Sunday am, April 26

What a day yesterday was. Breakfast @ B&B, walk 200 meters to town center (overcast but not raining.) Sunny spells throughout the day. Burren smokeshop for tastes & Mike Irish hat. His head was cold; he was afraid to lose his 1st one so didn't bring. Then a drive around area. French bakery by orange deux chevaux gone. Really wanted a cappuccino and pastry :( Woollen Mill store where we stopped before the same saleslady (ciao!). Mike found gorgeous wool vest and wore the rest of the day :)

Back to Smokehouse for lunch. Fish chowder for M -none since match level of first one, but ok. I had an incredible crusted goat cheese on a bed of spring greens and red onion coleslaw w/ pesto and balsamic vinegar - really good! Back to Kilfenora for music. A group of Breton dancers in the hall. They gave a short program of Irish dance for a coach full of French students who left  & then M & I and a young girl Jaia from India had a private lesson for an hour or so. Lovely opportunity to speak French. Me not so good dancing. Lots of fun. Basically variations on 3 step in a circle. Then highlight of day! Concert in ancient cathedral. Old stone Abbey; part still used for Anglican worship. Tara Howley, native, & 5 others. Maybe 20 yrs. old. Played the eulian (sp?) pipes. She explained the instrument. Name means elbow. Basically she's doing about 6 things at once. Elbow squeezes bellows, fingers play notes on chanter, wrist plays 3 levels of tone's and sounds on the drone. Absolutely incredible and beautiful. She sang a few tines, explained diff between jogs and reels. Jiggs 6/8 time to the syllables rashers and sausages, reel 4/4 to bread and butter, hornpipe 'will you wash the blooming dishes'. Grand!

Sheep cheese and mini baguette for dinner and taxi back to Kilfenora. Frankie Gavan & Da Dannan. I liked earlier music events better, but was ok. We are becoming recognizable. Same folks throughout weekend and everyone  friendly.  More later!