The Fourth Walsh

We woke up in Waterford.  What is quickly becoming our routine is to receive two times from our guide.  Typically, it is 7 and 8.  7 indicates the time my suitcase needs to be outside my room and simultaneously also the breakfast chime.  8 is the time for being on the bus.  

After following a lovely gourmet feast the night before at the Granville Hotel, I was delighted to sit down to scrambled eggs with salmon.  It was yummy.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t supposed to be mine.  Having decided to do a little writing, I was separate from the herd.  The bus tour includes breakfast.  It has usually been a hearty buffet of fruits, meats, cheeses, porridge with or without a shot of whiskey, and a variety of pastries.  My focus in the morning is coffee.  Before I can be even a little pleasant, I need my coffee.  So, I wasn’t really paying attention when the server handed me a menu. I ordered.  

My sisters arrived and sat with me.  My error was realized.  When Niall, manager extraordinaire, inquired why we were sitting in the different area, Jenny promptly told on me.  She concluded it with “she’s a Walsh girl.  They don’t follow the rules.”

And he responded, “Ah, we have one of those in reception.”  

Irish wit!  Irish charm!  Plentiful!  I was not required to pay for my meal.  Granville Hotel in Waterford… it’s a must!

Before we left the city, we visited the Waterford factory.  Well, it’s the new Waterford crystal factory.  George and William Pemrose started the handcrafted crystal business back in 1783.  Although it became world-renown for its fine crystal, the company has struggled to stay in business over the last two centuries.  In 2009, the company closed terminating a 1,000 employees.  The economic hit is apparent in Waterford.  A sleek and new mall is vacant and for sale.  Niall even indicated rumor was that the Waterford castle might be in foreclosure.   

WWRD Holdings Ltd purchased the company.  The mass-produced Waterford crystal is now made abroad.  It’s all very hush hush but I believe Yugoslavia.  Meanwhile back in Waterford, WWRD opened up a mini factory and rehired 80 of the best craftsman to return to the crystal making.  Special orders are handled by the true Waterford crystal team.  Of course, it will cost.  They had some of their exquisite work on display including a crystal memorial from 9-11.  Every special order is made in triplicate.  That way if something happens in shipping, there is a spare and a spare of a spare.  The Waterford crystal symbol is a seahorse with its tail curled backwards.  In the middle of the tail curl is a shamrock.  

We left Waterford and headed to Blarney.  The Blarney castle is a major tourist attraction.  “Kissing the blarney stone” is a must for many.  Not me.  I had skipped the urge last time I was in Ireland too.  Instead, we had a sip and a nibble at Christy’s.  A lovely restaurant that my sister insists was named after her.  We also visited the Blarney Woolen Mill.  I tried on many hand-knitted sweaters hoping to get a functional souvenir but I couldn’t find one that didn’t look like I was a stuffed blanket.

From Blarney, we went to Killarney.  From my childhood, I remember my parents singing “Christmas in Killarney.”  The town is another charmer.  Our hotel, Killarney Avenue, is a mix of quaint and grandeur.  Stained glass, carved wood, chandeliers… the detail is impressive.  We are staying at this hotel for two nights.  What a treat!  Schlepping luggage in and out gets wearisome.  Being in remission sounds wondrous.

Tonight’s activity was craic.  ‘Craic‘ is the Irish word for fun.  Our guide took us to a local joint called Shantee outside Killarney. “Shan” means old.  “Tee” means house.  And it looked it.  Christmas decorations were everywhere.  A string of dirty boots were hanging on a clothesline above the bar.  There was sawdust on the floor and the men’s room was a tub.  From first glance, it had a lot of personality.  The experience was authentic with these men singing and telling stories.  The tales usually were long-winded jokes.  It was a hoot! Jenny even got pulled out to dance.  The sing-along was a combination of Irish songs, Elvis, and American anthems.  I imagine the eclectic song list was for others to get the feel of pub community.  Our family knew the Irish songs and sang especially me da.  I think as many people took pictures of him singing as they did the local entertainers.  If dad ever retires, I know his ideal gig.  

When we got back to our hotel, Jenny and I went out for a little more craic.  There were plenty of places to select from.  We landed in Sheehan’s.  And because it really is a small world after all, Jenny spotted a Purdue sweatshirt.  Jenny and her daughter went to Purdue.  We flagged over the trio of nineteen year olds.  They are on a livestock judging excursion as part of their college curriculum.  And because the world is smaller than small, we found out the threesome are all from Elkhart, Indiana…our hometown.  We had good craic with these kids and a few of the locals.