Friday, April 24

To update yesterday. Checked in to Sheep's Head Bar, restaurant and B&B. A kind of place where they know your name, and use it! Absolutely delightful! The publican (bartender), a charming 20-something w/ warmth & personality out the whazoo, shows us the room, very recently redone in knotty pine - perfect. No view she says, but quiet. Looks out into the storage area for junk from bar, and huge mastif, French chef's dog. Mike enjoys several Murphys Irish stouts like Dempseys and we shared at triffle, then we walked around a 2 acre garden the retired 80 yr . old used to be hardware store owner planted & maintains. Getting to be too much for him. It was fantastic. I've never seen camelias and rhododendrons in so many colors. One plant looked like 2 foot pine cones in mammoth rhubarb leaves. He called it gonora (reminded me of ghonnorhea (sp?) That plant I will remember.

Then two other pubs, a small market and back to 'our' pub. Interesting variance in prices. When we came in, Sinead (equiv to Jane) was starting a coal fire. She says she wanted an excuse for one and she'd tell the boss Jan wanted it. "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." I said you bet! A place where they know your name. She was GOOD.

We had lovely dinner: pub burger awesome, and Mike Irish sirloin done to a 'T'. Spent the evening talking and drinking and downloading pix, since wi-fi not reliable in room. Not a hardship. **grin**

This eve we are in Lisdoonvarna, 8k from Kilfenora. Taking taxi so Mike doesn't have to drive tonight. Bought 4 Kilfenora Ceili CDs too :) when we went through there. All set for the evening. Can I say - don't you wish you were here? Till tomorrow...