Ireland Day Six: Rendezvous at Muckross

So much to do, so little time.

That’s how it’s seeming with this visit to Ireland.  We doing our best to fit it all in. Though some of our plans have been tabled,  every situation we’ve set out to do has reaped countless treasured memories.

Yesterday’s highlight involved a trip to Killarney to meet up with our friend Tricia Sullivan, most recently an active member of the Sandpoint community, now a citizen of Ireland---Limerick, to be exact.

Tricia drove for 90 minutes to meet us at Muckross House.  We decided a carriage ride through the massive estate in Killarney National Park would be a good way to enjoy the outdoors and to visit.

So, we loaded up on a carriage driven by Gavin, a local, and his trusty and calm draft horse Paddy. After belonging to notables with lots of money (including the Guinness family), the estate was given to the Republic of Ireland.

Muckross House itself  was built as a wedding present for one owner’s daughter.  Hmmm.  Wonder if he added a $4,500 Waterford crystal bowl to the mix.  

Anyway, when constructed, the plans included 365 windows (one for each day) and 52 chimneys (one for each week).

We learned that in Ireland at the time,  the more windows, the higher the taxes.  Even Queen Victoria, who spent two nights in the mansion, would not relent on the tax obligation.

So, these days, the estate serves as a wonderful place for wandering or riding in carriages to view two kinds of deer, the Kerry breed of cattle, three lakes and a vast plot of beautiful grounds.

 

We made one stop on the grounds and left the carriage to walk through a place Gavin told us people are “dying to get there.”  

Yup, the stop included a cemetery surrounding an abbey built in the 1400s.  Inside one room stands a yew tree which was growing before the abbey went up around it.

In the old days, the abbey was surrounded by a stone wall to keep the farm animals from getting out and eating the poisonous Yew limbs.

On our carriage ride, Bill and Gavin exchanged lots of tree-related information.  We also learned the folks from around Killarney are encouraged to come to the estate to help cut back the giant rhododendrons, which have been dubbed an invasive species.

After saying good bye to our guide, we walked to the restaurant/gift shop, and within a few minutes, Tricia told us she had heard from Cousin Patrick.  He was coming to see us while had lunch.

We met Cousin Patrick when the family traveled to Ireland back in 2015.  He’s Tricia’s and Peg O’ Sullivan’s cousin.  When Peg found out we were going to Ireland, he put us in touch with Cousin Patrick who provided some guiding and local lore during our stay in Killarney.

Cousin Patrick drives a tour bus.  At that time, he even found Bill and Willie a stream running through a farmer’s land where they could fish on Willie’s 37^th birthday.

So, to say it was a treat to reconnect with Cousin Patrick seems almost inadequate.  He’s been dealing with medical issues lately, but he’s apparently bounced back and looks great.

Cousin Patrick has been to Sandpoint.  He was a great fan of the late Mssr. O’Donovan, a beloved priest with a whole bunch of first names.

As you can imagine, our visit was lively and filled with laughter and great tales.

On our way back to Kenmare, with lovely sunshine, we stopped a few times to admire the lake and the green fields of sheep.  Even took a back road, which eventually took us right back to the highway.

Dinner at PF McCarthys was both tasty and bittersweet, mainly because we love the food, the Guinness, the live music and the meaningful nostalgia we’ve created during our visits over the years.

Twas our last night in Kenmare.  We move on up the road today to Clifden.  There’s a sense of adventure, mystery and a bit of concern in what lies ahead.

 

The news folks keep talking about Lorenzo, that hurricane, and its possibilities of inflicting its wrath on Ireland.  So, our upcoming trip to Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands, may be up in the air.

We hope not!

We have people and sights to see and, again so much to do with so little time, but as usual, we’ll go with the flow, hoping it doesn’t get too overwhelming.

On down the road.

Many, many thanks to Tricia and to Patrick for the lovely visit. 

Thanks also to Mary and Vince, our friends at the Rose Garden Bed and Breakfast in Kenmare.  We have enjoyed seeing you again.

Til next time!

Happy Wednesday.