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A return to Johnstown Castle, Waterford and Kilkenny

I wasn't sure whether the next day Kathleen and Mike would want to relax around Dunmore or do some sightseeing. It turned out that they were interested in seeing "a castle of some sort." Richard suggested that Johnstown would be a good one. Not too far, a nice tea room, lovely grounds. At first he was going to stay home but Kathleen and Mike assured him they would be fine in the back seat of the Fiat--brave souls that they are, especially Mike who is 6'3". So we all wedged ourselves in and off we went. Took the ferry across Passage East and tootled along the back roads to Johnstown. Kathleen was still terrified and finally decided to keep her eyes closed as much as she could. I certainly can empathize with how she felt although it really doesn't bother me anymore. (Good thing, as a driver who keeps her eyes closed wouldn't last long.)










Richard and I had visited Johnstown Castle several months ago and liked it very much. I had gone through the Agricultural Museum and its exhibit about the Famine. I found it very good and suggested that they go see it. Which they did and Kathleen especially found it very moving. She said the information about the Famine really brought home to her its horror and the cruelty of those in charge of the government.

They spent an hour and a half in the museum. Richard and I walked around the grounds, Richard sketched and I read a book. Then we met up together and walked through the walled garden which hadn't been in bloom when we were there. Very beautiful.




Kathleen contemplating the garden





 We left Johnstown late afternoon and after more meandering on back roads (not on purpose, my GPS failed me) we returned to Dunmore East for another quiet evening.

 The next day I drove them (minus Richard this time) into Waterford and we did the Viking Triangle Museum and the Bishop's Palace. Kathleen wasn't too impressed by the museums but did very much enjoy chatting with a glass blower who has a shop in the main floor of the Bishop's Palace. He created a glass sculpture to six sons of a Waterford family, the Collins, only one of whom returned. I thought I had taken a photo of the sculpture but I guess I didn't. It was so beautiful but haunting. The "glass artist", Sean Egan, also created a sculpture as a tribute to the priest and firefighters during 9/11. He has a photo of that tribute on his website, http://seaneganartglass.com/projects.html, I share it here:

The Six Collins Brothers



















 Kathleen was so cold that we went shopping for a warm scarf and gloves. I was in a t-shirt and thin sweater, guess my blood has thickened up quite a bit.

 On Saturday we went to Kilkenny. They enjoyed lunch at the Kilkenny Design Center and wandering around the streets of Kilkenny. I wasn't surprised that they preferred Kilkenny to Waterford, it IS quainter and prettier. On the way back my brakes suddenly started making a loud dragging noise. Luckily we were almost home. Mike looked underneath the car and in the wheel wells but couldn't see anything. It was obvious we couldn't drive the car to Cavan as planned on Monday but what to do? I texted David the mechanic in Carlow and although he offered to take the train to Waterford on Monday morning to pick the car up, Richard said he would drive the car to Carlow and take the train back (free senior travel.) So we booked a car rental in Waterford for Monday morning and the Cavan trip was saved. 

 We relaxed on Sunday. Went to St. Andrew's Church of Ireland for morning prayers and spent the rest of the day snoozing and reading.

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