The morning began with a little breakfast for the swans of the Malahide Eestuary... Nothing too big, just a loaf to share between them (whole wheat with seeds, obviously!) Some were a little friendlier than others, others displayed their penchant for violence, but at the end of the day it was all about love!
Our next port of call was Malahide Castle, which was in the Talbot family since the twelfth century, and played host to the likes of Oliver Cromwell during the 10 years of Protestant reign, before being returned to the hands of the Catholic Talbots. But sadly none of the last Talbot children ever married and reproduced, so when the last remaining member died two years ago the family line came to an end.
After that we were off to Dublin, and in particular, the Guinness Factory Storehouse! If I'm honest before today I did not like Guinness. However, after sitting in the Gravity Bar, enjoying the sun on my back and arms, taking uncivilised sips (I found that the Guinness tasted much better if I took a bigger sip, especially if I avoided the head!) my opinion changed. I was rather enjoying this black stuff!
It was with grumbling tummies and a realisation that we were a little late for lunch that we quickly nipped down to the shop to buy t-shirts and other random memorabilia.
On leaving the GFS we came across the horse Amazing - and I just had to find out if he tasted like raisins :)
Late afternoon was calling us to Wicklow, particularly Johnnie Fox's, famed as the highest pub in Ireland and named as one of the hundred best pubs in Ireland. It would be fair to say that this was no boring meal. After all the fun I'd had with my first Guinness I ordered another... The two gentlemen named Mary sitting opposite insisted we try a (few) Baby Guinness'. To say we were in hysterics would be an understatement...
After all the shenanigans we headed home to change into our party dresses to celebrate the rest of PLW's birthday!
Our next port of call was Malahide Castle, which was in the Talbot family since the twelfth century, and played host to the likes of Oliver Cromwell during the 10 years of Protestant reign, before being returned to the hands of the Catholic Talbots. But sadly none of the last Talbot children ever married and reproduced, so when the last remaining member died two years ago the family line came to an end.
After that we were off to Dublin, and in particular, the Guinness Factory Storehouse! If I'm honest before today I did not like Guinness. However, after sitting in the Gravity Bar, enjoying the sun on my back and arms, taking uncivilised sips (I found that the Guinness tasted much better if I took a bigger sip, especially if I avoided the head!) my opinion changed. I was rather enjoying this black stuff!
It was with grumbling tummies and a realisation that we were a little late for lunch that we quickly nipped down to the shop to buy t-shirts and other random memorabilia.
PLW gives us a preview of what was to come later in the evening
On leaving the GFS we came across the horse Amazing - and I just had to find out if he tasted like raisins :)
Late afternoon was calling us to Wicklow, particularly Johnnie Fox's, famed as the highest pub in Ireland and named as one of the hundred best pubs in Ireland. It would be fair to say that this was no boring meal. After all the fun I'd had with my first Guinness I ordered another... The two gentlemen named Mary sitting opposite insisted we try a (few) Baby Guinness'. To say we were in hysterics would be an understatement...
One of the Mary's spent quite a while explaining who was who in the picture and what they were up to yesterday with fabulous Irish humour
After all the shenanigans we headed home to change into our party dresses to celebrate the rest of PLW's birthday!
Lucky