(Photo by MoMo) MoMo took this picture of us while we were waiting for the groom to bring her horse out. The lovely gray mare Scylla was riding was very fast and high spirited. I had a sweet natured sorrel to ride and the white horse Socks is riding looks like it belongs in Lord of the Rings. It reminds us of Shadowfax, the white horse Gandalf rode. If we ever get to come back to Ireland we want to go to the Irish National Stud where our horses were born, we simply will not have time this trip.
After our ride we went to the Denny Big Day Out, then we meet up with our friends at the Guinness Brewery (yep, we are doing a wee bit of that time travel thing again so we can fit everything in).
(Photo by Sassy) Left to right: Momo~dog, Sassy, Charybdis, Charlie, Mrs. Oz, Ruis, Karl, Roscoe, Socks, MoMo~kitty, Opus, Asta, Stanley, Emil, Scylla Front: Little Pinot (who is so cute, we want to bring him home with us).
And here is the gang after we toured the Guinness Brewery. Arthur Guinness acquire what was then a small, disused and ill-equipped brewery at St James's Gate. The lease, signed on 31 December 1759, was for 9000 years at an annual rent of £45 (We think he probably got a bargain all things considered). As you can tell some of us visited the souvenir shop while we were there.
(Photo by Sassy edited by MoMo) Somebody clued the Guinness people in on what a good bartender Sassy and Roscoe are so they wound up with bar tending duty.
(Photo by MoMo & Sassy) Left to right: Momo~dog, Sassy, Charybdis, Charlie, Mrs. Oz, Ruis, Karl, Roscoe, Socks, MoMo~kitty, Opus, Asta, Stanley, Emil, Scylla Front: Little Pinot
Here we are at Dublin Castle. Dublin Castle is situated in the very heart of historic Dublin. In fact the city gets its name from the Dubh Linn or Black Pool (dubh = black), on the site of the present Castle Gardens and Coach House. You can read all about it here.
(Photo by MoMo) Meet Queen GRÁINNE (pronounced Granya) Grania Mhaoel Ni Mhaolmhaigh, or Grace O'Malley, was the sixteenth-century queen of the Western Isles of Ireland. She bears a strong resemblance to our MoMo. OK, if you just have to know MoMo couldn't resist trying on the crown and sitting on the throne will we were at Dublin Castle.
(Photo by MoMo) After visiting Dublin Castle Scylla and I were very tired. Charlie kindly agreed to watch us while we relaxed on the hotel grounds. Sassy is going to come collect us in a little bit and we are going to meet Socks & MoMo at the The Guinea Pig Restaurant in Dalkey. The restaurant was first opened in 1957 where it was soon the established haunt of the locals and the stars of screen filming in Ardmore Studios in Bray. Regular stars were John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, John Ford & Peter Ustinov. The Restaurant was bought by the Stewart Family in 1978. The tradition continues today. Regulars now include Hugh Leonard, Maeve Binchey, Enya, Lisa Stanfield, Bono, The Edge, Liam Neeson, Sir Cliff Richard, Meryl Streep & of course US (the most famous guest of all).
(Photo by MoMo) Socks and MoMo took a leisurely stroll around Dublin Bay while we were relaxing.
(Photo by MoMo)
Sassy and I are in big trouble. We lost Scylla!!!! For the life of me I can't imagine where on earth she has gotten to. Opus & Roscoe were already at The Guinea Pig Restaurant when we got there, they went ahead a secured a table for us, as the restaurant is very crowded. They haven't seen Scylla at all. I am very tired of looking for her. I am going to lay down and nap while the grown ups decide how to find the birdbrain. This seems like a pretty good time to tell you the Gaelic phrase I have learned. Beagan agus a ra go maith PRONOUNCED: byug/onn ogg/iss a raw guh mot MEANING: Say little but say it well . Hopefully I have done that in this post.
(Photo by MoMo) Scylla speaking ~Dalkey, is a compact town with a great deal of history and character. It was designated a Heritage Town in 1994. Since 1787, with the odd break here and there, Dalkey had an elected King. A sight to behold in his magnificent cloak and crown, Finbarr, the present reigning King of Dalkey, presides over most major celebrations. I happen to notice him when Sassy, Charybdis and I were walking to the Guinea Pig to meet MoMo and Socks. I went over to say hello and when I came back Charybdis and Sassy had disappeared, it was very naughty of them to run off and leave me. The only thing I could remember about where we were meeting was the word guinea pig. This pet shop has guinea pigs, but I don't think it is where we are suppose to meet. I am very tired of walking, even though there are tons of interesting things to look at, so I hope someone comes finds me soon. While you are waiting for me to be found so our adventure can continue please visit our friends Kitties - Sassy, Karl, Emil, Mrs Oz, Ruis, Opus and Roscoe, MoMo Doggies - Asta, Stanley, Momo-dog and Pinot, Charlie and see what they have been up to.