Spring in Ireland

Since the beginning of April, Oretta has arrived for four weeks. We have colored eggs, had a group over for Easter dinner. Unfortunately I forgot to take any pictures on Easter Sunday. Gone hiking (just Adrian and I) at a Hill Fort and gone to Kinsale for 3 days.

Oretta arrived having broken a rib maybe two not sure there. She tripped over her luggage the day of her departure and thought she had only bruised it, but she has been in constant severe pain, so dr's. Adrian and Tanya have decided she broke something. That has been unfortunate because she is really not up to doing much and spends most of her time laying down trying to feel better. If you are ever in Ireland and need Tylenol with Codeine, ask for Panadeine.

Two days after Oretta's arrival we had freinds bring their kids over so we could color easter eggs. This is something not done here in Ireland and thanks to Oretta bringing the PAAS to me we were able to teach something new to some of our Irish neighbors. The eggs here are all brown, they don't have leghorns or any of the white egg laying chickens we do in the states - funny that brown is considered organic and so we pay more in the us. It's just a marketing ploy you know, the color of the egg is determined by the kind of chicken. Anyway, I was a little worried about whether or not the dye would take, not only did it, but the colors were very vibrant. The kids had a lot of fun and I got to really enjoy myself. Definately miss having little ones around for that kind of thing.

Easter Sunday, Adrian and I were up at 4:30am to go to a Sunrise mass at the cemetry near us. The mass was different and beautiful. Not only do we get blessed with holy water, but the preist goes around and blesses the graves (it's not a huge cemetry), that took about 20 minutes of the mass. He also blessed the Easter Fire which they still light here. So it was all very nice. Then at 3:00pm we had most of Adrian's co-workers and some neighbors over for dinner. Stuffed leg of lamb, I think I did a fab job on it.

Since then, Adrian and I took a hike at the Mooghaun Hill Fort, just a couple of miles from our house. It's a wonderful Neolithic site that used to be part of the Dromoland Estate. The OPW maintains the site today, which is located in the middle of a forrest. Further on the same track is an old Tower Castle, according to Adrian was purchased by an american and he stays there when he is here. He wasn't home the day we went walking but there are some lovely shots of the tower.

Friday night we went to see the High Kings play in Ennis, they are an Irish folk band and quite good, one of the members is a Clancy child so of course you know we got to hear some of their music as well. http://www.thehighkings.com/

Saturday morning we were up and off on our way to Kinsale. Kinsale is one of the oldest towns in Ireland, was a bustling seaport. It hosts a natural harbor and has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, possibly longer. There are bronze age copper mines nearby. The Spanish Armada sailed into Kinsale in 1601 to help the Ulster cheiftans and their clans with a rebellion against Elizabeth I. Unfortunately, the Spanish troops (5,000 in number) were pinned down in Kinsale by the English commander who was the first to fight in the winter months. This gave him a huge advantage because that had never been done before. The Irish attacked on Christmas Eve 1601, they were beaten by the English. This created what was known as "The flight of the earls". Peace was agreed between Spain and England and the English began sending the Scottish over to settle vasts areas. Just off the Old Kinsale Head is where the Lusitania was sunk by the Germans during World War I and their is a small memorial to them. Kinsale town is a bit reminiscent of Sausalito but older and in many ways cuter. It still holds Desmond Castle, home to the Fitzpatrick's who were the Earls of Desmond. During the American revolution French and American sailors were held there as prisoners. Following that, during the great famine it was an auxiliary workhouse for the poor. And today is an International Wine Museum. Turns out there were/are a significant number of Irish families that went over to France and became vintners.

From Kinsale we toured around the region, we went to Clonakilty, birthplace of Michael Collins., Timoleague Abbey, Gandolore for lunch pretty harbor, Old Head and Mizen Head, with many stops in between for photos.

Hope you enjoy the pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/12938045@N02/