April 10

Easter Monday - went to breakfast (we seem to eat all the time) and found Jacinta already there and a whole table of Kennedys adjacent. One of them was a big Hawthorn supporter so I had to quickly inform him that they had just lost to the Cats by 2 points & that he'd better prepare for a ribbing by 'himself'!! To be sure, to be sure, it happened!
Goodbye & hugs for Jacinta as she was driving back to Dublin with Mary, flying back to OZ today.
On our drive to the Aiden O'Brien training stables near Cashel we detoured via Dolla in order to leave some wine with John & Joan and enjoyed a quick chat with them and John & Bronwyn (Balwyn) who were staying with them. Also left a koala and a bottle of Aus wine with Harry who still lives in the original cottage. Harry's brother Brian, from Scotland, was staying with Harry and he answered the door - said Harry hadn't been able to lift his head off the pillow yet after a big night! Harry is a trick, reminds me of a leprachaun. Has never married & I doubt ever travelled far. He is a draughtsman by profession but the economy doesn't require such people at the moment so he has become a bit of a hermit. But we enjoyed his company very much and I don't think he will ever forget meeting all his new relatives!
It took just over an hour to reach the stables near Cashel. We were very impressed by the whole complex. Keith Dalton (remember, I met him at Abu Dhabi airport) met us at the security gate, jumped in our car & directed our drive all around the HUGE property. They have every kind of racing surface possible, re-productions of the Ascot straight and others, and it was all amazing. The horses are all stabled for most of the day except for track work which is around an hour each day. Because of security we couldn't actually go too close to the horses but we did see 'So You Think' poke his head out to nod hello! They each have their own stable and yard. Facilities include a slightly heated swimming pool, a drying area and a treadmill. A large fan is attached to the door of the enclosed treadmill in case the horses become overheated! As Jacinta said - oh to be a horse, but a good one!!!
After that we went into Cashel for a pizza then took a tour of the Rock of Cashel. I was there many years ago and now find they are restoring parts of it as extreme weather was causing internal damage due to the leaking roof. Drove around some scenic country lanes and then back to Clonmel where we went to McDonalds, not to eat but to use the internet. By then it was not just drizzly but really pouring. Made a booking for a hotel in Kilkenny while there.
The hotel turned out to be very good, was not in the town but that didn't matter as we spent time there in 2006.