For Good Measure

This post is probably only of interest to gardeners. Stonehenge has been holding annual Dahlia exhibitions since 1842. We managed to visit Stonehenge on the right weekend and after circling the stone circle and taking the obligatory photos we went to the Dahlia exhibition. Very impressive, all grown by local gardeners. They have had nearly two hundred years to develop their exhibiting skills and it shows.

Bradford on Avon, Thursday, Friday and Saturday morning. Staying at Leigh Park Country Hotel. Photos: Front of hotel. Another 4 poster. View from our window Steve and I walked into Bradford on Avon for breakfast at a Greek cafe Meraki, authentic food and coffee. Walked through the town and along the river. Steve would have to duck to go into the Bridge Tea Shop. Visited St Thomas More Catholic Church  Unusual and beautiful Stations of the Cross. Bought blt sandwiches in the Shambles for lunch and walked back to hotel, 20 minutes walk. A few light showers here and there but cleared up before midday. A photo for Sophie and Amie: Looks like Daisy has been tasting this cake in the shop window.😊 An afternoon trip to Bath.

Steve dropped Aidan at Kerry airport this morning, Tuesday. It was good to spend some more time with him and he enjoyed hearing about the ambush and meeting a few Castlemaine celebrities.  We stopped in Limerick and we did the Three Bridges walk along the river. We have been blessed with good weather again. Only a light shower this morning and a little more during our drive up. Photos from our walk. Loved the decorations on this doorway. The Treaty Stone, a potted history of Ireland in brass plaques around the base of the stone. Treaty of Limerick in the late 1600s. The Treaty was quickly broken.  King John's Castle. We all enjoyed Limerick, a lovely city. Arrived in Kildare around 3 pm. Reminded us of the dreamy Dr Kildare from the 1960s TV series and his 'Dream, dream, dream' single. Staying at Cunningham's, very nice accommodations. A quick drink at the bar before a walk around town then dinner at Hons Chinese restaurant. Very nice. Virginia creeper covering the hous...

After a morning walk around Youghal we drove up to Castlemaine, Grandad Cronin's hometown. Stayed in an apartment though I'm sure no one in County Kerry would use the term 'apartment '. Castlemaine  is a small cluster of properties at the crossroads to Tralee, Milltown, Dingle and somewhere else. Quiet a busy junction that has probably not changed since grandad left in 1905 (apart from two of the four pubs have now closed). Saturday night we dined at the Anvil Bar in Boolteens, Sunday morning we met Owen O'Shea (local historian and writer about the early days of the irish struggle for independence and the involvement of the Cronins. He took us to the site of the Ballymacandy ambush and to Milltown square. An informative visit as our family knew nothing of this until very recently. Attended Mass in Milltown at 11.15 followed by morning tea with the church community. Sunday afternoon drove to Inch beach and Dingle and were fortunate to visit the Holy Stone which besto...

 Some photos from Friday morning, 20th in Dublin. We had breakfast at Bewley's Grafton Street, known for its stained glass. Breakfast a bit disappointing. Erin and Teresa with sweet Molly Malone. Feel free to sing, we did. Steve with James Joyce. The famine statues by the river Liffey, outside the Irish Emigration museum. Quite distressing. We got caught up in a traffic jam due to road accident driving out of Dublin and our trip to Youghal took us over four hours instead of two and a half. A lovely seaside town where great grandfather Patrick Peter Curran was born. Staying at Abbey View B and B. Would highly recommend. Saturday 21 September  Steve and Aidan making breakfast before our town walk. A beautiful room with everything supplied including warm freshly baked croissants and pane a chocolate. Aidan had a vegan friendly breakfast supplied by our generous host. We left Youghal about midday and arrived at Castlemaine at 3 pm Saturday 21st. Staying in a two bedroom apartment ...