Five Feet, Nine Inches Above Ground

Saturday July 27 2024

As the old song goes … there were two cats too many…and the one left has taken up residence in the garden of the school. The cats and Kilkenny has a current reference to the local hurlers and their fans: they are known as the Kilkenny cats. And they’re very proud of that name. Hurling is a sport somewhat similar to lacrosse, I think. Everyone from small children to ancient adults are absolutely mad about it . I will find out more as the days fly by!

Scoil has begun so my day begins with a two hour harp practice followed by a presentation by one of the professors and then lunch. We have students from around the world, here in person, and online. Thus the formal day begins a bit later to accommodate a variety of time zones. There’s also time to squeeze in a bit of sight seeing each day. It’s a city of 26, 516 inhabitants (2016) and this is the height of the tourist season.

I check out the roses every morning as well as the St John’s Wort. Such a lovely way to start the day.

The blackbirds were on the lawn of the gothic building that is a private school. They were quite sure of their ownership of the territory and were not about to cede a centimetre to some intruder! I discovered this place while on a walk during lunch.

And the day ended with some red wine and Irish fish and chips!