Week 2 in Ireland

May 20 2014

Susan McCrae

We left Dingle yesterday, for the trek by mini-bus to Killarney, through several villages – MaCroom, Castlemaine and others.  After a charming lunch at an old mill we proceeded to Cork and an overnight stay at Killarney Guesthouse – Spartan but comfortable student apartments vacated for the season. Every imaginable shade of green accompanied us through the lush well watered landscape.  If it were further south, it would surely be rainforest. Sheep and dairy cattle in abundance and the occasional herd of steers and pasture with horses.

Cork is a beautiful modern city with a famous harbour which we didn’t have time to see – next time.  The fame is due to Cork’s and Cobh’s importance as the jumping off point for much of Irish emigration in the 1800’s and into the 1950’s.  Six million souls over a century. There are documentation centres in Cobh where you can research the ship manifests to see when ancestors might have travelled.

The group bid Andrew Sookrah farewell, the first of us to return home. It was a successful trip for him, he sold one large and three small paintings.  Two others sold paintings and I sold a photograph! And traded two others for a painting. My sale was of the turquoise door in the old stone stable, already posted. Tony traded a pastel painting for another painting by Rossann.  

Dined last night at La Bodega, a lovely old building full of archways, art and atmosphere in the heart of Cork. Great cannelloni, lamburgers and salads.  My favourite drink has become half Guinness and half cider so had a pint.

Goodbyes to everyone this morning, each going different directions.  Chris and Rossann by car to Galway – good luck with the driving and those roundabouts! Paria, Carole and Charlie to tour galleries in Cork and Dublin. Happy Viewing! We all plan to return to Dingle for two weeks, next year.

Tony and I set off for Northern Ireland tomorrow on a five day coach tour to see if we like that mode of travel, hoping to store a suitcase with art supplies in Dublin until we get back. The other point for Irish emigration was Belfast in the north, from whence the Titanic was launched and departed on its historic voyage.  We’ll see that spot tomorrow. More to share later.