Day 7

Day 7, Friday, October 8, 2010

I straggling into the kitchen at 7, past Piet sleeping fitfully on the couch, his feet hanging over the arm, and opened the door to the kitchen to find the rest of the gang up, dressed, and having brekky. This is Gay and Chip’s day to head south to Castle-something on the south coast to have dinner and an overnight with Gay’s cousin Mark and his wife. We decided to make a group trip to Bunratty Castle near Shannon for a last real outing together, and despite one lapse in following signs, pulled into the parking lot around 9:30 as it started to rain.

Climbed the six stories of narrow winding staircases of this fifteenth century castle up to the escarpment at the top where they dumped boiling oil on invaders. The people who last lived in it (18th c.?) abandoned it for a warmer more comfortable house in the village, a sensible move, taking everything with them and leaving the castle to the elements. The roof eventually fell in and it wasn’t until the 1960s that Lady somebody took it over and restored it, bringing in furniture and furnishings (tapestries, paintings, kitchen tools, etc.) from England, Belgium, and Germany. [Yikes! Just saw a wren in the bush outside the window where I’m typing this!].

We wandered the grounds, now made into a little village of thatched cottages and shops, some of the buildings moved in from the site of Shannon Airport. Chickens foraged for bugs in the lawns, a small flock of sheep browsed, two giant Irish elk hounds were curled up in the grass. There was a film crew from the Hallmark channel filming a Christmas holiday movie starring Jacqueline Bissette (Tim and Leila saw her having her make-up put on in the post office) so there were set people rushing around arranging shots. We had our picture taken with one of the gents decked out in period outfit and top hat. Had coffee and scones in the tea room, checked out the gift shop, and then said good-bye to Chip and Gay and headed home.

Usual naps and then we took off up into the hills to look for the peat digging operation Hettie told us about, minus Piet who didn’t feel up to it. Never found the place but discovered some wonderful side roads. Ended up in Ennistimon to shop for dinner, our last eat-in meal, and to upload the blog and check e-mail. Leila and I threw together a dinner of burgers, little new potatoes, salad, and a bowl of fresh blueberries and raspberries and had a nice dinner followed by a good read before the three of us went back to Doolin for another night of music. Piet opted to stay home and read.

McGann’s crowded to the gills with diners, so we decided to try McDermitt’s first. They had a football (soccer) match on the telly and a crowd of raucous lads cheering on Ireland, but it wasn’t crowded. We snagged a spot at a booth with a guy from Montana doing a semester of lab work in Dublin, with his Canadian girlfriend – they were camping in a tent near the pier in Doolin, a wild place to set up a tent. Also three Aussies on a month-long trek -- funny, interesting, interested in American politics. Once the game was over and things had died down the musicians began – a woman on flute and penny whistle, a guy on guitar and flute. After only 3 frantic pieces we decided to walk back to McGann’s to see what was going on and Geraldine (who we thought was “Josie”), the singer from Wednesday night, hailed us and found us a place to sit (table 2 right next to the musicians). Tim was elbow to elbow with the guy on banjo. He tried to get the trio on is video camera but it was too dark. Still it was amazing to be so close. As Leila said, McGann’s may be crowded but the intimacy it creates and the warmth of the musicians and the enthusiasm of the crowd all create an irresistible combination. McGann’s has become our place. A few singers from the American crowd on a music tour volunteered to fill in while Geraldine and co. were on break – spirited and fun. It all ended at 11 and we came home to find Piet wide awake. Bed at midnight, Piet again, stubbornly, on the couch.