October 20

Goodbye Belfast. There were a lot of guests, a few bus loads, at the Malone where we were staying, and the same lot were up quite early to venture off to wherever. Not much chance to sleep in. In an heritage building one can hear everything, I heard the lady in the room next to us lamenting the fact that there was no hair blower. I almost called out to tell her to look in the desk drawer, but restrained myself!

After breakfast and packing up, it was off to the linen museum in Lisburn. It was also market day in town and quite busy. We spent a good bit of time at the museum, free by the way,  following the history of the flax/linen industry through the past several hundred years and saw some quite extraordinary examples of linens through the ages. Back in the 1920's, a reknown architect was commissioned by Queen Mary, consort of King George V to build the most famous doll's house in the world. This was 1:12 scale, and was built by craftsmen and artisans of the time over a 2 to 3 year period, complete with electric lighting and running water. The linens on the beds, the table clothes, etc were made by weavers in Lisburn, complete with royal monograms, etc, all to scale! The doll house is actually on display at Windsor Castle, but there were examples of the linens at the Lisburn Museum, quite fascinating to see such intricate, detailed and delicate work.

Live flax spinning demonstration

After Lisburn, it was off to Cabra Castle at Kingscourt, in County Cavan. It is hard to describe the opulence of an estate such as this. I'm glad I don't have to pay the heating bills here. Our room was in the converted stables, out back. I know it sounds rather second class to describe it in that manner, but believe me when I say it was anything but! Supper tonight was in the pub...I think we feel a little more comfortable in the relaxed relaxed atmosphere of the pub rather than the more formal dining room.

Must have been a wedding at Cabra Castle

Deb near part of Cabra Castle

Our suite

Dining Room

View of our 'room' in the 'stables' & our rental car

Interesting to note that when you came into the lobby area through the front entrance, there was a  big dog bed there. This is Molly's. Elsewhere in the castle on a wall covered with pictures is a portrait of Molly or her ancestor, and this is the only picture that has a light to illuminate it. Molly is the resident Irish wolfhound.

Molly the Irish Wolfhound

After supper, Jonathan went off for an hour to explore a walking trail lose to the castle. The weather was somewhat damp, drizzly and cool, not unlike home, and the autumn smells of fallen leaves were just the same.

Until tomorrow.....