this one. |
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| Fireplace decoration of Lida and the swan |
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| Can't sit down - each has a pine cone to remind you not to take a seat. |
Sunday, October 21, 2018
Sleepy Sunday
There is really no way to make a slow relaxing Sunday into an interesting experience.
We had a lovely day mostly lounging around Moss Cottage. The most activity on my part was trying to get the printer to work. It didn't cooperate. Despite putting it through every utility to fix things up - no dice in printing a document. On the other hand, the test page printed perfectly. Go figure.
Paddy on the other hand did some crafty quilting - all hand stitched of course. Despite a not-very-thorough search, there is no sewing machine to be found hereabouts.
A bit of grocery shopping, filling the car with petrol (couldn't find any gas), and picking up fish and chips for supper - that's pretty much today's activities all tied up with a bow.
Sorry to disappoint you, faithful reader, but tomorrow we have an adventure planned. The next chapter should provide better reading.
Slan.
We had a lovely day mostly lounging around Moss Cottage. The most activity on my part was trying to get the printer to work. It didn't cooperate. Despite putting it through every utility to fix things up - no dice in printing a document. On the other hand, the test page printed perfectly. Go figure.
Paddy on the other hand did some crafty quilting - all hand stitched of course. Despite a not-very-thorough search, there is no sewing machine to be found hereabouts.
A bit of grocery shopping, filling the car with petrol (couldn't find any gas), and picking up fish and chips for supper - that's pretty much today's activities all tied up with a bow.
Sorry to disappoint you, faithful reader, but tomorrow we have an adventure planned. The next chapter should provide better reading.
Slan.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Have I been beamed up or over to another country?
Today was arguably the most beautiful weather day I have spent in Ireland - and that's saying something. The temperature must have been nearly 20C in the afternoon. I could have worn a short-sleeved shirt but certainly the long sleeves on the cotton t-shirt were just a bit of overkill. The sky was bright blue and everything about the day was magnificent.
With the continuing availability of a chauffeur, I enjoyed the drive to and through Tullow, to Rathwood. It is a home and garden centre, children's amusement area, cafe, clothing and accessories shop and so much more, all rolled into one lovely spot to spend time and money.
Lunch was the first order of business and the chicken and vegetable quiche hit exactly the right spot. I had a marinated mushroom salad on the side which was promised not to contain cilantro. I don't enjoy the taste of soap and that's what cilantro tastes like to me. However, there were only a couple of stray bits that were meant to be merely parsley.
Although I've been pretty good about avoiding sweets, I succumbed to the lure of a "pecan slice". There is still a morsel left, but only for a few more moments. I've managed to make it last quite well. Next weekend perhaps I'll have overcome the guilt and will travel the sweet road again.
Then we enjoyed a little retail therapy and I restrained myself and only bought a lovely shawl/pashmina/scarf. Perhaps when I get home I can open up a scarf boutique. The selection of merchandise for such an enterprise continues to grow in my closet. But each new one is unique, so ...
Heading back towards Bunclody we made a bit of a detour for a short stroll at Altamont Gardens. It's still lovely and has more paths that are calling us to walk upon them. Soon.
Finally home, we enjoyed a supper that included the stray fish fillets from The Bailey Cafe, reheated roasted veggies and of course, boiled potatoes.
This evening we drove (thank you Auto Address App) to Ballyroebuck for a comedy sketch and a three-act play in the community centre. The sketch was very funny and well acted. The play, The Tailor and Ansty, was amazing. I've come to expect a lot from local drama productions and this was fabulous. There were only two actors, with the man being on stage through all three acts. Tonight was the closing night. However, there are other productions coming up between now and my departure so I shall be very cultured by the time I get home, don't ya know.
It's late now and the eyelids are drooping. Time to sign off. Photos again soon I hope. They stubbornly refuse to automatically upload and when I manually set them to upload they get tripled and quadrupled. Too tired to figure it out.
Slan,
Ann
With the continuing availability of a chauffeur, I enjoyed the drive to and through Tullow, to Rathwood. It is a home and garden centre, children's amusement area, cafe, clothing and accessories shop and so much more, all rolled into one lovely spot to spend time and money.
Lunch was the first order of business and the chicken and vegetable quiche hit exactly the right spot. I had a marinated mushroom salad on the side which was promised not to contain cilantro. I don't enjoy the taste of soap and that's what cilantro tastes like to me. However, there were only a couple of stray bits that were meant to be merely parsley.
Although I've been pretty good about avoiding sweets, I succumbed to the lure of a "pecan slice". There is still a morsel left, but only for a few more moments. I've managed to make it last quite well. Next weekend perhaps I'll have overcome the guilt and will travel the sweet road again.
Then we enjoyed a little retail therapy and I restrained myself and only bought a lovely shawl/pashmina/scarf. Perhaps when I get home I can open up a scarf boutique. The selection of merchandise for such an enterprise continues to grow in my closet. But each new one is unique, so ...
Heading back towards Bunclody we made a bit of a detour for a short stroll at Altamont Gardens. It's still lovely and has more paths that are calling us to walk upon them. Soon.
Finally home, we enjoyed a supper that included the stray fish fillets from The Bailey Cafe, reheated roasted veggies and of course, boiled potatoes.
This evening we drove (thank you Auto Address App) to Ballyroebuck for a comedy sketch and a three-act play in the community centre. The sketch was very funny and well acted. The play, The Tailor and Ansty, was amazing. I've come to expect a lot from local drama productions and this was fabulous. There were only two actors, with the man being on stage through all three acts. Tonight was the closing night. However, there are other productions coming up between now and my departure so I shall be very cultured by the time I get home, don't ya know.
It's late now and the eyelids are drooping. Time to sign off. Photos again soon I hope. They stubbornly refuse to automatically upload and when I manually set them to upload they get tripled and quadrupled. Too tired to figure it out.
Slan,
Ann
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