Kilkenny

19th August
Waterford
Breakfast time was very interesting. Our hostess was interested to know which part of USA we were from. We explained we were from Australia. "Well then are you now" was her reaction. We had a bit of a chat and I asked her what the Bally meant in gaelic. She shouted to her husband - "Would you be coming in here and talk to these intellectuals Michael". He arrived from the kitchen, and explained that Bally just meant town. So Ballyboggan was Boggan Town - yep got a few of those in Australia too. Slieverue means red mountain. We asked him about what we had heard re the Waterford Crystal and he said it definitely was - he had worked there from the age of 16. He had started as an apprentice worked his way up to a master and then as a trainer and then given the sack like every one else - 3,000 lost their jobs when Waterford Crystal went under. He showed us some of the pieces they had in the house. He had made them all. They were lovely. He explained how they were cut - the whole process, it was really interesting.
So we finally got going on our way to Kilkenny. We went via the main highway so it only took about half an hour. As luck would have it Kilkenny was having it's Heritage Festival. This meant no entry fees. Our first stop was Kilkenny Castle. This had been built in the 12th century and lived in until 1930's. By that time it had fallen into disrepair, but the Kilkenny Heritage Commission had taken on the renovation and now it was back to its' original glory. Where there was just a bit of wall paper left on a wall an artist had completed the design in pale black and white pencil with perspex laid over the original pieces. The receipt for the large mat in the sitting room was found so they got in touch with the company responsible who still had the records of the pattern etc. and so re-made the mat. It was quite an amazing building to wander through.
There were street performers - the most entertaining ones that we saw were the StPatricks Brass Band of Kilkenny. I'll lets the photos tell the story.
Some lunch was next and then to some of the many Art exhibitions being held as part of the Festival. Sheila Naughton was a very interesting lady. She was telling us lots of interesting places to visit in London. Another exhibition we enjoyed was of works by Jacinta Crowley-Long. Oil paintings of dogs, country homes and chooks. They were really nice with lots of light and shade. We had a chat with Sheila and her husband, they asked where we were from, and her face lit up - she is a fan of Ricky Ponting. So we had a chat about cricket of all the unexpected topics to have in Ireland.
From here we found our way to Rothe house. Another old home dating back to 12th century. The best part for me was the restored garden at the back. The vegetable garden was planted as per the plans they had dating back to the 1600's. There was also the orchard in the walled garden beyond.
Coffee time. Chez Pierre was our choice - how delightful a French cafe in the heart of Ireland. From there we wandered on around the town and then back to the car to head to another town - a totally different one to the one we ended up visiting!!! Yes my map reading is still not great but we get to see lots of places off the beaten track. We arrived in Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown County Kilkenny. The abbey was built in the 12th century. It was quite different to other old ruined buildings because of the carved stone decorations. We drove on to the Jerpoint Art Glass. They had some lovely glass and art work. By then we were feeling a bit like old broken down relics ourselves so off back to our B & B. A cup of coffee out in the garden completes a lovely day.