Friday Sept. 17th---We visited Kilkenny Castle before leaving this morning. It was easy to find, right around the corner from Butler Court where we stayed. We decided to leave early enough today so we would get to Avoca by early afternoon.
Stopped in Inistoge where Circle of Friends was filmed for some pictures. I think we did get lost today, seems we do every day!! but it wasn't too bad as we reached our b & b by 2 pm. Check-in wasn't until 4 pm but our rooms were ready.
Driving into Avoca was especially neat since we had all watched the series on dvd of Ballykissangel which was filmed totally in Avoca. Dave, the bridge and water are exactly the same as it shows in the beginning of each season, so cool. And, Fitzgerald's Bar is the same! They now have a resturant that was built after the series ended as they couldn't accommodate all the bus tours that started showing up. We ate here Friday night. We plan to hang out in the pub and try the Guiness on Sunday.
We found a brochure in our b & b that was for a three man traditional Irish music group that is touring all over. They were stopping in the nearby village of Conary, just up aways and take the fork in the road to the right! Ok, sure.....
Onward we go! 2 hours early because we are probably going to get lost, which we did!
After deciding we had driven pretty far up the mountain (remember these are one lane roads), turned around and saw a guy in front of a building. Stopped to ask him where the Community Center was....he was standing in front of it. We had gone by it as it was an old two room schoolhouse, right around the corner from where we first asked some other guy, but couldn't understand what he said.
About 60 people showed up for this, in a little schoolhouse, sitting on plastic chairs with dingy white pillows on the seats. We were the only Americans there! These three guys put on a show that we couldn't believe. Fiddle, accordian and guitar sounded amazing in this place. Everyone was swaying and tapping their feet, including us! The Irish are very friendly, met some nice people and shared tea and biscuits(ha,ha store bought cookies) with them. Others who have performed here~~~Johnny Depp, Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas to name a few...who would have known.
Oh, while waiting for the show, we did manage to find some big boulder(they have a name for it, of course) at the top of the mountain. As we start up the hill, mom too, two goats come towards us, not running but not stopping either. I decided mom better get into the car just in case they start to charge! Bill and I can run if we have to!! They went right up to Bill, he petted them like they were long lost buddies. Then they came to check me out and were just as nice. Bill continued up the hill and the goats followed him.
Turns out, their owner was looking for them as they had left their field next door when they heard our voices. Billie and Millie are very friendly and love people.
I was beginning to think wild Irish goats were really something!!
So, we had another Irish moment that was not planned. These are the best. We also heard of another "music happening" at a pub in Meeting of the Waters on Sunday afternoon from 3 to 6 pm. We were told traditional singing and dancing (on their toes) takes place. Also, that mostly women go, but that isn't stopping Bill from wanting to go! I can already see the kodak moments:)
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