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Gammons, others enjoy Celtic tour in Ireland
Those on the trip from Wilkes County other than Carolyn and Richard and Nita were Pauline Bell, Frances Dyson, June Durden (formerly of Washington); and from neighboring Lincoln County, Inez McWhorter (Nancy Barnett's mother). While in Ireland they saw the majestic Cliffs of Moher where they were almost blown over cliffs from the wind. They noticed that all the children in Ireland have rosy cheeks. Well before returning home they all had the rosy cheeks too, especially after the jaunting ride (a wagon pulled by a horse) through the Killarney National Park. The country is beautiful, green and rocky, and this time of your flowers are growing wild everywhere. Rhododendrons that we spend so much money on trying to grow here grow wild there and they consider them a weed. On the second day they went to Rathbaun Farm where they saw a farming family carrying out everyday chores including sheep shearing. They enjoyed a morning tea/ coffee, fresh baked scones (really fat, ugly biscuits that are a little sweet) and jam from the farm.
There were no wooden structures, all wer stone houses. One day they visited the historic Kilmainham Jail which covers some of the most heroic and tragic events in Irish history from 1790 to the 1920s. They enjoyed walking the streets of Killarney, especially the open air market where there were huge bowls of all kinds of olives, bowls of dried fruit, and one booth with all kinds and shapes of bread, and they were uncovered. After going through the Jameson Whiskey Distillery, the tour groups were entertained by a shindig. Everyone who knew Ricky Lindsey said he would be in hog heaven if he were on that sage. They enjoyed a cabaret at the Burlington Hotel where they stayed that night. It took a lot of energy just watching those dancers move. Of course the visit to the Waterford Factory was a highlight of the trip. In the restaurant on the property there was even a crystal trash can. They only thing hard to get used to was the driving on the wrong side of the road which was only room for one vehicle but they squeezed in two lanes. There was about an inch between cars meeting. The roads over the bogs made this group a little seasick. One interesting fact about Ireland is that there are no snakes. The driver and guide said St. Patrick got rid of them. This group thought they needed to bring St. Patrick home with them. On the last night there was a Medieval castle banquet at Bunratty Castle. An earl and his lady were chosen from all these tour groups. So guess who was chosen! Yes, Richard and Carolyn. Richard was led to a throne where he sat with Carolyn by his side. They were also the first served at the banquet where they were all serenaded with music from the harp and violin. This was a wonderful trip that will never be forgotten, but Richard said he wanted grits when he got home. Carolyn wanted crisp bacon, and Pauline Bell wanted a good old hamburger. They don't want potatoes for a while.
It's always good to be back home. Carolyn made 250 pictures, so if anyone wants to see them, she will be glad to show them.
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